Sonic and The Chaos Kingdom
Ch. 18
By: Cutegirlmayra (Here we are, ladies and gentlemen. I've enjoyed writing this and having the pleasure of entertaining you with my Medieval Sonic interpretation. I hope you stay for the Bonus Stories about the Parents and Skid afterword. It's gonna be fun : ) Love you all! Stay tuned! And prepare for one more chapter!)
4 1/2 years later
"Yaay!" A little baby boy ran down the halls of the palace, as Vanilla and three maids scurried to catch him, seeing him flailing his arms around and not wearing any shoes or socks.
"Young prince! Please!" A younger maid cried out, full out sprinting, as Vanilla wearily stayed behind.
"I'm getting too old for this…" she lifted up her dress and leaned her head back, growing exhausted.
"Leave this to us, ma'am!" The younger maid, having trailed by her side, suddenly bolted forward, her eyes firing up as she even passed the maid in front, who blinked her eyes in confused awe as she scarily made her way up to the little prince.
"H-huh?" He looked up the maid. "Ahh!" he smiled widely. "You're fast, miss!"
She looked over at him with fire still in her eyes, "You have to take a bath!" she leaped to reach out to him.
"Blah!" leaping back, the young prince dodged the advance and jumped with a little cute bounce over the girl, spinning and landing with his hands up. "Ta-dah!"
"Skid? Is that you?"
"Ah?" Skid turned around, before he saw Cream with flowers in a basket, who moved her dress to kneel down to look towards him, and smiled.
"You've been leaving skid marks all over the palace lately. You know your mommy and daddy are very busy. They've asked us to get you to the bath so they can spend some time with you. Don't you miss them, Skid?" Cream's voice was angelic and full of love, making the young boy stare at her, and then look at the flowers.
"Ah! Pretty! They smell nice." He put his nose in them, before pulling out and having some petals in his hair. "Ah! It's stuck." He frowned, as Cream laughed.
The others finally caught up, huffing and puffing.
"Thank you, baby." Vanilla stated, catching her breath. "Phoo… He reacts so much better with kindness and a pretty face than he does being commanded to do anything." She sighed.
"Ah-ha! Girls are always pretty, Miss Vanilla. I want to marry them all!" Skid spread his arms out wide, and then turned back to Cream. "Will you marry me?"
The young maids behind him all gave him a funny look, as Cream giggled.
"I'm too old to marry you, silly." She politely declined, putting a hand up to her mouth to giggle some more.
His smile faded to disappointment. "Huh? Ohh.." he bent his head down along with his ears.
He then pouted and folded his arms, tapping a foot to the ground, "Hmph! I want a wife!"
"You're only 4, young prince." A maid leaned her head back, looking exhausted at his antics.
The other, younger maid sighed, bending down and sprawling her arms out like a cat's. "Ahh… At least he likes girls. At this rate, we may not have to wait for the deadline like his father for a new queen." She joked, as Vanilla thought about it a moment; a little more seriously.
"Hmm… he is much like his mother." She looked down, seeing him organize the flower petals in his hair, as the maids all giggled and put a flower crown on him, placing each stem into his quills to hold it's place.
"Ah! Now I'm the flower king of girls!" Skid jumped up, as the girls all laughed, but the younger one put her hands on her hips.
"Come on, now. You can't think you can rule over all women."
"Oh..? Hmm… What if I gave them all crowns too?"
"He's gonna start a harem in the kingdom." The older maid teased, as Cream shook her head.
"He's only a child."
"Momma told me that if I'm nice to girls, I'll find my one true love." He adjusted the crown on his head, as the girls looked down and listened intently. "Then, when the time is right, Momma said she'll be my wife, and I can marry her and love her for forever." He looked up at Vanilla, and grinned. It was a wonderful look in her eyes. "Isn't that right, Miss Vanilla?"
'He spends too much time with his mother and far too great more of a time around girls." Vanilla sweat dropped and seemed disturbed by how feminine he seemed to be.
"Y-yes… of course, my dear." She still felt it was right to encourage what Amy had taught him. "But you must know those things are for when you are much older." She still had to set some limits though.
Skid seemed shocked to hear that, and folded his arms, growing grumpy, before plopping on his bottom and huffing. "I want a wife NOW."
The maids groaned as Cream and Vanilla just awkwardly chuckled.
"Now, now, young Prince. To the baths with you." Vanilla got up, having caught her breath, and wiped the dirt from her dress, holding out her hand for the boy. "You're parents will be waiting by now."
"…Hmm.." he looked at the hand. "I want mommy…" he looked sorrowfully to the hand.
Vanilla felt her heart sting a bit, but knew he was very much a momma's boy anyway.
"She's off on her duties, young child. Your father's having a meeting in the throne room and-"
Suddenly, Skid's head lifted up and a huge, signature open grin from him showed his excitement coming across his face. "Daddy's here!?"
"B-but busy!" Vanilla saw he was getting energy again, and threw her arms out to catch him before-
He reeled his legs forward, but stayed in place, screeching his bare feet against the palace floors, sparking up friction like a tire to the pavement, before skidding off in an arch, leaving black marks as he trailed down the palace and dashed for the throne room. "Dadddyyy!" he cried out.
The maids all waited for the dust to clear before looking hopeless.
The flowers had flown out of the basket and landed all over the floor and the ladies heads.
They all sighed in unison, bending down from their torso's and their clothes sagging slightly.
"I can't believe I'm going through this again." Vanilla recounted the times she would race down Sonic, but Skid was much more unpredictable than his father.
-Throne Room-
"And with that, your highness."
A man placed a stick he was holding back into his other hand, after pointing to a large tapestry they had before them.
"We've received a full account of the land and have charted both the Chaos and Ark Kingdom. We're now wondering, with the kingdom's officially mapped and locally colonized, if we should give the combined kingdom a unified name."
The kind young duke, newly appointed, looked to Sonic. His lion tail flicked as Sonic looked very interested in the conversation, leaning forward, his quills spiking up in their excitement, as he stood up and forward, looking over the giant piece of fabric that showed the two lands and the space between them fully populated now.
"…A new name… huh?" Sonic put his hand under his chin, before he heard a small voice call out from the side of him.
"Skid land!"
The men all turned to the voice.
"…Skid park?"
The men all looked to one another, and smiled at the childish answers.
"Skid planet!"
Sonic gave a small smile to his son, before shaking his head. "I think we'll call this to a later matter. Ado." He nodded to them, and walked over to his kid, as a few men servants raced to pull up his trail, before Sonic waved it off, not caring about looking good or professional curtesy's now that the duke and his officials were gone.
"How goes my- WOAH!" he noticed the flower crown then, even if it was really messed up now, the petals were still all spiked along his own quills. "Wha…Wha-wha-wha-Who gave you a makeover?" He looked embarrassed for his own kid.
"Ah… these?" Skid pointed to his flower crown, and then beamed, "Heee~ Cream, Miss Vanilla, and some maids all helped crown me the flower king of girls!" he spread his arms out, as the menservants looked to each other, and chuckled.
Sonic froze, blank faced, before turning to the men, "It's not funny!" he scolded, and the menservants straightened themselves up, not making a sound.
Sonic turned back to his son. "You should be in uniform! Training with the sword! Not… playing in daisies!" Sonic gestured, as Skid suddenly looked sad, seeing his father so disapproving of his crown.
"B-b-but… it's pretty." He placed his hands on his head, covering the remains of the flowers.
"It's girly. That's what it is." Sonic put his hands on his hips, leaning forward. "You don't want to be called a pansy, now do you?"
"What's.. what's a pansy?"
"A mean term. A very mean term. You should never say it, and you shouldn't allow others to say it, either." He motioned for his son to come forward, "Now… come on, kid. I'll fix you up." Sonic knelt down, continuing to gesture for Skid to come closer.
In what looked to be unsureness, Skid slowly approached his father, twiddling his fingers.
"Bend your head." Sonic instructed, and Skid did so, but flinched back when his father moved for his crown.
"Huh? Hey, hold still." He pulled his head back, and started to ruffle his quills, making Skid lose fear for a moment and laugh, before he saw the petals falling out of his hair…
"Geez… they really decked you out good, didn't they?" Sonic kept brushing the petals out, and then pulled the flowers out of his quills.
Skid's eyes shook in horror, before fighting off his father's hands and pushing away, falling backwards.
His eyes showed betrayal, and he started to tear up.
"W…What's gotten into you?" Sonic was surprised by his wild fighting, pushing his hands away, but was now more concerned over the tears.
"H-hold on a second… you're a boy! Boy's don't-!" he got up, but it was too late.
"WHHHHHHHHHAAAA-HA-HA-HAAA!"
The menservants plugged their ears, but looked away, still not responding to this act.
"Y-…You're not suppose to cry!" Sonic cried out, plugging his own ears.
Skid kept leaning his head up and crying, before wiping his tears and pulling up some of the worn down flowers, and picking at them.
"S…Skid." Sonic sweat dropped, seeing him calm down and bent back down to him.
"What? You want to smell like daisies?"
Skid didn't respond, just kept rubbing his hands on the smooth petals, and then looked up to his dad.
"I.." he sniffed, "I…" he sucked up some buggers in his nose. "I just wanted a crown like you, daddy…"
Sonic's heart dropped, as he realized the true reason for the flowers…
"O-Ohh… well…" Sonic looked away a moment, before up at his crown on his right ear.
He smiled, and pulled it down.
"There ya go!"
He used a hand to flick his arm down and place the large crown over his Son's head, making Skid drop the flower and look up from having the crown tilt down over his face, and hit just near his mouth.
He repositioned it and then looked up, holding it in place with both hands.
His signature happy open grin came back, and Sonic smiled warmly as he wiped the remaining tears away.
"There you go, squirt. A crown fit for a king."
"Of girls!" Skid jumped up, and then took on a royal look as he suddenly held his head high. "I decree that no man shall marry because all girls now belong to me!"
"Ack!" the menservants flinched back, not being able to NOT react to that.
Sonic sweatdropped, also flinching slightly back. "W-what!? You can't do that!"
"But it's a decree." Skid looked back up at his father, showing sorrow again. "You.." he started to tear up again, hiccupping, "You never let me do what I want!" he threw the crown back at his dad and cried, racing away and skidding across the floors. "Uncle Tails taught me what a decree means! But you taught me what meanness means! Whhhaa!"
Sonic held the crown with his face blank, unable to understand what had just happened. "That… that punk." Sonic blinked, before tightening his hold on the crown.
He then gritted his teeth and charged after him, "You little flirt! Get back here!" he took off down after him, quickly catching up and swiping for him.
Skid jumped to dodge the arm swinging out for him, as Sonic looked astonished he was able to react so quickly, before Skid jumped on his head and bounced off.
"WAH!" Sonic was pushed forward before stopping and turning around, his cape flying back behind him, as he looked up and saw his son's expression.
Skid stuck out his tongue and pulled on the bottom of his eye, taunting his own father, before racing off to the baths.
"YOU LITTLE-" Sonic bolted after him, "I'll teach you to mock your old man!"
"Whhaa! Mommy! Daddy's being mean to me!" Skid cried out, but it was more an act now, as he was trying to escape punishment.
He skidded the corner as Sonic followed after him, but didn't have the drift abilities of his son, and so with each corner, Skid narrowly escaped capture.
"That does it." Sonic narrowed his eyes, seeing that Skid would just skid and drift around corners if he started getting too close, he rolled up into a ball.
Skid looked back, skidding to a halt and leaving more black marks on the floor.
Sonic whirled up, creating a noise of sorts, before flinging out and circling his son.
"Escape this!" he teased, as Skid looked afraid, putting his hands close to his mouth, too afraid to cry out.
"SOOONNNICCC!"
Sonic suddenly unspun, and looked back.
Amy's face looked ticked the heck off.
"What on earth are you doing!? You're scaring our son!"
"M…Momma!" Skid cried all the way into her arms, holding her close and kicking his legs out. "D-DA-DADDY'S BEING MEAN TO ME!" he ducked his head down, gripping the sides of her puffy dress's shoulders.
"There, there… Mommy's got you." Amy lovingly caressed him, before her eyes darted up in an angry glare to Sonic.
She lifted Skid off the floor and held him on her hip. "What were you thinking!?"
Skid stuck out his tongue again, showing his father he now had the upper hand.
Sonic twitched at his manipulative little smirk, and shook a fist up. "Amy! I'm trying to discipline this-!"
"You will do no such thing! He didn't do anything wrong! Didn't you, little angel?" she looked back down at Skid, who changed his beaming expression to one of hurt and fear, and nodded to his mother, as their noses touched and they nuzzled one another.
"H-..He's playing you!" Sonic pointed accusingly.
"That's enough." Amy swung her head back to Sonic, and held her son closer to her now. "You're both filthy and need a bath. We'll settle this over dinner." She lifted her head high, as if that was the final word on the matter, and turned around, walking down to the bath's doors in the basement.
Skid looked over her shoulder, and gave his father the best 'I win' expression you could possibly imagine.
Sonic shook violently behind them the whole way down, his eyebrow twitched at his son being able to get away with disrespecting him like that, and realized with a sigh that he was just taking after him.
But had more of his mother's rascal side in him.
"Darn kids…" Sonic muttered. "And she wants more? Pfft." He looked away.
It had been a well known rumor that Amy was desperate for another baby, but that Sonic was outright refusing to spawn any other heirs.
All he needed was one… anyway…
"Of course I want more kids, what's wrong with kids?" Getting into the bath bowl, Amy bounced Skid in the water, before letting him play in the shallow end. He kicked up splashes and laughed, sitting down and whamming his hands against the surface, trying to make the biggest ruckus of water that he could.
Sonic tsked, and sat down beside her, lifting a leg up and putting his hand down to rest on it. "Well for one, they're a handful. Have you seen how many maids were chasing him just the other day?" Sonic raised an eyebrow to her, as she opened an eye slightly to show her resentment at him actually having reasons to oppose her.
"He's just got half your speed is all." Amy countered, and then pulled him up to her lap, letting him slap the water near her.
She giggled, cuddling him slightly as he pulled her head away, not wanting her to interfere with his battle against the wet element.
"Hehe~ Not all your family had fast children."
"I like one, is that so wrong?" Sonic leaned back, putting his hands behind his head and laying down. "Where's Shadow? He never had an heir." He pouted.
"He's still looking for Eggman, isn't he? That was your first charge on him, right?" Amy blinked as Sonic seemed to reflect on the matter, and moved his foot around in the water slightly.
"Yeah."
Skid saw the foot moving and beamed, getting on all fours and shaking his butt around, sticking his tongue out playfully and then pouncing on his father's leg, biting it and trying to subdue his new target.
"Ow! Hey!" Sonic leaned up, holding up a fist.
"Skid! No biting, young man." Amy scolded, "Besides, he hadn't cleaned it yet. It's stinky." Skid immediately looked over to her, before turning in the water to kick at his father's foot, holding it steady, growling and nibbling on it, not seeming to care, but biting gentler than before. (Author's Note: It's a well known fact that animals that didn't grow up in a litter have a hard time learning how to 'play bite'.)
"That tickles!" Sonic flung his leg up, as Skid went flying with it.
"WEEEEE!"
The two watched as their heads slowly moved down, and then panic washed over them as they scurried forward on all fours to catch him before he could hit his head down on the shallow water.
They both reached one hand out, and together, caught his head as he laughed and clapped his hands.
"Again, again, again!" he said, upside down.
The two 'phew'ed in relief, and set him back down.
Amy sweat drop, speaking softly, "Why not play by the sides, Skid?"
He looked to his mother, and nodded, before walking up and kissing her on the forehead, and then laughing as he went off to play.
She smiled, turning to Sonic, before she suddenly lost that smile as he looked angrily at her.
"What?"
"…. Nothing." Sonic folded his arms and looked away, leaning down, having his arms in front of his face, and positioned himself on his stomach. The water coming up near his mouth at a line.
She saw his upset look and bent down, before pulling out a bottle and dipping her hands in it.
"You're acting strange, what's wrong?" she then started to wash his head, as he just allowed her to do whatever.
"…He just… he seems to like you more than he does me." Sonic eyed his son on the side, seeing him continue to battle with the water, smashing his body into it and flailing his limps around, as if trying to make angels in the water, and have no water touch him.
He almost succeeded when he got his feet whirling around, but when he tried to curl up like he saw his father do, he just flopped forward, and started to tear up in frustration at not being able to turn into a ball.
"He just spends a lot more time with me. You have been busy, lately… you know? And I take him down here a lot. If anything, my son will not be afraid of the water! He even knows how to doggy paddle." She smiled proudly, before looking back to Sonic, and seeming concerned for him. "You know he loves you… don't you?"
"…"
"Sonic… I want another baby…" Amy leaned down on his back, sighing.
He puffed, "Really? Heh. Smooth transition, Amy." He groaned out, rolling his eyes at her tact.
She then rubbed his neck, seductively.
"Please..?" she whispered in his ear.
He twitched his ear, and scowled.
He knew the truth… but he couldn't tell her.
"Sonic…" she cooed again, playing with his bubbly hair.
He shook her off and with that, shook off bubbles.
One bubble hit the side of Skid's face, who looked over at his dad, and started laughing, racing back over and grabbing the bottle from floating in the water. "Me too! Me too!" he dipped more than he should and started rubbing it all over his body, becoming a big bubble mass.
"Ah!" Amy was covered in the bubbles, before sighing and washing herself off as well. "Why are you so opposed!? It wouldn't be that bad if-"
"Please, Amy. Just drop it." Sonic took a breath and dunked his face into the water, shaking water into his head without diving in, since he hated being fully engrossed in water, and quickly lifted his head out to clean out all the bubbles.
He looked to Skid, and let out an amused chuckle, seeing that only his eyes were now visible in the white bubbles. "You look like a poodle." Sonic teased, and splashed him with a swing of his hand.
Skid fell over, laughing, before spraying water at Sonic, as Sonic smiled and tackled him, beginning to wrestle with him.
Amy pouted, before looking hopeless at bringing up the topic again, and just watched as her true love and only son played with one another.
"At least they're taking a bath." She sighed.
She watched as Sonic picked Skid up, putting him on his head and then swimming slightly on his belly, mostly crawling, as Skid laughed and pretended to have a telescope, looking around before he called out Shark!
Sonic turned around and stated he was the shark, and started chasing him around.
Amy smiled, but something still nagged at her heart.
He clearly loved Skid… he wouldn't have been so concerned about Skid kisses her and leaving him be if he didn't.
So… why doesn't he love her anymore?
When Skid went off to the deeper ends, Sonic stopped and scolded him, calling him back.
Skid doggy paddled back and grabbed Sonic's arm, as he then looked up and offered his arms, a universal sign that he wanted Sonic to pick him up.
In a sudden passion of joy, Sonic immediately did so, as Skid wrapped his arms around his father's neck, and Sonic laughed, happy his son loved him too.
'Heh… he sees love more in signs and actions than he does in words.' Amy remembered, seeing as Sonic usually never said words of love, but simply showed it through his actions and deeds, though…
She tucked her legs up towards herself.
He hadn't said 'I love you' since Skid was born…
She looked back up, feeling like a small island as she watched the two embrace and then Skid squirm up from his father's shoulder and jump on his head again, wanting to play more.
Sonic pulled him off and gently set him down, sending him on his way.
Amy came up behind Sonic, trying to be silent about it, and wrapped her arms around his waist, kissing his back, and being sure to avoid his quills on his back.
He didn't pull away from her touch, so that was good.
He hadn't touched her since Skid was born either…
She started to worry a moment, looking down before trying to be a little more affectionate, seeing if he would respond.
He just washed his arms and let her do what she pleased.
She frowned, and slowly moved her body to where she kissed his cheek, and slowly moved more to try and get him to reach over and kiss her properly.
He lifted a hand and gently pushed her back. "Amy…" he gave her a look, "Skid's here."
"He doesn't know what he's seeing." She pouted, "Why are you pulling me away."
He stared at her a moment, before getting up. "I think I'm done bathing now."
"Sonic…"
"Skid still needs a bath. He smells like flowers!"
"Sonic!"
He stopped walking…
His head turned back to her.
"…Why…" She stared intently at him. "Why are you rejecting me?"
He held his peace for a moment, before stepping a weary foot back, and looking more lovingly towards her. "I'm not." He breathed out.
"You are." She narrowed her eyes, "Ever since Skid was born, you haven't once attempted to be intimate with me."
"…."
"Answer me!"
"….Amy, you… Just leave it." He shook a hand out, trying to end the conversation, shaking his head.
"Sonic!" she smacked her hands in the water, and Skid cheered as he mimicked her, not understanding what was happening nor really caring as he started battling the water again, crying 'Die shark, die!' In the background.
"You promised!"
Sonic's body twitched, his pain showing clearly on his face at her words.
"If you love me, you'll show it again!"
He clutched his teeth and fists.
"I want another baby!"
"You can't have one!"
She pulled herself back, as Sonic had leaned forward, matching her angry shout, and then put a hand up to his face, turning around.
"…Sonic.., I don't understand…" she held back tears.
"…After Skid was born… the Doctor…" he held his tongue back, shaking his head. "Amy, please… leave it be." He cautioned one last time.
"….What aren't you telling me." She firmly sat like a statue, realizing there was something he was holding back.
"…He mentioned your bloodline, Amy. Your mother died of childbirth, and Skid was a difficult labor for you." He rubbed his head, as Amy's heart slowly dropped inside her.
"…He said that in the condition you were left in… and with your mother's death considered something that could be within family heritage… He said that one was a blessing enough from Chaos. A true miracle. We should be happy with what we have."
Amy's mouth dropped as air escaped, and she scanned the water beneath her. "Noo…"
"…Amy…" Sonic turned back to her, walking a little more towards her.
With every bit of love in he could muster from his sorrowful state, he whispered her worst fears.
"You can't take another child."
She bent forward, tears flowing in silent muffles as she gripped herself.
As Sonic held his head down, Skid came rushing over, sliding in the water and letting a stream of water fly up at the speed.
"Mommy?" he saw her bent down, crying.
He then ran over to her, looking worried, "Mommy?" He then glared a moment, and turned to Sonic, stomping up in front of him. "Mommy! Did Daddy call you a pansy!?" He demanded a response, and stomped his last foot fall towards Sonic, making sure the water sprayed up in a splash of his action.
Amy let out a cry and covered her face, blocking any more outburst in front of Skid.
He turned around, and quickly ran to her side, putting his hands on her legs.
"Momma..?" He raised his hands to her covered face.
She pulled him close and held him tightly, "Ah! M-momma! T-too tight!" he tapped his hand against her, but when she didn't release, he just pulled closer and cuddled up in her arms, worried. "Momma..? Why are you crying?"
Sonic, unable to look at the scene without pain in his own heart, turned away, looking as though he was about to leave.
"Daddy!"
Sonic hesitated, and looked over his shoulder at his son.
"…Don't leave momma…" Skid looked earnest in his plea, holding his mother as she continued to cry, and his own eyes matched her sorrow, beginning to tear up too.
Sonic leaned his head back, unable to deny that request, and knew that it was the right thing to do.
He felt the Chaos within him declare it, and knew it was good to comfort her at this time.
Even though it pained him to admit that she'd never get the big family she's always dreamed of, he walked back and knelt down beside her, holding her close.
He would never be able to get as close to her as before… but they'd figure it out.
"You have nothing to worry about… Amy." He comforted her as her cries became more fierce and louder.
"…I won't abandon you."
-Front Gates-
"T-that's-!"
"Let me through. It's an urgent matter for the king and the king alone!"
Shadow, his arms folded, wore a tattered purple robe of royalty, but his crown absent, and his countenance dirty from long travels.
"Haha… hey, he has to do what we say, right? Such is his punishment and servitude from Right of Kings?" A knight leaned over to the one who recognized him, and the two smirked, as the men on top of the gate also wanted revenge for their fallen families and comrades throughout the years.
"Prince! If you even still can be called that!" The soldier called out, as the others chuckled. "I lost a brother to your wars. And my friend here a distant grandfather." He tilted his head to the man beside him, who looked down in such ill-pleasured smirk that Shadow rolled his eyes, realizing what was about to happen.
"What say you to these things?"
He said nothing, just bent his head down.
"Speak! You must by your oath and loss of all authority and power! Speak and answer me in my question!"
With that command, Shadow sighed, and fulfilled his oath, leaning his head up with a sorrowful scowl.
"…My condolences."
"Tie him."
Knuckles was checking his rounds on his horse, before hearing a ruckus start up and looking around towards the noise, "What is this?" he turned and charged his horse towards the gates, ordering the men to open the gates, but seeing they weren't there. "What?!"
He jumped from his horse and dug his spiked knuckles into the wall, climbing up it in expert ease, before flying over the gate and flipping down, landing before seeing Shadow getting beaten to a pulp by his own men…
"You… You rascals! Fiends!" Knuckles drew his axe, and swiped the air.
The force of the wind blasted them out of their attacks, as they looked over to Knuckles, and feared their lives.
"You cowardly dogs!" he swung his axe masterfully back behind him and swung at them, as they jumped back, fearing him and kneeling at his presence.
"General Knuckles. It's the banished prince. We've simply enacted justice for our fallen friends and family of old."
The men held their heads down, but they still looked angry.
Knuckles jumped the axe up a bit in his hand, and hit the bottom of his axe against the impenitent soldier right on the head, making his hands go up to hold his head, and then the soldier cried out a moaned expression of pain, before Knuckles stood in defense of Shadow.
"He has been humbled by your king into servitude! A noble bloodline that now serves the lowest of ranks! Obeying all whims of the Chaos Kingdom, all but injury to himself and death! You have no right to judge him or his actions during war! You killed his people! Don't forget that!" he jammed his axe into his chest, as the soldier fell backwards, wincing at the pain.
"Get back to your ranks! You men are skipping dinner…. Twice!"
"What?!"
"Any… objections…?" Knuckles positioned himself, ready to battle, as the men flinched and shivered in fear, quickly getting to their feet and racing back to their stations. Knuckles hit the soldier with the blunt of his axe's stick and shooed him, as the Soldier quickly ran off.
"Hmph." Knuckles huffed out at them scurrying away. "Miserable fools. They barely respect their families or friends in this offense." He placed his axe down, and turned to Shadow.
"…You could have taken them all." Knuckles looked over his shoulder, as Shadow stayed kneeling.
"…Rise." Knuckles turned around, putting both hand on his axe. "That's not a request."
Shadow rose, and looked forward, staying silent.
"…What'd they command of you?" he asked.
"…I was commanded to remain still and know that my pain was their own."
Knuckles shook his head, "Darn them all!" he hit a rock with the bottom of his axe, and turned to look at them getting back up on the gate. "They don't realize the honor of war! The victor may win the right of freedom, but not of torturing or suffering for their pains! If the enemy surrenders on terms of peace, we seek not revenge but patience!"
Knuckles turned back to Shadow. "Hear me. It's my whim that you oppose such requests. Has not Sonic given you an alternate reaction?"
"…If they ask injury or death of me. I can refuse."
"…So… you allowed them then, making them think you were allowing it through oath." Knuckles placed his axe over his shoulder, shaking his head and letting out a sigh. "You're starting to get soft, and kind hearted… Or was there another reason for your compliance?"
"… I deserve their suffering." He bent his head, closing his eyes.
"Heh. You took it as making up for sins? Let me tell you something." Knuckles swung an arm around him, leading him towards the gates, and pointing his hand that was holding his axe on his shoulders towards him.
"I was a barbarian! From the wastelands! Uncharted territory, you know?" He grinned, and looked forward. "I never got punished for my raidings and sins… but I found peace and repentance in doing what was right, and serving my King and Emerald." He looked back to Shadow. "You should repent the same. As a fellow sinner, cleansed by Chaos." He patted his back, and smiled in comradery.
"…You… are the soft and kind hearted one." Shadow commented, as Knuckles laughed and continued to pat his sore back hard.
"I'm still kinda ticked at you too." He admitted, before waving to his men. "Alright! You lousy yellow-bellies! Open the gates! We've got a prince in our mist!" He pushed Shadow forward. "Come on! Hahah! Sonic has been expecting a report from you." Knuckles laughed, as Shadow groaned at his antics.
Entering the throne room, Shadow and Knuckles held themselves separately, and apart from one another.
Knuckles smiled, folding his arms as Shadow held his stance, still looking noble in his very presence.
Sonic, Amy, and Skid all took their places, as Skid nibbled on a piece of meat on Amy's lap, and she giggled at his cute actions.
"Quieter, love." She tapped his head, a light refining, as Skid chewed quieter, getting to that age where he was starting to bite and nibble on everything; teething, if you will.
Shadow stepped forward, and knelt before Sonic, as Sonic still stood rising, frowning.
"I don't see Eggman in your possession." He folded his arms, being slightly critical and harsh in his action and tone.
Shadow recognized the test, as Sonic's suspicion of his loyalty and oath was clear in his voice, and Shadow answered wisely, closing his eyes as he did so, bending his head further.
"I've tracked him all the way here… Which is what I came to warn you about." Shadow then rose up, seeing Sonic's eyes widened.
"He's back."
The court went into an uproar, before Sonic gestured his arm up to silence them, holding his hand out, up and flat, the universal sign for silence.
His cape wiped back with him, and he stared more seriously towards Shadow. "He's returned?"
"Armed." Shadow sent another ripple of mutters through the court. "I don't know his intentions, but he has no robots this time to exploit."
"Will he be trying to build an army again? Robotizing citizens? Kidnappings?" Amy looked up at Sonic, worriedly, and turned to Tails, who was also scolding Skid at being silent in his chewing.
"K-kidnappings?" Tails leaned up, and shook his head, straightening himself and looking to Sonic, having his arms behind his back, looking professional again. "No sir. But I wouldn't know, since I've been busy being the Prince's royal instructor." It was clear that Tails was assigned, as his father before him was assigned, to be the royal heir's instructor.
"Hmm…" Sonic looked down, and then back at Shadow, stepping forward. "Your reports have been informative. But you never let on about his whereabouts."
"I've been scrounging the uncharted territories, charting what has never been even touched. I've brought back maps and coordinates, friendly nations who would love to meet you verses those I'd rather leave as unexplored." Shadow hadn't come empty handed, and he suddenly pulled out a few scrolls from the back of his quills, and threw them out, unrolling them to show how massive their length was, and how much he had done in the name of the King.
Sonic smiled, growing excited.
He had always wanted a good excuse to explore the uncharted wastelands of the unknown world, and now… he had maps!
"Ehem."
Sonic looked to Amy, and saw she was cautioning him to keep his excitement together.
He hid his smile, flipping some of his cape over his face. "Ehem, yes, well. This will do as recompense till you complete my first order for you." He looked away, before beaming at the maps.
"Tails!" he whispered quickly to him, and then gestured to get the documents.
"He's so excited…" Tails sweat dropped, realizing he would be looking over these maps just as much as the Book of the Chaos Kingdom he loved reading so much. Tails flew down and quickly grabbed the documents, skimming them as he rolled them up and found things to study on them for a later, more available time.
"…Sonic." Shadow stared at Skid. "…You need to be weary of my warning. It's in your…" he then looked up to Amy. "Best… interests." It was almost like he indirectly telling Amy not to let Skid out of her sights.
She nodded, and held him close.
She looked to Sonic, who also matched her fearful look.
They hadn't told anyone, publicly, about Amy's condition just yet. And with only one heir to pass on the blood line of Chaos wielding kings…
He looked down, worriedly, before taking a deep breath to then hold it in and look to Shadow. "Protect this land, Shadow. Apprehend Eggman. And may I not see you return until you know where he is, or if any mischief or trouble needs to be addressed to me directly. Understand?"
Shadow nodded and bent down again, bowing and taking half a knee. "I have my orders." He then swung around, his cape flying back, torn with holes and rips all within it, and walked off.
Knuckles smiled, "Heh, still carrying flare?" He slightly mocked, and walked up to Sonic, "I know some of those lands wouldn't appreciate being discovered. They would destroy if we disturb them. I know. I was raised in one." Knuckles raised an eyebrow to Sonic, "Will you simply greet the ones willing to meet you?"
"We could always use friends." Sonic jumped in spot, still trying to hold in his excitement before Tails snapped his fingers and he looked to him.
His hand then motioned for Sonic to sit down.
Sonic sat, pouting and folding his arms, not liking to be told he had to wait!
Skid saw his father's actions, leaning forward in his mother's arms, and then moved back against her and matched Sonic's pout and motion, mimicking him perfectly and then puffing up his three quills on his forehead, having them flick up lightly.
Amy shook her head, "You're teaching him to be like you." Amy raised a hand, as another matter was being addressed to them.
Sonic didn't say anything, just wiggled further up against and down his throne. Clearly upset he couldn't get away with leaving the court.
Skid leaned forward to peek up at his father, and then did the same action on his mother's act, puffing up air again.
However, he went lower than his father, and laid on his mother's lap, exhaling once again as Amy shook her head, smiling down at him.
"He just wants to be like you." Tails smiled, as Skid looked up to his uncle, and climbed across his mother to hold out a hand to Tails.
Tails smiled and took it.
Amy looked to Tails, "You know… you could have one of your own." She teased, tilting her head to him and then gesturing to the maids who giggled and looked away, clearly looking at Tails.
Tails blushed and removed his hand from Skid, making Skid pout, clearly wanting some attention from him.
Tails faced forward, "I've found someone…" he muttered from the side of his face.
Amy gasped, as Sonic suddenly looked up, but realized he had to pretend to act like he was listening to the discussion in the court, and so he positioned himself with his head tilted to Tails and Amy, and leaned a hand against his head to hold himself up on his armrest.
Amy excitedly turned to him, not required to pay attention that diligently as Sonic needed too.
He had always felt that was unfair, so she tried to match his diligence in duty, though he spaced out and let her guide him through the thing like with judgements in the past.
"You better fess up! Who is she? Is it serious? What rank is she?"
"Shhh." Tails batted a hand behind himself to stay her. "Later." He whispered, but there was clearly a full red muzzle on his face.
-Later-
A band of no-good doers crept along into the Babylon Rogue's store, as Storm was carrying supplies in and putting it on shelves, machine parts and doohickeys, with which Wave was instructing him, before giving a raised eye at the folks.
"Well, well! Costumers." Jet waltz right up to them, a little bounce in his stride, showing confidence and rubbing his hands like a business man. "How may we help you?"
"Heh, heh. Quite a lot." The man dropped a bag down, and rubies spilled from it, the rarest of the rare in marketing bargans.
"We're listening." Jet smirked, stepping back slightly as Storm stomped over and kicked the bag, to where more precious rubies sprung out.
"Dah-ha-ha! Boss! We've got a gold mine!"
"Better, Storm! BETTER! Rubies!" he smirked and bent down, examining one before Wave put a microscope to it and started examining it.
She swiped it out of his arms, giving it a better look, and nodded that it was authentic, before Storm and her started picking up the Rubies.
"Alright. What's the catch?" Jet folded his arms, as suddenly the men parted and a hoody figure, with a large mustache graced the entrance, ducking down slightly to avoid the door frame.
He smirked, "Hello, Rogues…."
"E-E-Eggman!?" the three froze and squished up against each other, fright taking hold as his siloutte moved over them, threateningly.
He loomed, and laughed manically.
"Could you spare a part or two?"
(Please look forward to the last chapter! Right after this!)