A Medieval Sonic Story: Chapter 12 - The Madman's Arrival

While Sonic and Amy were off celebrating their marriage, Ivo was marching his growing army toward Rose Castle. As he went from town to town, his emphatic speeches drew more citizens to his cause. Now numbering over a thousand strong, he even found some who knew how to make battering rams and trebuchets.

These Ivo set to work making such devices, and he knew he would need quite a few of the trebuchets. He wasn't quite sure if he would need more than one battering ram, but he issued orders to build three.

His lieutenant came by, and Ivo looked over at him. "Yes?"

A stiff bow, and a report was given. "The next town appears to have quite a few residents, and from what I can gather, many are of the mind that King Sebastian Rose has overstayed his welcome."

Ivo nods. "Then it shouldn't be too difficult to recruit more to the cause. Go and spread the usual dissent."

The lieutenant is gone in a moment, and the convoy marches on. A few days later Ivo and his army made their way into the town, causing the residents to gather around them. He stood upon a bench and lifted his hands. "Hearken to me!"

The crowd went quiet, and Ivo nodded. "I am Ivo, and I am indeed who you have heard I am. I am on my way to Rose Castle to depose the ruler known as Sebastian. I feel the same as you do! I believe he is unfit to rule any longer! The time for change has come!"

The crowd cheered, and a voice rang out. "How do we know you won't turn out like him?"

Ivo chuckled. "Indeed, that is a lot of power to wield. But I don't want it for myself. You, the citizens of his tyranny, have suffered under his mindless laws for too long! How many of you have ever seen a copper of the king's treasury?"

There were murmurs of agreement, and the aspiring ruler nodded. "Exactly! This far from the castle, you are overlooked and forced to fend for yourselves! I will not allow that to happen any longer!"

To back up his speech, Ivo threw a handful of gold coins into the crowd. They fell on it like a pack of wolves, and Ivo looked around at them. "There is much more in store for you when we are in control! All I ask is for your best fighters to join me, and together we will be prosperous!"

The crowd cheered and half the town made their way to join in the revolution. Ivo's lieutenant was casually buying some fur clothing, as their route took them through the mountains. The vendor was a giant orange hedgehog, a skilled hunter and trapper by the quality of the wares.

The lieutenant picked up a sizable coat. "How much for this coat?"

The vendor nodded. "A good choice sir. 60 gold will do it. I wear something similar in the cold months, and I don't shiver a single time."

A purse with 70 gold in it hit the table, and it was counted before the lieutenant was given the coat. "Thankee sir. Yon speaker will be warm no matter where he's going."

The lieutenant nodded. "Ivo is someone special. Have you considered joining him? The mere sight of you alone would be enough to intimidate any resistance into submission."

The hedgehog chuckled a little. "I'm no fighter sir, just a lowly fur trader. But I thank you for your patronage. It allows me to know there are those who appreciate us peasants."

The lieutenant smiled. "When Ivo rules, I will personally recommend you to be his supplier. This is good clothing."

The vendor watches him go, and his features harden as he motions a green hedgehog over. "Thank you for allowing me to work at your stand for a while. I had to see for myself if the rumors were true."

The vendor nods. "You have now Milord. What will you do, master trapper?"

Jacob sighs. "I have to get back to the queen, as I am here at her request. The purse is yours. I have my own wares to sell."

Jacob left the market, making his way to the trail behind the village. He mounts his wagon and heads back to the Neutral Lands, a two week journey. With Tails, he had been observing the dealings around the castle. What he discovered was less than encouraging. The fox even talked with the few nobles who remained, and eventually he was granted access to the king.

What he saw was a frightening sight. The red fur of the king was unkempt and sticking out in all directions, and his eyes were bloodshot with madness. In short, he was broken, but just barely kept himself together.

Tails bowed. "Your Majesty."

King Sebastian turned to look at him. "I know you… You're a spy!"

The fox shook his head. "No Your Majesty. I am Miles Prower, the master bowyer from the Neutral Lands."

Sebastian glares at him. "Indeed, and I suppose you come to me because that traitor queen has asked you to do so?"

Tails nods. "She worries about you Milord. She grows concerned that you have forgotten who you were, a fair and just ruler."

The red hedgehog slowly approaches, his hand dangerously close to his sword. "That creature betrayed me by assisting her daughter and her lover out of my castle against my orders, and she shows concern for me? You lie."

Tails sighs. "Your daughter and her lover are now married, Sire. Sonic upheld his vow as he said he would."

King Rose laughed. "At last! Some good in the world!"

The sarcasm was not lost on the orange fox, but he remained silent. The king put a hand on his sword hilt. "I will ask you to do one thing, Miles. You will go to the queen and ask her to return to the castle. Bring her personally. Then I will kill you both, her for her treachery, and you for being a spy."

Tails scarcely had time to duck as the king drew the sword and slashed right where Tails' head had been just a moment before. The sword clanged off the wall and sent sparks flying as the fox ran for his life. The king sent guards after him, but Tails jumped from an open window and took to the skies, narrowly avoiding thrusts from four spears.

The fox flew as fast as he could, thankfully avoiding the sight of the king's archers. Upon his arrival in the Neutral Lands a few days later, he hugged Cream tightly, being careful with her pregnancy belly. Cream kissed him deeply. "What happened? You seem upset."

Queen Sabina came over. "Miles? How is my husband?"

The fox bowed to the white hedgehog. "I fear he is lost. Your attempted adultery, followed by the princess getting pregnant, then you helping both her and Sonic escape the castle behind his back has broken him."

Sabina's heart sank. "What happened while you were there?"

Tails frowned. "He accused me of being a spy, then asked me to bring you back to the castle."

The queen shook her head. "He would kill us both if you did."

Tails nodded. "I'm aware. He tried to kill me as I left."

Queen Rose nods, her gaze finding its way to her feet. "I thank you for risking your life, Miles. You must stay here from now on, not just for your wife, but also because my husband is truly lost… and I am mainly to blame. It saddens me, because only now do I see the consequences of my actions... but I cannot change the past either."

She wipes her eyes as a few tears fall. "We must wait for Jacob's report from the south now. I apologize for you having to see me like this."

The fox gave her a sympathetic smile. "Milady, if you showed no emotion at all, I would seriously worry you had no conscience. But your remorse says a lot, so my suggestion is to keep your head up, and lead like a queen."

Sabina nodded. "Thank you Miles. Let me know when Jacob comes back."

Two weeks later he arrived, his wagon empty but with a loaded coin purse. He got off the wagon, kissed his wife and children, and sought the queen. Princess Amy and Prince Sonic had returned from their consummation the previous day, and everyone turned to the giant hedgehog. Sabina arrived behind the pink and blue hedgehogs with Tails in tow.

Jacob bowed. "Your Highness, Milord, Milady."

Sonic frowned, his blacksmith apron covered in metal dust. "Welcome back, but I can sense something is wrong."

Jacob nodded. "The king is under threat of attack. A madman named Ivo marches from the far south, gathering more to his army each day."

Amy puts a hand on her belly. "How many does he have?"

The orange hedgehog looks at the royalty. "He approaches five thousand recruits, along with battering rams and trebuchets. His lieutenant even tried to recruit me, but I refused."

Princess Amy glances at Sonic, then her mother. "If the king is truly lost, we need help."

Sonic frowns, looking at Jacob. "The king tried to kill Miles on his last visit and still hates us all for our recent actions."

Jacob turns to the queen. "I'm no strategist, but we need to ask the Acorns for help."

Sonic nods. "Your Highness? I'll go."

The queen shakes her head. "No, I will. You have your forge, Jacob has his farm, and Miles is preparing for a family too."

She gets on Jacob's wagon. "I'll leave immediately. This threat is more serious than you realize."

The wagon heads toward Acorn Castle after she had been given fresh clothing, and Sonic looks at Tails. "We need to resume our training."

Tails nods and looks at Jacob, who nods in return. "Come, let's get to work."

The queen drove the wagon as fast as she could, knowing all the while her new enemy was getting closer. After a week, she finally arrived at the enormous castle and begged to see the king. As she was escorted to the throne room, she straightened her crown and composed herself. The doors to the throne room opened, and the white hedgehog entered, heading straight for the thrones.

King Maximilian frowned and stood up immediately. "Sabina? What's wrong?"

She took a breath. "I come to ask for your aid. The madman named Ivo has his sights set on my castle."

Queen Alicia joined her husband as Queen Sabina related everything that had happened over the last several weeks, and Alicia looked at her husband. "We must help them. They are our allies, and their kingdom is weak."

Maximilian glanced at his wife before turning to the white hedgehog. "I have to ask: Would your husband the king be willing to help us if we were in your position?"

Queen Sabina frowned. "Even if he wasn't, I certainly would."

Alicia smiled. "You are a far better ruler than you realize, but if Sebastian's mind is gone, you must begin to search for a ruler to take his place."

The hedgehog nods once. "I already have one in mind."

The chipmunk king nodded. "Then we will help you. How many will you need?"

Sabina thought for a moment. "Six thousand, since Ivo already has that many by this point. I have the same amount I can spare."

Queen Alicia shook her head, her long reddish-brown hair moving in a beautiful pattern. "Twelve thousand soldiers and knights…"

Maximilian nodded. "Ivo must be promising them unreasonable riches. Give us three days Sabina, and myself and Alicia will lead our forces to help you."

As they organized, Sonic finished the final parts on that special project for Jacob, and Ivo reached the outer edges of the castle itself. His army was now twelve thousand strong, including some nobility who had joined his cause. "There it is… Rose Castle… This should be easy."

In the castle, there was utter panic, because the king was ignorant of the looming threat. Ivo looked at his army. "Scout the castle for weaknesses! If what the nobles say is true, the king will put up no resistance."

The scouts leave camp to begin their investigation of the castle. Ivo rubbed his hands together, a wicked smile on his face. "Soon… very soon… I will be a king, and those idiots who followed me will be enslaved."