NOTE: I own the story and Jacob and Dayna Hedgehog. Sega owns Sonic, Tails, Amy, Cream, and Vanilla. All other names were gotten from the internet. Now with that out of the way... ONWARD!

A Medieval Sonic Story: Chapter 1 - The Knight Turned Furrier

A large crowd of commoners and nobility alike had gathered around the balcony of the castle that dominated the realm where the Rose Kingdom was located. On this particular day, there was a celebration planned for the king's grand champion. All of the townspeople were murmuring to themselves, wondering how the king and queen would honor such a fighter like him.

At 1 PM, the trumpets sounded, and the king, queen, and their entourage lined up on the balcony. The king allowed the crowd to cheer for a bit, then raised his hands to quiet them. Once they were, the red-furred hedgehog began his speech. "Thank you for coming. Today is a day of great joy and celebration! As you may know, I intend to release our grand champion from his knighthood! He has served me well for ten years, and has expressed a desire to grow crops and hunt game for the rest of his days. I will never forget the day we met, as I was hunting in the deep woods…"

-Flashback-

The king and his protectors were deep in the woods, chasing the footprints of a legendary creature known to have only appeared twice in that area over the last fifty years. King Sebastian Rose held up a hand as he started at the forest where the hoof tracks had led. "Hold here. These woods past this point I've heard are rife with thieves and various manner of uncouth individuals. We need a plan."

Behind them a branch snapped, and out of the woods came a rogue assassin. Running full speed, the villain caught the entourage off guard, taking aim at the red-furred ruler. Then from out of the woods on the other side flew a palm-sized boulder, cutting through the air, splitting between the royal guard as the rogue reached for a dagger.

The sound of the boulder catching the rogue in the left temple was that of a wet fish slapping the ground. He went rolling along the path, a look of surprise on his features as his world turned black. After briefly pausing to regroup, Sebastian looked around and bellowed out to the woods surrounding him. "Hold fast! Be you friend or foe? Who threw that veritable boulder at the would-be assassin?"

From the king's left, out of the woods came a giant orange hedgehog. Walking to the dead body, he picked up the stone and turned his attention to the royalty. "I did."

The guard raised their weapons and began advancing toward the creature, but the king intervened. "Lower your weapons."

They did so, and the giant was motioned over, towering over them all. The ruler looked him over. "Who are you?"

The orange hedgehog answered. "I am Jacob Hedgehog. I saw your approach and meant to warn you about that one, but he got here first."

Sebastian Rose looked at the assassin and back to Jacob. "You have done me a great kindness today. Are you in service to anyone?"

Jacob shook his head. "No Your Majesty."

The king nodded. "Do you have a home, or land?"

The giant shook his head again, and the king looked at his entourage before making his decision. "Very well, I offer you a bargain. Serve me as a knight for ten years, and when I release you, you may choose a wife for yourself, and I will give you your choice of land for your future offspring."

Jacob considered this bargain and nodded, offering his right hand. "I accept, for I have no family or land of my own, though I know these woods better than you probably do."

The king and giant hedgehog shook hands and began the journey back to the castle. They arrived the following day, and King Sebastian was met by his wife, daughter, and other nobles. The queen, a white hedgehog named Sabina, hugged him tightly. "My king, we were worried about you."

King Rose hugged her and his daughter, named Amy, tightly. "Rightly so, for an assassin was waiting for us. Thankfully we were saved by this one, Jacob Hedgehog."

Motioning to the door, the giant orange hedgehog entered and knelt before the royal family, even though doing so merely brought him equal in height to the king. The queen looked him over and grinned. "A fine specimen my dear. Has he a wife?"

As they talked, Jacob caught the glance of a yellow-furred hedgehog, the royal seamstress. She blushed and looked away from his blue eyes. The king noticed this and chuckled. "Maybe one day, Jacob. First you must fulfill your service to me."

Jacob nods, the burning blue eyes intimidating even the king. "I plan to."

-End flashback-

King Sebastian Rose chuckled. "Little did I know exactly who saved my life that day. Jacob Hedgehog took to arms and fighting like no one else before him. He's a born fighter, has never been bested in battle, or a joust, or a spar, or any other kind of contest. On this day, the tenth anniversary of his service, he has fulfilled his vow and served me honorably, achieving every kind of accolade that exists. Now I summon him to be released."

The trumpets sounded again, and out came the giant hedgehog himself. He knelt before the red-furred king. "Here I am, Sire."

Sebastian smiled and summoned his wife Sabina to his side. "Jacob Hedgehog, you have honorably served these last ten years, displaying valor and upholding your vow. I hereby release you from your service. Thank you. Now, as promised, I hereby grant you a plot of land of your choosing in the Neutral Lands, as well as a wife of your choosing."

Jacob stood and looked around, seeking a suitable female from the nobility. A lot of women wanted him, but the decision was his. Finally his eyes fell on a yellow-furred seamstress standing behind the princess. "Come here please."

She did so, looking shyly at her feet. Jacob looked her over, taking note of her curves, and finally he looked into her blue eyes. "What is your name?"

It took a moment to find her voice, but when she spoke, her voice was like a breeze through bluebells. "My name is Dayna."

Jacob took her hand in his and led her before the king and queen. Sebastian grinned. "Even ten years later… I had hoped you two would be together."

Sabina looked at Dayna. "What do you think? Do you believe Jacob will be a good provider?"

Dayna took hold of Jacob's left hand. "I have no doubts that he will."

Sabina chuckles. "You've loved him since the day you met, and based on what you've just said, I hereby release you from your service as well. We will find a new seamstress for our princess."

Jacob and Dayna turned to the king, who smiled. "Go into the Neutral Lands with my surveyor. Once you have a plot of land, I will ensure a house is built for you and your family."

Jacob turns to Dayna. "I choose you as my wife, Dayna, if you'll have me."

Dayna blushed and nuzzled Jacob's hand. "I will, and I accept your choosing me, if you'll have me."

The orange hedgehog picked up the yellow one and kissed her. "Of course I will."

The crowd cheered as the royal family sent them on their way. Princess Amy stood beside her mother. "I hope I can find a husband like him."

Sabina chuckled. "Patience Amy. Your time will come."

Two days later, Jacob, Dayna, and the surveyor arrived in the Neutral Lands. This area was between the Rose Realm and Acorn Kingdom, shared by both but not governed by either kingdom. As they arrived, Jacob noticed a building already in the area near where he intended for his land to be. "Surveyor? Whose land is that?"

The surveyor checked his notes. "That belongs to Sonic the Hedgehog, a legendary blacksmith. The word is that he's a true master of his craft, even though he's only 19 years of age."

Jacob nods. "Then we'll share a border. That property will be next to mine, and I'll take the land in the other directions for four acres."

The surveyor nods. "That's excellent land you've chosen, it should yield many good crops."

The surveyor departed, and a couple weeks later construction began on the house and property borders. Jacob began going into the woodlands to hunt, and Dayna had said her goodbyes to the nobility and royal family. It took about two months, but soon the orange and yellow hedgehogs were well on their way to living lives as common folk.

As Jacob walked his property one day, he saw Sonic approaching the fence that marked their property border. Jacob turned to face him, and Sonic did the same. Jacob looked the cobalt hedgehog over and nodded. "You must be Sonic. You smell like a blacksmith forge."

Sonic frowned. "Do you always begin conversations like that? A bit uncivilized if you asked me."

Jacob gave a deep chuckle. "That was meant as a compliment. A true craftsman should either look or smell like what he does."

Sonic cocked an eyebrow. "No wonder you smell like wet fur then. I took you for a knight-errant."

Jacob nodded. "You're not too far off. I have been released from that service these three months."

Then it hit him, and Sonic took a step back. "Wait, you're THAT Jacob Hedgehog? He Who Was Never Beaten?"

The orange giant nodded. "The very same."

Sonic offered his right hand. "Why didn't you say so sooner?"

The two males tried to squeeze the other's hand harder than the other, but Sonic was soon wincing as Jacob's immense strength overwhelmed him. "Okay! I yield!"

Jacob chuckled and flexed his hand a bit. "That's quite a grip, Sonic. Perhaps you'll let me tour your forge one day?"

Sonic flexed his own hand to make sure it wasn't broken. "Maybe one day, but tell me: Surely you aren't just a farmer. I've seen you carrying pelts and antlers."

Jacob looks at his house, where Dayna could be seen planting seeds for crops in the spring. "Indeed. I decided to become a furrier, supplying the residents of the nearby realms with fur for their coats and tunics."

Sonic snapped his fingers. "I have an idea. How about we barter? You supply me with various antlers for my knives and daggers, and I make you some of my finest tools for farming."

Jacob offers his right hand. "I accept. We could use some tools like plows and scythes for our fields."

The two male hedgehogs go to their respective work for the time being. Sonic didn't know it at the time, but soon he would be in charge of multiple craftsmen in various trades. Even at that moment, another craftsman was on his way, having followed the rumor trail that Sonic had left behind him.