Sonic and Princess Sally sat uncomfortably as they took their seats in the Banquet Hall; the damned place was a lot more...Crowded than it usually was and that was due to the fact that a lot of Lord Amadeus's men and some unknown folk from the town guard had decided to accompany them in the joys of the banquet...Their reasons as to why they were in attendance was unknown to the knights or the Princess; they had not been informed that they would be getting additional guests for dinner tonight...However, they wouldn't question their reasons as to why such folk were here; chances are were that King Nigel had invited them without telling anyone...
Nonetheless, they were still plagued with concern...Everyone else in the banquet hall was here, except for four people and that was extremely unusual...First of all Miles wasn't here and that was...Unusual; the young fox was rarely ever late to meals and even then, it'd only be if something was terribly wrong...However they seemed to find the last time that they had seen him...If anything, he was in high spirits as he socialised with the Prower children and his friend Cream the serf...
Speaking of the Prowers, they seemed to be absent from the feast as well...Holly, Samuel and Lord Amadeus too. None of them were in the hall, yet his men were...Sir Leoncour standing ominously in the far corner of the hall, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword...It was weird...They hoped that whatever was going on wasn't too severe...
"Where in the name of Chaos is that boy? He was supposed to be here 10 minutes ago!" Sonic said impatiently, drumming his fingers on the wood of the table.
"And where are the Prowers? It's not like them to miss feasts like this." Sally responded in kind...Showing just as much, if not more impatience and worry than her bodyguard...
Their question was answered by the rather nervous, quiet voice of Cream the rabbit,
"Ermmm...Excuse me Lord Sonic...Princess Sally...But when I last saw him, he had just fallen over and bloodied his nose so he went away to go and clean up...As for the Prower's? Well, I don't know where Lord Amadeus is but, when me, Samuel and Holly got to the doors of the dining hall...One of Lord Amadeus's men approached us and told Holly and Sam to go to the coach outside and that they were leaving...However the knight didn't say for what reason though...He just dragged them away and didn't say another word."
"You mean they've left and let their men remain here?" Sally asked, disturbed by what she was hearing; it was deeply suspicious for the family to depart so...Hastily while their soldiers would be allowed to stay for a time ...There was certainly something wrong with tis but she couldn't quite put her finger on just what it exactly was and the same could be said for Miles...Surely washing blood off of your face didn't take that long unless it got all over his clothes and he had to change...But even then, a minor nosebleed wouldn't do such a thing...
"Hey, quiet! King Nigel's about to make a speech!" They heard one man irritably call to them, not seeming to realise just who it was who they were talking to...However, he was telling the truth as they watched King Nigel Acorn stand up in his seat and tap the side of his goblet with a spoon in order to get the attention of the feast's attendees...A veil of silence fell over the room like night falling over the orange skies of dusk...The chatter of the men, women and children present melting away like snow in the early days of spring...
A smile was plastered on the old king's face as he surveyed his hall...His old eyes still bright and filled with pride and joy...He raised his goblet up to them all and happily announced to the room,
"My friends, acquaintances, subjects, all of you... I am immensely thankful that you have all come to attend yet another feast organised by your dear old king." Nigel said quite content with the state of the hall, the men and women within it cheering and clapping...
However the absence of his dear friend Amadeus and his family certainly bothered him a little bit; he didn't even get any news or proper reasoning from the lord of the Iron Coast. All that had happened was one of his servants appearing before him and informing him that the Prowers had to leave "On account of important business" the nature of which hadn't even been told to him...It was somewhat suspicious, but he knew Amadeus well; the fox had never really been one for fine conversation, if a problem arose, he would face it head on and tell his allies of it after it had been dealt with.
Nonetheless, there was still a speech he had to make and he would do as best as he could; it was expected of a king, especially one such as him to be a good host to all his guests and so as the applause died down a bit, he began to speak to them all,
"I am glad to see so many of you here this evening and while it is a great shame that my dear friend Amadeus and his family can't be with us in attendance today, but no matter for it is just as good to see all of you here.
I know that I may not be the greatest king of this realm; I am no great warrior, brilliant statesman nor a pious ruler...But nonetheless I was chosen by the gods to be your king and over the past 30 years I hope that I have served as a good king for you all...I know that I am not particularly long for this world, my body is growing frail and I confess that my mind isn't as sharp as it once was...But do not worry, do not panic, do not fret in any way...For when I go, I will leave the throne in the hands of my dear son Elias under the council of the ever-loyal Baron Ivo Robotnik...But, enough of the pleasantries and dramatic speeches...Let's feast!"
The cheers once again reverberated around the room as Nigel laughed and once again raised his goblet before walking back and taking a seat beside Elias and Baron Robotnik who smiled at him warmly...
"Excellent speech your highness, I am sure that'll win over their hearts once more!" Robotnik said in a voice mimicking that of a sincere and friendly tone...His true intentions masked under a veil of loyalty and friendliness.
"Why thank you Ivo! I'm certainly glad you think so, it seems like that one received less applause than my usual ones...Maybe I'm losing my edge in my old age, the old bones are beginning to fossilise and all that!" The King laughed merrily, Elias and the baron laughed in response, however only one of them was genuine...
"Indeed, my lord, well...I certainly hope the rest of the feast will be to your liking. Only the best for our king." Robotnik said, his voice practically smothered in the veil of friendliness and nobility he pretended to really have...He looked to the other side of the table towards Starline who was looking towards him with worried determination...The look in his eyes one that asked "Is it time to enact our plan?" and the only response the Baron would give was a mere nod.
The platypus then gently bent down in his seat, knocking over his fork as a mask for his true actions,
"Oh dear! Apologies my liege, let me just pick that up." He said in a fake tone of surprise as his top half disappeared below the table...However when he emerged, it was not only with his cutlery, but with the Sari venom in hand which he set down on the table.
He was lucky as to not have drawn attention from anyone else who had been sitting at the table...Now all they had to do is wait until somebody took the venom that they had poured into a small wine jug beside the king, it took a few minutes however...It wasn't long until an Acorn took the bait...
Elias Acorn, the eldest child of King Nigel Acorn and the heir to the throne of the kingdom was the first to notice the jug of "wine" on the table and he gingerly grabbed it in one hand, turning over to his father and presenting it,
"Father, I don't recognise this wine. It wasn't here earlier." he said in a rather suspicious and dare I say it, even nervous voice.
The King turned towards him, a lot more relaxed and content than his heir. But nonetheless he leaned over to take a closer look at the wine jug,
"Hmmm...Yes, that is rather odd...It doesn't match the other wine jugs here in the palace...Although it certainly looks like regular wine in there...Smells like wine too...Say, Ivo? Do you recognise this at all?"
The King set the jug down on the wood of the table once again and gently slid it along and into the hands of Baron Robotnik who in turn picked it up in his great hands and gazed down upon it...The jug shimmered in the candle light as he turned it around; the Baron looked up and down the jug and inside...The Baron smirked and even gave out a hearty, yet rather sinister chuckle as he handed the poison to the prince,
"Fret not Prince Elias, it is merely wine...I do not see why you worry so much, here. Take a drink from it if you fancy."
Elias looked down into the jug, seeing the sloshing, deep red liquid within before looking back up at the Baron who only smiled back and towards his father who smiled too...He took a sniff of the wine and he didn't detect anything that was out of the ordinary...It smelled sweet and rich...Nice even; perhaps he was just being a worry wort...What harm could come from this after all? And so, he grabbed his goblet and poured some of the deep red liquid into it before setting it back down on the table.
King Nigel, seeing how his son was prepared to take a drink from the mysterious wine merely shrugged in response and grabbed it himself, pouring out some of the liquid into his own goblet...He peered down into it and took a swig of the poison...
Elias then in turn gingerly took a small sip from the "wine" himself and... let out a contented sigh, it was...surprisingly pleasant, dark, rich...Sweet...Whatever they had done to create it must have been truly extraordinary to get such fine results...However, as he looked across the table...He saw that Baron Robotnik and Starline were grinning like madmen...The former of the two was even chuckling slightly, an evil smirk plastered on his face.
"What are you smiling at Ivo?" Elias said, his tone laced with irritation, suspicion and even a tad bit of worry.
"Oh, nothing my dear boy! Starline just told me the funniest joke."
"What joke?"
The Platypus's grin only widened as he felt the Prince and the King's gaze upon him at the same time and, wanting to revel in his victory and rub salt into the invisible wound...He began to speak...
"Oh, my lieges, it is an utterly hysterical one...Allow me to explain it...You see...This Kingdom used to be strong, safe, secure and rich...ever so rich...In gold, culture and martial prowess..."
"But it still is now? I don't think this joke particularly works Arch-Bishop..." Elias said warily and growing even more irritated.
"Is it? I had no idea? What with all the...frivolous spending, neglect of the military, surrounding yourselves with folk who care about little more than their own personal power and riches...All of that starting with your grandfather...Nigel..." Starline said, his tone mocking and condescending towards them.
Nigel didn't approve of such words one bit and in a mere instant his friendly, laid-back demeanour evaporated like water on a hot pan and he leaned forward, his nails digging into the wood of the table,
"What did you just say to me Arch Bishop?!"
"What? Did you not hear the man's words? He said that the kingdom has lost all of its...glory, splendour, strength and security...All because your grandfather, your father and you were too spineless, weak and stupid to do what it takes to build a truly great kingdom...I always took you for an old fool Nigel, but really...Must your hearing be terrible as well?" Robotnik butted in, his words dripping with malevolence, smugness and arrogance.
"HOW DARE YOU!" The King roared, feeling the fires of rage kindle within him...What was the reason for this insolence and treasonous words?! It was outrageous! It was disgusting! How dare he speak to him in such a manner!
...
The shout could be heard from all across the dining hall and as quick as a bolt of lightning, every single pair of eyes in the hall turned to face the quarrelling quartet...Sally Acorn was the first to act however, moving to stand up and head over to the table, demanding Robotnik and Starline explain themselves for whatever words had been said to provoke such rage within her father; it was a rare sight indeed for the mild-mannered Nigel III to lose his temper in such a violent fashion and that meant that something was wrong, Sir Sonic and the rest of the highest Knights of Acorn stood up alongside her and moved over to the other side of the room...However, strangely enough...The men dressed in Lord Prower's colours as well as the royal guards barred their way.
"What is the meaning of this? Move at once!" The Princess exclaimed, walking up to the guard closest to her and staring him dead in the eye...The guard didn't even budge.
"I am sorry Ms Acorn, but we are no longer required to follow your orders..." He merely responded, his hand resting on the handle of his sheathed broadsword...
"What do you mean?..." Sally asked suddenly, her voice growing thin and distant; what was happening? Was she dreaming or something? They were THE Royal Guard of Acorn; they were tasked with protecting and serving the royal family with utmost loyalty and obedience, even laying down their lives for the throne and the same could be said for Prower's men considering just who it was they served.
"We are no longer required to follow your orders Ms Acorn. Now, all of you sit back down and stay there...We do not wish to escalate the situation any more than you are doing now." He responded, addressing each of them.
Knuckles was the first to speak up, marching up to the guard and glaring daggers into his face.
"Are you threatening us?!" He snarled, gritting his teeth together like a feral beast...However, the guard remained composed in the face of the Knight and he merely stated in return,
"No Sir Knuckles, I am only informing you of what we were ordered to do. Now, back away and sit down...There are far more of us than there are of you and as talented as you all are as warriors, you will not overpower us without your weapons...Now, sit down and be quiet...Ms Acorn, I recommend you leave the hall. You will not like what'll happen in a few minutes."
The princess's face went white as mid-winter snow and in a hushed and horrified voice she spoke to the guard...
"What are you talking about?...What have you done?..."
Sonic tried to move over to her and grasp her hand, wanting to do as the soldier asked for her safety and the safety of everyone else there...It was his job to protect her and he wouldn't cease in his duty, even if meant obeying the orders of these treasonous guards...However Sally swatted his hand aside; she refused to move and do as the soldier asked until she knew exactly what was happening.
"What have you done?!" She repeated, however this time her tone was far more erratic, scared and desperate...The guard merely sighed in response and moved aside, but unsheathing his sword to ensure that she wouldn't go any further than the length of the blade, allowing her to see what was happening.
...
"I WILL NOT TOLERATE BEING SPOKEN TO IN SUCH A MANNER!" Nigel exploded with rage, pointing a bony finger at Starline and Robotnik who only laughed at the king and Prince whose faces were red with fury. Their cackles only seemed to enrage them further and that only triggered Prince Elias even further and like a volcano he exploded once more,
"WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING YOU BASTARDS?! TELL US OR BY CHAOS, WE WILL MAKE SURE YOUR DEATHS ARE AGONISING."
However, the threat only seemed to give the opposite effect and made them laugh even harder...Tears streamed from the pair's eyes and their hands slapped against their knees as they laughed,
"Oh you fools...you hilarious, doomed fools...OUR deaths will be agonising? I would worry about yourselves first!" Starline wheezed out.
"What are you talking about Starline?!" King Nigel growled, however it was quickly cut off when he felt a... strange sensation overcome him; he couldn't exactly describe what the feeling was but...He felt a strange sort of...tingling inside his body, he could even feel it in his very bones...And as the seconds went by, he noticed that the tingling began to strengthen and shift into a kind of...burning sensation, like his organs and bones were being coated in white hot ashes...And he felt a feeling of cold, overwhelming, horror build within him.
"What...What did you do?..." Nigel said, wincing as he felt the burning sensation shift slowly into a burning pain, causing him to clutch at his chest for the worst of the pain persisted in his heart...He looked towards his son who seemed to be experiencing the same as him, albeit to a much lesser extent...
The King tried to raise his hand to his throat, feeling bile...or blood rising in his throat, yet...He couldn't bring himself to do so, there was too much...agonising pain all over his body; it was like being dipped in the hottest volcanic lava, utterly...inconceivable pain, his bones felt like they were on fire, his blood felt like it was boiling in his veins and he could feel his insides slowly melt to red, bloody, slurry...
"Oh, Nigel my dear...old...friend..." Robotnik sneered, leaning in close as thick, viscous, blackish blood began to dribble from the two royal's noses, eyes and mouths...
"You didn't REALLY think it was wine...Did you?"
"No...NO!" The shrill, hysterical cry of Sally Acorn sounded out, tears of panic, sorrow and rage pouring down her face as she saw her family suffering the most agonising fates a mortal could possibly endure...The girl tried desperately to break through the line of guards...calling out desperately for her dying father and brother...But it was too no avail, they wouldn't budge...No matter how hard she tried to barge, punch and kick her way past, it did virtually nothing and would not change the inevitable...In fact it only seemed to aggravate the treacherous baron even more...
"Would someone please shut that bitch up?!" He yelled at the top of his voice and in almost an instant, two loud thuds sounded out as well as a tide of angry yells from the knights shortly after as the very guard who had been blocking Sally's way hit her over the head with the blunt of his sword, sending her tumbling down to the stone floor, blood leaking from the side of her head...Sir Sonic and Knuckles moving forth to drag her back towards the infuriated group who hurled insults and threats aplenty towards the unflinching soldiers...
"Y-Y-You will d-d-die for this...R-Robotnik..." King Nigel choked out, slowly drowning in his own blood and dissolved, coagulating organ tissue...His eyes staring up, glassy, empty and almost dead...The spark within them rapidly flickering away...However the Baron merely hushed him and gently closed his eyes...Smiling wickedly as he heard Elias suffering the very same fate...
"Do not count on it...Old friend..."
...
The first thing Miles felt as he very slowly slipped back into consciousness was pain...A thick, heavy, throbbing pain centred around his neck from where Lord Amadeus had violently throttled and very nearly killed him...He let out a hoarse, quiet groan as he slowly opened his eyes...His vision blurry and unfocused...He felt as if there had been a knot tied in his throat...He felt sick...he was going to be sick...
He leaned over to his side and retched, the foul, sharp smelling bile splattering onto the floor beside him...The acid only exponentially increasing the pain he felt around his throat...And he reached up with one trembling paw to feel it, rapidly withdrawing it as he felt the pain flair up even more; Lord Amadeus was an extremely strong man, even if he didn't quite look it...
Lord Amadeus...His mind was slower than it normally was, and so the cogs of his brain turned slower than a snail's funeral march as the memories came seeping back into his mind...Lord Amadeus...Robotnik...Starline...Nigel...King Nigel! He had to warn him of their plot!
He tried his damned hardest to climb to his feet, his knees wobbly and his legs shaking like they had been doused in ice water...Yet they served him as faithfully as they had ever done...Gently clutching his injured throat, he slowly hobbled to the end of the dark passageway where it connected with the wider hall and thank sweet Chaos, the first people he saw was the congregation of the Knights and Princess Sally...
"Miles! Oh, by Chaos there you are!" Sonic exclaimed, wanting to rush over to his ward and grant him the tightest hug imaginable...
However, Miles stood there in front of them...A look of pained nervousness plastered across his face...The fox had noticed the utterly grim, bleak, joyless, mournful expressions etched onto each of their faces...The unconscious form of Princess Sally being carried by Sonic and Knuckles...And the fact that they were all being escorted by armed guards...
Furthermore, Sonic also began to notice something that was off about Miles...Around the boy's neck there rested ugly, purple bruises that could be seen even through the golden yellow fur...Almost as if he had been strangled...But by who? The Knight felt even more anger bubble within him as he thought of what kind of sick monster would so willingly harm a child in such a way...But no matter...As the fox walked in between the uncaring guards and stood right in front of him...He spoke, well...He tried too at least.
"W-W-What h-h-happened..." he just barely managed to croak out, sharply whimpering in pain after and clutching his throat...And Sonic opened his mouth to speak...But to his surprise...It was Amy who answered his question.
"Betrayal Miles...Betrayal..."