A Medieval Sonic Story: Chapter 13 - Out With The Old

A few days later, the scouts returned, and the lieutenant delivered his report. "My lord, the castle has one main gate, but the wall guard has been doubled. Any crops have been moved inside, and the king is preparing for battle."

Ivo scowled. "So he does still have some sense… No matter. Get everyone into their positions. We strike tomorrow."

The soldiers took their places, keeping out of sight of the castle guards. In the Neutral Lands, Sonic was busy polishing the project for Jacob Hedgehog.

-Flashback-

Sonic was once again taking inventory when the giant hedgehog came in, carrying a large sack. Sonic looked over. "Afternoon Jacob. What's in the sack?"

Jacob grinned and put the sack on a table. "It's right up your alley."

The blue hedgehog blacksmith reached into the heavy sack and pulled out a silver ingot. "What in the world?"

The orange hedgehog emptied the sack, revealing more than forty more of them. "This was one of those odd payments for an odd job involving odd creatures."

Sonic nods, looking the ingot over. "What is it?"

Jacob picked up an ingot. "I was told it is called titanium. It's an extremely dense material that can only be worked by a true master blacksmith."

Sonic nodded. "I can see why. Look at the grain structure… Do you need a weapon made from it?"

Jacob shakes his head. "Not just a weapon. An entire suit of armor, plus shield and sword."

Sonic gave him a look. "You're mad. Do you have any idea how much that will cost?"

The giant shrugged. "No, but I've already supplied your materials for you, so that's half the work done already."

Sonic puts the ingot down. "This will take a while. That forge will have to burn hotter than it ever has, more than three thousand degrees."

Jacob smiles. "You can do this Sonic. I believe you can."

-End flashback-

Sonic set the final piece as the sun set. "Perfect."

Not only was the project finally done, but Sonic had once again proven he was a master blacksmith. As the days had passed, soot from the forge began coating the gleaming suit and weaponry, turning it black. However, Jacob took a liking to it, and paid Sonic handsomely for his work. Sonic used the leftovers to make himself a suit, but he turned his bluish thanks to overexposure to heat.

No one in the Neutral Lands knew that Ivo was going to attack Rose Castle in just a short amount of time. The following morning, Tails was up early, and he met Sonic as they approached the workshop. "Sonic? The sunrise is redder than normal…"

Sonic looks, and his heart sinks. "It is… Blood has been spilled this morning."

They had no idea how right they were. At Rose Castle, the instant there was enough light to see, Ivo had launched his attack. The trebuchets sent massive boulders into the walls and the battering ram made short work of the main gate. The fighting was quick, but not many fell, preferring to surrender instead.

The remaining nobles also surrendered quickly, but no one could find King Sebastian Rose. As Ivo entered the ruined gates, his lieutenant bowed to him. "We're looking for the royal family now. I'm being told the queen and princess left the castle several weeks ago. The king we believe may be in the tower."

Ivo scowls and bellows an order. "FIND THE KING! TAKE HIM ALIVE!"

The soldiers storm the castle, searching each chamber and room they come across. Finally they reached the high tower, and sure enough the door was bolted shut. Eight spears banged on the door, and one of the soldiers shouted. "In the name of King Ivo, open this door!"

The bolt slid open, and the door was kicked off its hinges. Out came King Sebastian Rose, whirling and slicing like a true animal. Filled with unbridled rage, he slew the first six enemies he saw before they could react. Unfortunately the king was soon surrounded and brought to the ground by overwhelming numbers.

His hands were bound tightly behind him, and he was dragged to the throne room, fighting every step of the way. Ivo was waiting for him. "At last…"

Sebastian tried to lunge at him but was held back by his captors. His blue eyes blazed with anger, and the red-furred hedgehog minced no words. "Coward! Usurper! Untie me and face me like a man!"

This remark earned him a hard backhand from an armored fist. Ivo shook his head. "Tsk tsk tsk… such ingratitude for rescuing your kingdom."

Sebastian spit out a mouthful of blood and gave Ivo a lopsided scowl. "Rescue? You haven't rescued anything at all! The only thing you've done is stolen what isn't yours!"

A gut punch put him on his knees, gasping for breath. The madman took the crown from his head and put it on, chuckling. "Get used to that position Sebastian. You'll be kneeling to me a lot."

The red hedgehog was put in the dankest prison the castle had, a putrid space of filth below the bathing areas. Ivo came out to the balcony, and he raised his hands, garnering a massive roar from the army he'd raised. "Did I not promise to get rid of that mad hedgehog? DID I NOT PROMISE IT?!"

There was a cheer, and the usurper nodded. "Now, we need the workers to begin repairs, and they will take time. Let's get to it!"

Ivo went to explore his new castle, finding his lieutenant. "There you are. We did it."

The officer nods. "Yes indeed. Now what will you do?"

Ivo grins evilly. "I want to hear whips cracking all day and all night. Those whips need to be ceaseless to bend this castle's residents to my will."

It only took a few minutes, but Ivo heard a wail of anguish as the citizens realized they had been tricked, and then he got his wish. What he didn't remember was that the Oracle had told him his reign would be a short one. Going into the library, the mad king began looking over the books and manuscripts.

The collection was enormous, dating back hundreds of years. Ivo came across a book in the prophecy section and picked it up, slowly thumbing through it. The book was written two hundred years earlier, though the author's name was worn away. About a third of the way through, the writing became more interesting and relevant.

Sitting in a chair, the new king began reading. "It seems whoever wrote this was a seer or fortune-teller of some kind."

The madman came to the realization that he was reading about the current times. The seer, under the influence of some kind of aromatic herbs, had correctly predicted a violent takeover of Rose Castle by a madman from the far south. The depiction was exactly like him. Ivo saw his bald head, round belly, and a large army behind him. But then the writing got to a point that made him angry.

Storming from the library, he went down to the prisons. The first guard he found was caught unawares, and he bowed. "Your Majesty!"

Ivo pulled him upright. "Where is that red furball?"

He was led to the cell where the deposed king sat in chains. Sebastian looked up with a grin. "Three hours and you already seek me out? You must not know how to rule."

Ivo ordered the door opened, and when it was, he flung the book at Sebastian. "Silence you worm! Translate this book!"

Sebastian caught the book and scowled at him. "Say please."

The usurper was furious. "You deign to order ME after you were deposed?"

Sebastian shrugged. "Manners cost nothing, so you either say please, or I give you this book back and you find someone else."

Ivo grit his teeth. "Please translate this book."

The red hedgehog laughed and looked at the guards. "You really want him to rule? For shame."

Ivo ground his teeth together. "Get to work or I'll kill you right now."

The true king laughed again. "You think death scares me? Unchain me and I'll show you exactly how afraid of death I am."

The evil ruler sighed but did nothing. Sebastian nodded. "I thought so. Also, let's be more careful with this book in the future. It's more valuable than you are. Now, let's see here… This appears to be in the High Royal Hedgehog language."

Ivo crossed his arms. "Who can read it?"

The hedgehog glanced at him. "Only the high royalty. I can read it, my wife can, and so can my daughter. Hmm…"

Ivo waits as patiently as he can. Finally Sebastian closes the book with a grim smile. "You sure you want to know what it says?"

Ivo frowns. "Tell me."

Shrugging, Sebastian opens the book again. "It says thus: Your conquest will be successful. Obviously, because you're standing there wearing my crown, and I'm in here, wearing these chains. However, two knights aided by allies will decimate your forces, and you yourself will fight valiantly, but you will lose, and your reign will end."

For the first time since his conquest began, Ivo looked troubled. "How long will the reign last?"

King Rose gave him a chuckle. "Four days. Enjoy it while you can."

Sebastian gives the book back to the evil usurper and laughs in his face. "I can see it on your face. You're scared. If you fight the knight I think you will, you're absolutely going to lose. He knows no fear, no pain, and has never lost any kind of contest."

The hedgehog was beaten again before he got any further, and Ivo stormed away, though he did put the book back. "We'll see about that, old king."

Finding his lieutenant, Ivo gives his orders. "Double the perimeter defenses. We'll need it."

The lieutenant frowns. "Does King Rose have allies?"

Ivo nods. "Yes, from the neighboring Acorn Kingdom. Make sure they don't get past the Neutral Lands."

The soldiers were deployed, and they were on high alert. In the Neutral Lands, Sonic and Jacob had tested their suits of armor for correct fit, and packed them up, satisfied with how they felt. Queen Sabina enters the workshop and smiles. "There you are. Come, we must discuss our battle plan."

Sonic pulled the queen aside before they went to Tails and Cream's residence. "One question before we go. What exactly did the king punish me for? I didn't think Amy and I had done anything wrong."

Sabina nodded. "You and Amy actually didn't do anything wrong. It's how it was interpreted by Sebastian. Essentially, you were punished for what he determined was the seduction of a king's daughter. Normally, that's a death sentence, but since you're a master blacksmith and critical to our realm as King Rose said, you got to keep your life."

Sonic frowned. "But Amy initiated that whole ordeal."

The white hedgehog nodded again. "Yes she did, but as I said, it's not what you did, it's what the king believed happened. He was considering exiling Amy to the Neutral Lands, but that would have left us no heir. He also considered whipping her like he did to you, but since she was pregnant, didn't want to risk infanticide and thus possibly losing an heir."

Sonic rubbed his quills. "So essentially what happened was the best of what became a bad situation."

Sabina sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. There were no good outcomes for that ordeal. I'm thankful you did it, because it showed your true character. But that's in the past now. Come, we need to discuss a battle plan."

The two hedgehogs meet the Acorns, Jacob, and Princess Amy at Tails' cottage. Maximilian Acorn nodded to them. "Glad you could make it. Now, any ideas?"

The queen points to the woods. "We start here. No doubt there will be sentries watching for us."

Sonic looks at Tails. "I nominate Miles for a stealth group. Bows and arrows, or daggers if you can get close enough."

Tails looks at Sabina. "With Your Highness' permission."

She nods. "You have it."

Alicia speaks up. "Take our snipers with you, and may the fates bless your mission."

Jacob speaks up now. "The others should surround the castle in a pincer movement and commandeer the trebuchets."

Maximilian nods. "We can do that, but the usurper will fight to the death to keep his rule."

The giant nods. "Leave him to me. I'd prefer someone else kill him, but if I have to, then I will."

Sonic nods. "That leaves me to escort Queen Sabina to rescue the king. Elias? Can you help?"

The chipmunk shook his head. "I will be elsewhere, but Sally can help you."

Sonic looked at her. "Excellent."

Amy glances at Sally. "Keep my husband and mother safe, and don't try anything funny."

Sally chuckles. "Amy, he's chosen you, and you're carrying his child. I won't violate that vow. As for your mother, I think she'll be okay. She's lived in that castle long enough to know where to go even with her eyes closed."

Amy nods and rubs her ever-growing belly. "Good. I trust you Sally."

Queen Sabina nods, looking around at the others. "It's settled then. Let's move."

A priest says a blessing, and the soldiers begin their movements. The tension was heavy in the air, and in just a few days, Rose Castle would either be liberated, or remain lost for good.