Anonymous:
Sonic AU I suppose. Keeping up with the storybook game spirit Sonic is now Robin Hood, his friends are the characters (Tails Little John, Knuckles Friar Tuck and Amy is Maid Marian). You know the scene where Marian begs for Robin's life? Yeah go with that and fluff up the sonamy and action. And when Friar Tuck is kidnapped Prince John (uhh I guess Shadow?) Keeps Maid Marian under house arrest so Sonic saves her too.
Cutegirlmayra answered:
I've had an idea to do a Sonic Storybook series, but I won't be doing that in this prompt ^^; I've lost a lot of motivation and confidence in my writing, so I'm treating it more as a 'hobby' recently. When I feel up to it, who knows what I could create again?
Prompts are permanently down and out! Sorry -shrug-.
Prompt:
The false king Jet rippled a wave of tappings with his impatient fingers against the wooden armrest of the competition's throne, situated above the peasant audience as he slouched in boredom.
He grinded his beak together, his other hand gripping the edge with animosity… He didn't care about the rest of the archers… Except maybe Storm and Wave, who were undercover and acting as though normal woodsmen, cloaked and hooded to remain anonymous.
"He should be here by now…" He tapped his foot anxiously, shaking his knee.
Sheriff Shadow smirked, side-stepping somewhat to lean down to Jet's lowered, annoyed stature.
"Patience, good king Jet…" He may have been addressing Jet in private, but his eyes were like the hawk's, also scanning the line of archers for their quarry…
"He wouldn't miss this competition for the world…" He stated, assuredly. "If I know him, he'll be here."
"He isn't one for easy sport!" Jet spat out, then looked over to Amy, a victim in her own home. The true King Silver was off to war, and she was forced to take the simple pleasantries of the boisterous parties and lavishing expenses of Jet's whimsical spending and ravening on and on about being 'king' now that Silver was MIA.
"You and I both know… He'll be here… if not for the test of skill… then the test of merited devotion." He narrowed his eyes at Amy, knowing she often proclaimed Sonic and her's affections for one another as though a threat to Jet overspending the country's money.
"I've been robbed, ransacked, and humiliated too many times by that blue speed demon or… hedgehog." Jet slowly rose up, trying to actually look courageous even though he wasn't. His hate lingered on every word that escaped his crisp beak, wrinkled from how many times his beak hit the carriage backboard by his entourage getting raided. "The true will of that 'free wind' will be snuffed out if we prove that our ambush actually works."
He looked to Shadow, "Don't fail me… I'm already cross with you, Sheriff Shadow… You've been duped by that hedgehog in getting the people's taxes to my castle… I'm one feather away from ending your whole career." He flicked one of his head feathers and then used that same hand to lean his head on, looking out into the crowd of miserable on-lookers.
They were dried up in their pocket books, poor in both money, spirit, and quality of life.
However… one hope did remain, a light unto them.
A blue streak of light, to be exact, with a red robin low-riding in its gales.
"... He'll know we're after him." Shadow leaned back up, his hands behind his back and also… waving his fingers in anticipation to fight his rival again and exact his revenge. "That's the biggest temptation yet." He smiled.
"Tah!" Jet looked over to Shadow again, "I haven't seen you this 'smiley' in a while! Since I egged on that hedgehog by stating you-" He pointed to him, "Would be betrothed to Maiden Amy." He then swiped his point to Amy, who wasn't trying to listen in on the conversation, but couldn't help it.
She flinched slightly, but kept her eyes forward. 'I know he'll save me.' She thought, looking to the forests around the quiet town…
'Friar Tails told me to wait for Little Knuckles… That he'd send me word on when Sonic Hood could rescue me… but with all the guards doubled for the… ugh, wedding arrangements.' She rolled her eyes, 'How are they able to get any word to me? Oh, Sonic…'
She put her hands to her lap and took a calming breath, 'I just have to believe in you… I know you'll protect the realm. Silver would most earnestly agree that your efforts are for righteous justice… against this untrue king.'
She then looked up, taking one beat to glare at Jet before her eyes looked at her hands as she turned them to prayer. Her eyes shook in dear love and devotion, for both the beautiful vigilante, and for her Cousin's kingdom. 'And I can wait… for the sake of our beloved and oppressed people… I can hold out a little longer.' She dipped her head to a small, faint tear.
It was in that moment of deep longing that a light caught her eyes and flickered there multiple times.
She blinked, letting the teardrop go along its downward descent on her cheek without opposition, trying to get the blinding reflection out of her eyes.
She squinted, but her hand finally found obstruction to the reflective trick, and gave her eyes rest enough to see it was the doing of a ranger on the tourney roll call line, fiddling with his equipment.
A green hood… but brown spikes of a porcupine…
They were actually sticks, pointed to look like a porcupine's silhouette.
The figure's metal arrow was causing the flickering lights to attract her eyes, as the man looked as though 'adjusting' the arrow on his bow.
Her eyes lit up. Was this his signal? His sign!?
'Oh, Sonic!' She put her up by her mouth, now back together again, to symbolize how she felt he was back in her life once more. Her eyes now sparkled with none other than the light of hope that he was, to all the citizens that revered his gallant efforts for their sakes. 'You did come for me!'
It was obvious it was a trap, but Shadow and Jet knew better… they knew that would entice him even more… since they hadn't let the Maid Amy out of the castle since the announcement, and since the wedding day was approaching… their ruse would be up if he didn't directly attack their fortress.
Instead, since they saw no sign he was coming to storm it yet, they grew impatient–well, Jet did–Shadow was… more than willing to concede to marrying her, after all, it would give him the ultimate power over the realm… being so close to a King's maiden owned.
That's all Shadow really wanted, to be the Ultimate authority, have all the power to do as he pleased.
If this 'King' Jet only cared about using his power for parties, Shadow could quite literally make the whole of the realm his stomping grounds. Who wouldn't feel even partially 'a king' with power like that..?
Jet was a coward who just wanted to revel in wild partying, to enjoy all the high life could offer him, since he was always jealous of Silver's birthright. Being the bastard son of the late king, he had no bloodright to the throne that was legitimate, adopted only on the whim of the kindhearted King of the Realm–Silver's late father.
Silver was now MIA in status, which was Jet's doing, as he had supported the foreign enemy of the Realm with a promised arrangement. Capture and kill the King, then he'd work well with them in return for their allowing him to be stationed in the land as the new King… though, wonderfully hospitable and generous to them forever more…
A puppet… really.
It would set both Shadow and Jet high in society if they could pull it off… since Amy was a cousin to Silver, and the two shared a great friendship and bond, she was often given the world and even had a dowry the size and measure worthy of a Princess.
If Shadow married her, not only for her renowned beauty mingled with tales of her tenderheart, but he'd have half the Realm gifted to him from their own King Silver's plate and fed his more than plenty share of spoils from his own spoon… along with the friendship of the new king, Jet… Shadow would be able to do all he pleased…
An official, more than a Sheriff… he could be General over the armies…
Eventually, why not be king, as well?
Nah, he'd let all the hatred go to Jet. "It's the new king's fault, I'm only following orders." He would say when swiping the precious few rings left from a townsfolk or two… or three… or four or five, six, seven…
Ultimate greed… the two were two peas in a pod, but Amy cherished the good-hearted nature of Silver, and much like him, she knew their two hearts would be united in the good spirited patriotism of Sonic Hood, the Robin's Boom.
They nicknamed him that as he was so swift, his red shoes would make it look like a small robin was creating sonic booms whenever and wherever he stole from the rich to give to the poor, knowing they were being cheated out of their livelihoods and honest living by the false king Jet's heavy taxation for his grandiose parties.
The porcupine tipped his green hood down, and she knew her love had come to do more than just save her… but continually save every person in all the Realm from such serious crimes as Jet's and Shadow's merciless hunger for power and wealth.
To gain from the people's sufferings… was not how a true king lived.
Sonic looked up just barely from the hood, his brown mask matching the spikes, to make his appearance truly different for his little charade. But this whole competition was a facade, one he was excited to expose and defeat.
No one could catch him, he was as free as the wind itself.
Holding up the arrow, the figure seems to be well-pleased with the shine on the sharp metal, a beautiful steel triangle.
He pulls back the string, at the same time, the corners of his mouth bend like the tension on the bow, a cocky smile.
It's at this moment that Maiden Amy recognizes it, and her eyes widen somewhat before cautiously looking to Jet, and leaning back in her chair.
She hadn't noticed, but she was leaning forward in anticipation and eager interest… That could have blown Sonic Hood's cover…
However, Shadow and Jet were also curious about the lineup, their topics of conversation had ceased, and a 'dead air' filled the grassy field near the town… where the tournament was now underway.
A man called out the order, "And… Shoot!"
Perfect.
Jet's and Shadow's eyes both bounced up, as though attempting to follow the speed of the arrow.
It wobbled once hitting the target.
"Load..!"
Sonic quickly pulled out another arrow and positioned it perfectly, slowing himself down to match the other participants, especially Storm and Wave's skills…
"Pull!"
His nose lifted on in calming inhale, and his eyes could almost picture his own body speeding towards the bullseye…
"And… Shoot!"
Wave and Storm flinched at the sound of whistling, looking as they took their eyes off their own objective and ended up with a lower score because of it.
No matter how much Sonic tried to 'sandbag' himself to blend in, his accuracy and speed with an arrow was second to none.
Sonic Hood once told Little Knuckles that an arrow felt like an extension of his own body. While he ran faster than the eye could see, he could still shoot an arrow, and go even beyond what he felt were his limits.
An arrow was like an old, reliable friend, he had stated. Because it could keep up with him, and when he needed to stop running for whatever reason, an arrow would keep going…
In that sense, he felt an arrow was the truest form of freedom for his soul. It sang through the air and he almost wished it didn't have to pierce anything.
As a young boy, he would race his father's arrows. To see it lodge itself through the first arrow he launched, and split it perfectly in the middle… even to jam itself through the target and pretty much obliterate its brother before it…
Sonic took no pleasure in that.
He slowly lowered the bow, as though in respects to the first fallen arrow… and forcing the second one to have to end its momentum in its once–joyous–flight.
To Sonic, the action of casting an arrow through the air was the fun part, not hitting the target.
To have a target… was a regretful thing… but one Sonic Hood had to dutifully accept once he saw the misery of the townsfolk… all over the nation… they were suffering because of a false king.
Now, Jet had paid off the rest of the contenders, telling them to purposefully score low, but seeing Wave and Storm completely miss the bullseye… his eyes shrank in shame and humiliation…
He grinded his beak, "His arrow… was so mesmerizing… it's wind even lured their own eyes..!?" He was twitching in rage. For you see… Jet also loved a moving arrow.
Though… The two's only difference… was that Jet also enjoyed the kill shot.
He liked to be praised for how swiftly he could send an arrow flying into its target… to have Sonic Hood command the stage was like watching King Silver have all the power and only do goody-two-shoe things with it!
He stood up in defiance, because he himself–and all those in attendants, even Shadow–had watched the arrow and forgotten a moment why they were there…
For that one, split second… that whistle had captivated all the hearts of everyone present, even those that despised him.
To Sonic, he eerily referred to this as the arrow's 'soul' attracting all to watch its jubilee at taking flight.
Again, it wasn't about hitting the target and receiving praise for himself–like Jet glorified in.
It was… to simply watch and participate in the arrow's first winged 'zip' through the open space… nothing tethering it… nothing stopping it's due course.
"Whheee!" Sonic Hood jumped up in joy, acting like an old man Porcupine. "I hit it again!" He did a small little jig, but the jig was up.
Jumping from one leg to another in a goofy way, it was clear this 'old man' wasn't so 'hunched back' after all… the way his hidden 'quills' were meant to be disguised as.
"S-... Seize himmm!" Jet threw out his finger after it twitched a moment, unable to move as though all were respectfully waiting for the arrow to stop moving first… its spell still lingering on them.
Jet sweated, feeling his pride attacked more than the cleanly sliced target and its first arrow drawn into it, but Shadow also zoomed through the air as though by Jet's very command, he had also released him into the air.
"SOOONNIICC!" In rage, Shadow went to grab him, but by then, Little Knuckles's fist shot out from underground, jumping just at his torso up to wham Sheriff Shadow right in the chin, knocking him up and then another swift jab to match his uppercuff to knock him prone to the side.
"Alllriighhtt! 'Bout time you stopped messing around!" Knuckles looked energized, as his tunnels suddenly collapsed, showing an intricate pathway system to help the villagers escape through.
Friar Tails was helping them walk down, before rushing to Maid Amy, "I figured you were looking for us!" He cheered, and she happily took his hand after clutching her heart, overjoyed at seeing him again.
"Good Friar Tails, I have never been more relieved!" She walked down the platform before hearing-
"Chaos Control!"
Time froze, and Sonic Hood's disguise was thrown off.
His team had planned to ransack Jet's caravans while having him be the distraction, as well as get the townsfolk that Jet forced to watch this tourney back to safety…
However, with Shadow pausing time, that wouldn't be the case.
Shadow drew his Chaos Sword, empowered by an Emerald, changing the flaming light to that of the emerald's power… He then charged Sonic,... Who drew forth his own Chaos Sword–which prohibited him from being subjected to the time halt–countering Shadow's advance.
"At last," He gritted against the fast-moving sparks from their blades cracking through space and time with their velocity and intense duel to the death. "Once I rid the realm of you, Maid Amy will finally be mine!"
He swiped his sword out to have Sonic crash back into the ground, "Ultimate power… land, kingdoms, and heck, even all the Chaos Emeralds will be mine! Who needs to collect gold when the very world is yours to conquer!?"
Sonic shook his head, getting up, "You think… One maiden's hand will just… give you the world?" His hand held his wobbling head to try and straighten out his vision, as Shadow dived down and landed smoothly, but with great power already at his hover-shoe heels.
"She's no ordinary maiden… wouldn't you agree?" He held his hand up and gripped it into a soft fist. "All that remains… is to deliver you up to the hills of mourning,... to have the church bells ring in your sad honor… The honor of one who tried to defy a new world!" Shadow pulled back his sword, reeling it to then launch towards him when-
Sonic fires an arrow, which zooms past Shadow's forehead, through the gap in his quills…
Time begins again… And Shadow, although shaken, begins to laugh.
"The one time your aim wavers…" He found that incredibly humorous, smirking only to see Sonic lower his bow with a confident grin.
"Huh?" He turned around, "What!?
"Do you even remember who I am?"
The sound of a metal crown spinning around and around against the arrow's stem, sticking straight into Jet's mocking throne seat, as his own head cowers below the arrow that almost struck his head's plumage.
Comically far down on his seat, he shakes like a chicken, bumbling as though he can't even speak after being that close to death itself.
"You… You were aiming to knock off his crown?" Shadow turned back to Sonic, who had already gotten over his headache from the fall, and cockily threw up a wagging finger, winking to him.
"Should you really be that incredulous, Sheriff? Knowing that crown never belong on his head, anyway."
Shadow gritted his teeth, "This wasn't about him!" He swiped the air with his Chaos Sword, summoning spears behind and around his body in the air. "This was about Maid-!"
"I'm only here to stop injustice. The wicked ways of an imposter calling the throne his own." Sonic gestured out a hand, cutting off the proud Hedgehog, who's eyes shook at how dismissive Sonic was to her…
Did… Sonic not actually fancy her, then?
Was… Was Maid Amy's affections really just one-sided?
"If that means keeping a real chaotic jewel like Maiden Amy out of your hands as well… Shadow, then so be it!" Sonic put the bow around his body, slinging it to his shoulder, and took his Chaos Sword again in both hands.
Jet came back up from ducking, turning to the side of the spinning crown as Sonic Hood's arrow rested lodged in his wooden backboard of his throne… he tried to pull it out, but it was perfectly wedged between the gaps of the jewels and metal framework of the crown.
In vain did he try and 'pick' off the jewels, but also lusted for the gold the crown was forged from, and not being able to get the individual stones out, he settled at just commanding his men to lift the throne and got off of it, not wanting to lose that luxurious crown originally owned by King Silver.
After more fighting, and Jet just trying to salvage what little funds of tax money he had remaining, Sonic realized that Shadow was relentless…
Everyone had escaped… it was time.
Sonic rushed 'round about the area, Shadow on his heels, skating after him as he put his Chaos Sword back and took off his bow once more.
Pulling out an arrow, he looked at it sorrowfully, "Sorry about this… old friend." He spoke to the arrow as though it had a soul, mounting it to the proper place as he pulled back the string.
He jumped and turned to Shadow, who jumped in response, swiping his sword multiple times to try and 'deflect' any arrow launched at him, since Sonic had already dodged most of his exploding Chaos Spears.
Sonic saw his opening… "Goodbye… My friend." He shot the arrow through Shadow, perfectly timing the swipes of his erratic sword maneuvers to avoid Sonic having such an shot guaranteed at all.
Though, it did not kill him, it knocked the Chaos Sword out of his hand, which allowed Little Knuckles–who emerged from his concealment under the ground, stalking the two fighting forces of good and evil–and swiped the Chaos Emerald from it to then bury back into the ground.
In this way, he ensured Shadow could not stop time again… that, and Jet's forces were now all stuck in the collapsing dug-outs Little Knuckles had made in case they were to escape, which they did try to.
Jet pounded the caravan, throwing his own tantrum as Wave and Storm rubbed their bruises but knew talking to him would only get them bonked on the head during his 'tyrannical' fit.
Storm had wrestled Knuckles and failed, and Wave lost track of Friar Tails as he did the sign of the cross and unleashed what looked like trip-wires to keep her from following them and the villagers through the caves.
A clever little Friar… the church usually didn't associate with new technology… but the brave little fox found holiness in even the modern ways of thinking and engineering.
For that, she kinda respected him.
Storm was surprised that even with the height difference, Little Knuckles had fought him like a true warrior. Gloved fist to gloved fist, but felt the sting of his jabbing spikes on his punches, and commended the man for fighting above ground and even throwing him to it before giving him a proper bow of respect in combat and taking off.
The two were just glad they escaped with their lives…
Wave could have taken Friar Tails in hand-to-hand combat, but Maid Amy was more powerful than she expected! When she went to catch the sly yellow fox by one of his two mutated tails–one of the reasons he was orphaned at the monastery he grew up in–the fair maiden had jumped and slammed her hammer into Wave from the darkness of the cave.
Without any sound to make herself known, Wave was taken completely offguard. Not only was she now covered in dirt, she had also gotten the wind in her songbird lungs knocked right out of her.
When Jet wasn't in such a state… though she knew that may take longer than a day for him to get over this defeat from Sonic Hood, she would tell him of Maiden Amy's unexpected brutality with that hammer of hers, and how she helped the citizens rush down the tunnels and steal back their gold from Jet's men. Most of Jet's men either fled, deserted, or were knocked out by the Merry Men at Sonic's beck and call.
She could now confidently tell the 'King' that the noble pink hedgehog was absolutely in league with Sonic Hood, even though Jet may have suspected as much from her love for him.
"To kill a coward is not an honor I want nor get to have." Sonic looked to Shadow's injured self, him gripping his bleeding hand while on his knees to the ground, Little Knuckles coming up behind to knock him out with a heavy blow, but Sonic held up his hand, steadying him away.
"Since you are a noblemen, I'll let you and Jet receive the courtsey of a fair trial by the good King Silver. To scold you with his mighty roar of justice instead!" He held up his fists, and from the forest came the souls of those he had just liberated from Jet's unrighteous tyranny.
"All hail King Silver!"
In the distance, Jet shuttered, hearing the cry as the multitude of poor citizens raised their fists skyward and cried out the same very chant off Sonic Hood's goodly lips.
Jet was intimidated by the power Sonic held over the people, the way he could sway hearts just as well as he could possibly shoot through them.
He takes a trembling hand to his head, remembering his close-call with death, and summons all his outrage to his throat, swallowing heavily before turning up in his now wrecked 'retreat wagon'.
"SHADOW!" He cried out, screaming as though to defy the heavens, "KILL HIM! I don't care how! Kill that hedgehog!" He stomped the ground, hitting and kicking his fallen carriages.
Shadow gets up, panting…
He hates Sonic… but looking to see Maid Amy cheering on Sonic Hood's goodness…
Her face… It's so bright with love for him.
His alien blood boils…
He pulls out the sword that no longer has the chaos energy infused into it,... and drops it.
"A hilt is nothing… without the Chaos rushing through it… However…"
Shadow pulls out… A second Chaos Emerald from his back-quills!?
The Crowd gasps in fright, all starting to retreat in fear back into the forest now, taking double-looks as they fear their hero's life may be in jeopardy once more.
Did they celebrate too soon!?
What will become of their defiance now?! What mercy is there against Jet's overwhelming fury coming from a distance?
"You have a lot of Chaos Emeralds." Sonic smirks, as Sheriff Shadow sneers at Sonic Hood's lack of fear in the face of death.
'He mocks me… He thinks me not even worth being afraid!' He shoved the Chaos Emerald into the proper spot on the hilt of the blade, having the blade now grow and glow the color of the new emerald.
"All the better to now end you with, Sonic! Hah!" While the two swordfight yet again, Jet rushes over with his militia, paid off knights who now serve his bidding for the spoils or with threat against their families they're trying to keep safe…
Friar Tails pulls Amy back, "Maid Amy!" He cries out, struggling to hold her back, "You can't intervene in a man's duel!"
"But..! My Sonic! He'll be hurt!" She tries to defy the little fox, but is too kindhearted to march out and fight his strength, which she knew she could, if it meant dragging him into the fray as well. "Let go of me, good priest, I don't wish to get you involved in my act of love!"
"This is not love, but madness!" Tails cries out, "As the good book says, to lay down one's life for his friends is noble and just, but least you are tempted, maybe think of how your own life be threatened!" Tails happily adjusted the scripture to try and preserve the fair maiden from the battlefield.
"Besides! If you get captured again, they'll really have you marry the Sheriff this time!" He warned, as Jet turned his hole of an ear to the fox's words; Not much of a religious man, but his interest was peaked on why that meant so much to him… he spoke as though that could ruin some sort of 'plan'...
Like a fool, Tails continued to cry out his words, having the clever bird hear…
"Even King Silver couldn't order the heavens to change his power then! Once bound on earth, sealed in heaven!"
Tails desperately pulled back, even hooking his tails around a tree and having two villagers step in to pull her back, as Amy finally relented in her cause to wane her strength and let the three sigh in relief.
Jet, enthused by the idea that if King Silver came back, he couldn't fully punish him with an 'out' of sorts, immediately leaped into the air and rushed to Wave and Storm.
At first, they were worried he'd smack them, but was pleasantly surprised by his jubilee at grabbing their arms, feeling them stiffen up straight for impact, and then blink in confusion at his rushed, cunning words.
"We mustn't let Maid Amy get away!" He cried out, which–with the name of his desires spoken aloud–Shadow's ears turned to Jet, momentarily stopping his assault on Sonic's Chaos Blade and listened…
"Because now, I–King of the Realm–will marry the fair girl and inherit all that the silly King cannot take from me, should he return!"
"What!?" Eye twitching, head now reeled up at such deceitful lying… "She was promised to me!" Sheriff Shadow turned his full attention now to Jet.
Sonic Hood stood with a tip of his toe on a tree, balancing with his arms waving about in circles to keep him balanced there upon, before taunting Shadow with childish mockery. "What's wrong, Shadow? Don't you know a thief will always stay as one?"
Sonic was having fun with the battle, he hoped Shadow wouldn't quit it here…
However, using his skills and wits, he looks down to his Merry Men and nods.
With the signal given, and Shadow momentarily distracted, the Merry Men throw hooks with rope tied to their ends up to Shadow, pulling him down and tying him up. "N-No!" Sonic speeds down to swipe the remaining Chaos Emerald, and looks to Friar Tails.
"Get Amy out of here!" He throws his hand to the wind, and Tails immediately nods in obedience, the villagers all helping to drag her away.
"Oh, but… Sonic! My Sonic!" She cries, but he just smiles a little awkwardly to her, a bit of sweat dripping down the side of his face.
"Oh, Amy…" It's a fond reprimand, as though he does care for the girl, but can't indulge her 'yearning' for his attention at the moment.
Turning back, he witnesses his men currently dog-piling Sheriff Shadow to overwhelm his awesome might, trying to hold him down and bind him with the rope.
"Hate to leave you dissatisfied, Sheriff, but Amy–and the kingdom–need me!" He waves him slightly off with a salute and wink, sheathing his Chaos Sword as the light dims and the blade drops as it does so, and departs the decent distance to confront the false King Jet.
However, Jet holds up his own Chaos Emerald.
"No!" Sonic screeches his robin-red colored heels to a halt, as Jet teleports…
"Grk!" He bites his words back, looking around but unable to see where Friar Tails had disappeared to with Maid Amy.
"Knuckles! Little Knuckles!" He stomps the ground a few times, hard as rocks, as Little Knuckles's head slowly rises up as he keeps stomping directly on his cranium.
Little Knuckles flinches at each hit, raising ever the more slowly before turning his now red with frustration gaze to Sonic. "I'M RIGHT HERE, HOOD!" He cries out, punching off his annoying foot that hit in a continuous stride up till that point.
"Did you really not notice me!? The ground rising up from below you!?"
"I… did notice the distance waning." He smiled, cheerfully apologetic but it wasn't enough for the echidna, who just crossed his arms, still upset.
"We have to find Maid Amy. Jet has a new plan to-" But before Sonic could relay his message, another brilliant flash of color and Jet was standing before Sonic with Amy in his grasps, an arm around her shoulders and an arrow's head pointed to her neck!
All the world grew still… Jet's hawk-like eyes had seen through the deep underbrush of the forest, through the shaded leaves and found the fleeing, soft pink color of Amy's quills to then teleport through Chaos Power to her…
An unfortunate gift, his incredible eyesight… one even Sonic couldn't replicate.
Even Shadow stopped struggling a moment, as the men held him at his knees and looked to see the shine of light, and the situation before them.
Sonic pulls another arrow to the ready on his bow, holding it up to hopefully parry any 'arrow-made-dagger' attempts on Maid Amy's life.
"Drop. Your. Hand. Sir." He threatened, slowly… and with all the dignity of one that must be in love… or at least, Amy thought as much…
"If you don't release her, I'll shoot!" Jet cawed back, like the coward he was… but it did make Sonic pause his pulled string forward…
His eyes met Amy's… a soft memory of childhood sweethearts remaining there. Of an aloof back woodsmen and a fair noblewoman… a tender kiss on the cheek that he scoffed at and rubbed off, bidding her a harsh departure and stating they would probably never meet again… even though the boy climbed the king's tall hedges have 'her' catch glimpses of 'him' as he 'just so happen' to speed through the area while his father would sell their hunts at the marketplace.
Such beautiful, emerald eyes… the kind that even an arrow would shake its head at, not wanting to be fired anywhere near her in fear that those embolden eyes of courage would slightly quiver with fear.
Even the bow croaked in its wood, creaking out a pitiful wail to not be released, and to not have the young, beautiful maiden think less of it.
But before Sonic Hood could make a call, another arrow flew by his head, just as his had done when facing Sheriff Shadow.
Jet was knocked back, an arrow piercing his shoulder as his attention was solely on Sonic… and not who was behind him…
Sonic loosened his grip on his bow and arrow, softening its string and turning back to the once foe behind him…
His Merry Men were on the ground, knocked out… the ropes slid off the black and red figure's body… not just by his own natural fur coloration, but now by the blood of his endless fight with the men and Sonic's arrow having cut his hand.
Nay… Sheriff Shadow had fired the arrow into the fake soverign's shoulder that held the destruction of Maid Amy in its power… and Shadow… Shadow wanted all power, even over Maid Amy's fate if he could.
But denying Jet… meant denying all routes to power remaining… and yet… he still silently took out the men and fired the arrow…
Without so much as another double-take to Shadow, Maid Amy raced back to the forest, looking to Sonic for confirmation as he heard her scattered running and nodded to her that it was alright.
Maid Amy didn't know what end Shadow would face… or if he'd fight Sonic Hood and it would be her love and possible happily ever after that would face its ruin… but she ran, discarding her nobility behind to join the Merry Men in the woods…
She added her jewels to the pile of the 'retrieved' goods.
She took off her earrings, leaving her only her dress as she displaced her bracelets of fine gold, her necklaces, and all pretty and dainty things to the villagers who were in need.
All the while, in that merry wood, wondering what befell Sonic Hood… and her strange rescuer, though it didn't sit right for her to call the man that, Sheriff Shadow…
"Would he return?" She put her hands together, mirroring her prayer from the facade of a tourney, and looked to the ground. "Oh, my Sonic… my dear Sonic…"
Suddenly, as the campfire flickered, two shadows of familiar spiked quills appeared…
She gasped as so did the men and party members all around them.
Sonic Hood had an arm holding up Sheriff Shadow, injured and on the verge of collapse, helping him walk into camp…
No one was merry now…
"Our officer here has had a change of heart." He stated, his own eye shut by design of his struggle with him. Other Merry men, cradling their own injured or bruised hides, also entered after Sonic… not a single one lost.
"I believe he's proved this." Sonic set Shadow down, allowing him to rest from being helped through the long trails in the dark woods.
"... Sonic… are you mad?" Little Knuckles, also behind him, pounded his fists together as he looked down to Shadow. "He may know the location of our secret hideout now! Along with his orders from the false King Jet, to kill us in any way he can fathom!"
The accusing point didn't flinch Sheriff Shadow, sitting solemnly on the ground.
He did look up to Maid Amy… but to her, the ruby of his eyes reminded her of his lust for power through her, and… she luckily didn't think much more of it then that.
She crept away from him, but listening intently to her beloved's reasonings…
Her face turned away, as Shadow admired her by the fire's glow…
"He admitted the location of where they're holding good King Silver."
Now the camp was ablaze in silent awe. Every man's back stood straighter, and they could not keep their patriot legs from not advancing forward, as though a signal fire had rang out in their hearts to fight for a noble cause yet again.
"He could be lying…" Timidly spoke the absolute bravery of the modern rebel, Friar Tails. He looked a little wary to Shadow's countenance, as Shadow returned the stare, and made his hands come together, his head bend back and down, his ears twisting around to show uneasiness at the returned look. "Demons bear false witness all the time to men's hearts… what makes such a mortal man any different?"
Shadow smirked, "Some call me immortal." He then looked away, spitting out blood as some, more tenderly maidens' hearts from the village gasped or shrieked at such a sight.
Mothers held their children, remembering the abuse of Sheriff Shadow's greed in stealing their family heirlooms, their livelihoods away in his lust for collecting taxes and further power over them.
Shadow, briefly, before collapsing ever the more, admits himself only to Maid Amy. "I said and did all that you have seen… in love for you."
She would not meet his gaze, but became like a marble statue of beauty to him… In no way did he mind her cold-shoulder…
Instead, he praised it as even greater strength of elegance, not knowing her true nature to be much more harsher and loud than the 'quiet reverence' he felt she gave to him now.
"However…" He hacked out his next words carefully, only turning his gaze when coughing to the ground, and wheezing and huffing out his heavy continued words aloud. "I also admit you… deserve… better than myself."
Her eyes didn't waver, but gently sparkled in the fire's flickers…
Even now, she found a soft spot of her heart to allow his words to rest a moment… Her way of allowing him to apologize for his deeds, but not see it as a full pardon of his actions, either.
"Although… no one can be happy about Sonic Hood's 'forgiveness'..." He coughed out again, "I would beg at least this much… Maid Amy… that you accept my sincere repentance."
She would not look at him.
He fell to his chest, his hands unable to hold himself up. "P… Please…" He begged before her, but Maid Amy would not turn her head.
Sonic's eyes, instead, imparted some pity for the man. The fire also flickered in his eyes, a warm glow…
He closed his eyes and bowed his head, seeing all the dignity in the man stripped, and all darkness fleeing out of embarrassment for his pathetic portrayal… and yet, Sonic found the mercy to look to his kingdom's people, and his merry men that followed him.
"He may be unwilling, but I'm imparting to him the duty of a Merry Man."
The crowd held back their uproar… but every man's face looked enraged by such a sentiment.
Little Knuckles just stared at Sonic Hood, before turning his head, "I accept Sonic's words… as though they were King Silver's appointed law." He stated, and the respect of the people rested with that final look on the matter.
For they all felt it in their hearts, as well.
"Friar Tails," Sonic turned to him, lowering his head, "Address his wounds."
Although Tails was skeptical if this was a good, smart move or not… he did so… helping Shadow back to his feet.
"Even an evil man can become a patriotic country man again… once that bugle is blown, and the sound carries through whatever bad notion first killed its love in his heart… Now does it beat again against oppression, malice, and bears all good manner for brotherhood, honor, and light."
Sonic's words were like a sermon that all adhered too, though clearly didn't wish to.
"You all know… we are considered 'outlaws' by our own beloved land… Is he not now one, too? Having shot the very man who promised him our kingdom's riches? Going back on his word, now, do you believe that the imposter king would still grant him any mercy? That he–himself–knows that we are the only mercy left in this unfair world?"
Sonic gestured to Shadow, and sure enough… the people relented.
"Still sounds like a trap to me…" Little Knuckles murmured, but Sonic only whispered to his friend that it probably was… "But if it truly isn't," He then countered, holding the shoulder of his dearest rival, looking back at Shadow, "I'd like to trust that his arrow has changed its course… and his wind now resides beside us all."
"You could read his arrow?" Little Knuckles knew that Sonic Hood could pinpoint who shot what arrow, and if they had meant it or not.
In some ways, they thought Sonic's ability like a tarot card reader, but in this case, he could gauge the soul of a man by the trajectory and velocity of his arrow's swiftness or tried aim.
"If what you say is true… and to your trained and spiritual eye… if his arrow was right for once… then… I shall concede." Knuckles grumbled, folding his arms all the more tighter. "And… if you have stated he be a Merry Man now… I shall see to it that he is watched and trained by the King Silver creed and code of honor.
"Honor among thieves." Sonic leaned against his friend, rubbing his shoulder into his cheek to try and lighten the mood, snickering gleefully.
Overhearing that Sonic considered his 'arrow' or 'heart' had changed, Shadow was deeply touched.
With all his wickedness… such that even Maid Amy could not look upon him… how was it that his greatest adversary would grant him lenience in these times of war?
'Did he truly… seek no power?' Shadow looked to him, knowing Jet will think his capture and possible 'change of heart' a mere set-up to lure Sonic and his followers into another trap… To learn of their camp's location, and to betray them all…
'No… Not again.' Shadow grew strength from the light of the fire… his eyes were determined to keep his arrow straight and narrow… seeing the Friar patch him up, he shook his head and stood, gaining strength like the holy knights of old used to wield.
"Friar, I have stolen from you and your religion plenty of times… Is it not written, that if one's eye offends them, to pluck it out?" Shadow pulls out one of his arrows, and holds it to Friar Tails.
"Good priest… Take this arrow's head, and by Sonic Hood's words, make me unable to betray myself and your trust in me…"
"W-What?" Tails looked flabbergasted, "What… what are you saying?"
The people looked to their old antagonizer, not believing it unless they see it.
"If there be a pillar in your own eye, pluck it out. I wish to be blinded. That way, my eyes will no longer lust after gold and silver… after ultimate power… to feed the greed that stirs in my heart no longer… I will shield my very heart from it every piercing me again."
His arrow would fly, and like Sonic's ideals, it would continuously fly forever… never being halted on this new 'changed course' as he called it…
Sheriff no more, he'd be blind to greed from now on…
"I will not have my lust for power darken me again."
Amy… Now looked at him.
With that simple act, he felt his breath tremble at her mercy to allow the last thing he saw to be her accepting him…
A kind mercy… but Frair Tails pulled out a liquid instead. "This is a certain poison… it will not blind you, Sheriff, but it will sting to ever open your eyes for a couple days… Are you sure you wish to be blindfolded?"
He looked back to Friar Tails, "Burn my eyes of all wickedness… Friar." He knelt, putting the arrow down and lifting his head for the liquid to be poured into his eyes.
Tails looks to Sonic Hood, who takes a deep breath in, but smiles and nods.
"If that's what it takes… Give the man what he wills."
Tails then administered the poison, which did as he had stated. Shadow didn't dare blink, but winced against the pain… A cooling cloth was placed over his eyes, and as his hands came up to caress the soothing relief, he felt Amy's hands… knowing them from his time of trying to woo her through his gain of power beforehand… all of which gloating and boasting didn't tempt her in the least.
"Thank you." He states through his hissed pain, as it's her hands that tie a bandana across his eyes, keeping the cooling cloth there as well.
"You truly have proven… that you know your change may not last, and to avoid betraying us, have chosen to remove your temptation entirely… for that, Sheriff Shadow, I do believe Sonic Hood, that you are a changed man." She stated, "But I will never love anyone but my Sonic."
Her eyes turned to Sonic and he tilted his head in a bit of perplexity, not sure how to respond, he smiles goofily and scratches the side of his cheek, showing some silly shyness to her resolved affections for him.
Shadow lowers his head… Contemplating… "My heart is set on the things of this world, Sonic Hood…" He turns his head where he believes Sonic to be stationed, if he hasn't moved… and no wind stirred… so he felt he hadn't. "This is the only penitence I can prevail against to make my words, and your own, true to your men and this country." He stands up, finding his balance, letting his fingers flex as though to make sure nothing is around him.
"King Silver may punish me more severely, this I can accept… but seeing Maid Amy not even bear to look at me… That I cannot bear to see."
She didn't speak, but all saw her roll her eyes.
For someone who bore her feelings outrightly and plainly for Sonic… it was amusing to others to see her so ungraciously mock another for doing the same.
Though, they agreed that Shadow earned no due respects, but still…
"Now, I have prevented myself from ever going back… and changing my course again."
Sonic bows in agreeance to him, though knows Shadow can't see the kind, gentlemanly gesture of respect. "I'll hold you to that promise, Shadow."
"You are nothing more than a woodsmen, now."
Shadow felt that lasting remark from Sonic Hood sting far greater than his eyes were.
"May your arrow and sword always point towards that which is true… Just maybe not near Amy again."
He laughed lightly as the men also joined in, and Amy put her hands to her hips, but also gave a smile to the humor.
"Though, I'm sure she's grateful–even though the reason wasn't sound–that you helped her out."
She didn't say anything, but mimed clapping at his 'supposedly chivalrous' act of still selfish love.
Sonic walked over to stand behind Shadow and put a hand to his shoulder, startling him a moment, but continued in a more serious tone. "Just like how a shadow shows in which direction the light is coming through… I hope you will point more wayward souls towards our true purpose… for the land we love, and the true king we miss… Shadow."
He slowly drops his hand, and Shadow suddenly feels a swelling of patriotic pride in him.
He finds it humorous, and smiles. "Heh… So,... This is the power of which you use to move people?" He lowers his head in thought, and then raises it again, finding a new respect for him. "You do not tempt your men with power or gold… with wealth or even with women… but with courage to find liberty again in the kingdom of your forefathers…"
The Merry Men, villagers, Maid Amy, Little Knuckles, and Frair Tails all cheer.
"Here, here." Sonic claps, "Rejoice! You have now gained such a power!" He teased, gesturing to the people who now were agreeing with his words.
"It's a strange feeling… indeed." Shadow listened to their cheers upon his own merited words, and find that to be the greater reward of pride and pleasure than anything ever offered to him by the world.
"Your arrow… still felled me, Hedgehog." He states, and Sonic laughed.
Grinning, he patted Shadow's back and shook his head, "No, old Sheriff, you put your own life on that quiver's string… and you pulled till you were stretched so far back, that the only way left to go was forward."
"I… let go. Heh." Shadow found that analogy quite… satisfying.
Later, Sonic and Amy had a moment back when everyone was celebrating, dancing and drinking in merriment, as Sonic had named the group that in hopes this would be the old kingdom they once loved again.
Instead of all the sad tears that fell over their little plot of land in the world… he hated to see his people cry.
Around the campfire, Sonic Hood felt Maid Amy fall to face him back to back, having just danced around with the others, and coming directly to ask him a question.
"Why did you wait so long?" She inquired, "I was about to be married, you know?"
Sonic's head rose slightly from admiring the colors in the flames… "Come on, Amy…" He scratched the back of his head, and she thought it rather cute, thinking he was embarrassed at his feelings for her.
But… he was actually quite nervous about what not many people ever got to see… one thing that he evoked in her–unfortunately–too often.
"You know I'm bad at making dates…"
Her temper.
Shadow heard strange sounds of a blunt objecting hitting another, some ruckus of destruction, then a woman's loud and angry voice as the thrashing continued.
Perplexed, he turns to where he knows Friar Tails and Little Knuckles are, obviously keeping an eye on him.
"Is there another woman in the settlement? This one sounds… like a bear, perhaps?" Never in his life would he have considered the 'angelic' personage of Maiden Amy, the fair and ever kind, innocent and pure woman, to be what she really was…
A little rascal.
Awkwardly, the Merry men and the two beside him sweated with awkwardness, nervously laughing at his 'blind' description of his 'Good, tender Maid Amy' actually being the sole reason for this rampaging against Sonic Hood.
They knew her well enough, anyway… She had snuck out to see Sonic constantly during rumors of his raiding nearby…
But sadly, to avoid suspicion that she was in league with them, she would give her intel on Jet's movements and Shadow's plans, before sneaking back into the castle…
"YOU COULD HAVE BEEN LATE TO STOP ME FROM GETTING MARRIED! AUUGHH!"
Shadow, truly, couldn't believe his ears.
He wonders if his image of the world is now 'clearer' from having his eyes locked up tight.
Without craving power… he now craved… to understand what the eyes could not see.
This fellowship… of friends.
END.