.

Chapter X
No More Moment Without You

"I'm Amy. Amy Rose."
"My name is Elise."
"Elise... Wait, you're not Elise, the Princess of Soleanna, are you?
I'll bet someone's already on their way to rescue you."
"Uh, yes, but someone I know said to me... 'Nothing starts until you take action'. So I decided to heed his advice."
"Hmm... You wouldn't happen to have some feelings for this person, would you?"

.

On the horizon, far out over the sea, where the stars seemed to fall over the edge of the world, a crimson streak had appeared, inflicting the dark sky a bleeding wound. The blackness of the night was slowly giving way to the deep blue of a dawn, proving that a new day had begun.

Together they stood on her balcony and watched the starry sky in silence, holding hands. They both knew that the night was as good as over and that they had to say goodbye to each other for the time being. But even if it would be only for a few hours, neither Sonic nor Elise seemed willing to let go of each other.

Deep beneath them extended the royal gardens of Kingdom Valley with their winding paths and myriad bridges, which would lead the Hedgehog back to Soleanna New City, back to his hotel. The wind made the leaves of the trees down in the park rustle, and in the distance he could hear the roar of the waterfalls that fed the canals and waterways of the picturesque seaport city. He was tired to his limits and aware that he would have to take his leave soon if he wanted to get any sleep at all today. But the Blue Blur just couldn't bring himself to let go of Elise's hand.

He had carried her all the way back home to Kingdom Valley Castle, holding her against him like a treasure that needed to be protected. They had barely exchanged a word on the way, had just grinned at each other like two teenagers in love. The events of the day that lay behind them still seemed so incredible, so beyond belief, that even now Sonic couldn't help but feel a slight, irrational fear that the first word which would break the silence might destroy the marvelous spell that was over this magical night. Especially if that word would be 'goodbye'.

As though she had guessed his thoughts, the princess suddenly heaved a soft sigh and squeezed the thumb of his large hand, around which she had wrapped her dainty digits. Gently he returned the gesture, and he was able to feel the warmth and smoothness of her skin even through the fabric of his glove. It was a wonderful sensation, one that even the sweetest dream during the most restful sleep could not possibly outweigh. So sleep would have to wait a little longer. Just a few more minutes.

He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so happy, so elated. It had to be a long time ago, that much was certain. Now I just have to sort out the problem with those weird dreams or visions, and then I'll finally be back to my old self, Sonic thought. No, wait... Not my old self. A smile played about his lips as he cast a furtive glimpse up to the beautiful woman at his side. I'm even more now than I was before.

But his smirk only lasted until another wave of tiredness washed over him, parting his lips for an involuntary yawn. The Mobian finally decided to face the inevitable. The night is pretty much through, and the day's also not getting any younger, as they say. Time for me to see the 'Venice Inn' from its ugly inside again. He was just about to come up with some suave parting words when he suddenly noticed that Elise was taking a deep breath as well. If we now start talking at the same time again, I'll go nuts!

But at that very moment, the fountains down in the gardens kicked in, hurling dense columns of water up into the air. Some of the water jets got caught up by seemingly invisible forces and carried along until they coiled around the palace towers like giant liquid snakes. It was an impressing, downright breathtaking sight, and Sonic instantly forgot what he had actually wanted to say.

"This water show you people are putting on here is truly amazing!" it escaped him in awe. "Already caught my eye the days before."

"Yes, isn't it?" agreed Elise, smiling. "During the summer months, it sets in for a few minutes every couple of hours, and it really looks like wizardry. It has even become a major tourist attraction by now."

Just tall enough to peek over the balcony's parapet, the Hedgehog surveyed the spectacle beneath them with wide eyes. "I'm not the biggest fan of water, to say the least, but... this is what I'd call a show worth watching! How does it even work?" he asked curiously, his voice almost reduced to a whisper.

"Our gardeners call them 'wind rails'. But I'm afraid I can't serve with too much technical details." The noblewoman shrugged her shoulders. "It's the invention of some architectural genius, long before my time. But what I can tell you is that it has something to do with the strong air currents and downdrafts here in Kingdom Valley. And that there are hidden force field generators built into the bridges and towers that add to the effect." She gestured with her free hand to the lush landscape below them. "The whole thing also serves as an irrigation system for the plantings."

He turned his head to look at her, and the excited twinkle that had entered his eyes was impossible to miss. "Do ya think it would be alright if I try to perform a grind on those wind rails sometime?"

She glanced back at him questioningly, one eyebrow arched. "You mean, like surfing on them?"

"Kinda, yeah." A slight blush appeared on his peach-colored cheeks. "Grinding on rails and riding the wind are things I'm enjoying very much. And rails made of wind sound like the perfect combination to me!"

Elise had to giggle. "Why not? I don't think anyone has ever tried something like that on our fountain system before, but if there's someone who can do it, it's you, Sonic."

"Cool!" Smiling, he turned his attention back to the dark sky above the ocean. Although Elise's balcony was facing south, it was still high enough to offer a good view of the sea in the east. Meanwhile, a few clouds had started to gather in the distance, but they were still far away and did not look very threatening. The rising morning sun, still hidden behind the horizon, illuminated them from below, turning them into pink cotton candy.

The princess let go of his hand and leaned against the balustrade by propping her elbows on it. "Tell me about your homeworld, Sonic. What is it like there, on Mobius?"

Light-footed, the Hedgehog jumped onto the railing and sat down on it next to her. This way their heads were at the same level, and that made it much easier for him to lock eyes with her. "You've never been there, have you?"

"I would have loved to visit it sometime. But father never allowed it. They say Mobius is a magical place, a world of wonders. I've seen some reports and documentaries on TV, but that's just not anywhere near the same as seeing it with your own eyes." She gazed up at the night sky as if she could make out his birthplace somewhere among the slowly fading stars.

"Speaking of your father... Do you think he'll be okay with this? With us, I mean." Sonic swallowed dryly. "To be honest, I'm a little worried about how he might react..."

"Let me worry about that," Elise suddenly stated firmly, almost cutting him off. Her voice was cold like frozen steel. "I will no longer let him get between me and my happiness. And especially not between me and you."

"All right." The Blue Blur nodded, and had to smile. Her newfound pride and determination encouraged even him, making him confident that they would really somehow manage to deal with whatever troubles might come their way. He pointed to the sky above them. "Well, the first thing I can tell you is that our night sky looks a lot different than yours. And did ya know Mobius has three moons?"

"Three moons?!" she exclaimed excitedly. "So it's true!"

He chuckled. "Yep. They're very pretty! One of them is always visible, even during the daytime. One day I'll take you to Mobius and show you. We'll go on vacation there together."

"That would be amazing!" Dreamily she stared into the distance, and the wind played with her hair.

At that moment, the first ray of sunlight flickered across the sea, drawing a blurry, blood-red triangle onto the surface of the water.

"There's something else you probably didn't know about Mobius yet," Sonic surmised, suddenly sounding very affectionate. "In our culture, it has a deep meaning to watch the sunrise together, especially as a couple. It's a symbol of love. It's said to bless the relationship, and to form a closer bond with each other. You greet the light of a new day together, hopefully one of many more to come."

"Now that's romantic!" Smiling brightly, Elise turned to him, and he almost had the impression that the last stars in the sky were reflected in her sparkling eyes. "Sonic, let's enjoy countless more beautiful sunrises together!"

"There's nothing I'd prefer to do," he confessed. And even though his next words still felt a little unfamiliar to him, it didn't make them sound any less determined. "I love you, Elise."

"I love you too, my twinkleworm," the princess returned happily. She closed her eyes and leaned over to him. He did the same, and a moment later their lips met. As they shared a tentative kiss, also their hands found each other again.

Suddenly, the fountains in the gardens under them went out, and the water snake floating in the air collapsed with a noisy splash. A bit surprised by the unexpected disturbance, the human and the Mobian separated from each other and exchanged a sheepish glance, both with a fiery blush on their cheeks.

But then a somewhat sorrowful expression flitted across Sonic's face, and Elise became worried that the Hedgehog might feel uncomfortable somehow. "I'm sure we'll get more... used... to this kind of things with time," she said, a little embarrassed.

"Naah, it's not that, Elise," he assured her. "Being with you, being... close to you, is just wonderful! I truly wish this night would never have to end." He slid off the balcony parapet and took stand beside her again. "But I really have to get back to my hotel now. I'm so tired, I'm about to keel over."

"Oh no!" Now it was the noblewoman who made a sad face. "Can't you stay a little longer? I-I..." She desperately searched for words. "I don't want to be even one more moment without you!"

"Trust me, I feel the same way," Sonic said in a soft voice. "But I'm sure a few hours without the other one won't kill either of us." He put on his trademark smirk. "Lack of sleep, on the other hand, can be pretty deadly, I once heard." As if to confirm his words, another unstoppable yawn escaped him as soon as he had finished his sentence.

Elise smiled too, and suddenly she looked quite mischievous. "You might as well sleep here, with me. A-At my place," she quickly added for clarification, blushing again.

The Hedgehog felt his heartbeat quicken and almost broke out in a sweat. Bashfully, he scratched the back of his head. "I-I don't think that would be such a good idea..."

"But you can't steal a kiss from a princess and then just disappear into the night! As my hero, you have to protect me." She made a pout. "Life as a princess is full of dangers, didn't you know? We need constant protection. There are black knights out there who want to kidnap us to extort ransom, and evil wizards who want to lock us in their towers to use us for their sinister experiments."

"W-What?! Really?" asked Sonic, stammering. The puzzled expression on his face was priceless, and Elise had to struggle hard to remain serious.

"Of course! And not to mention all those nasty dragons we sometimes get sacrificed to."

They gazed at each other in silence for a moment. Then, the corners of their mouths began to twitch, and finally they both burst out laughing simultaneously.

Sonic bent over with laughter, supporting himself with his hands on his knees. "For a second, ya almost had me! But I guess the only nasty dragon around here is most likely your father. Sorry to say that."

"It's okay," Elise managed to get out between fits of giggles, her arms wrapped around her belly. "He deserves no better." After they calmed down a little, she took a deep breath. "Please don't get me wrong, Sonic. I would never ask you for something that could make you uncomfortable. If you want to leave now, I won't force you to stay." She folded her hands in front of her chest and looked at him with her bright blue eyes, in which he always threatened to drown immediately. "But I bet I won't be able to catch a wink of sleep because I'll have to think of you the whole night. And remember the festival tomorrow. Today," she corrected herself. "I have to be in top form for that! So... can you really not stay at least a little longer? Just until I've fallen asleep!"

She's so cute, Sonic thought, and couldn't help but smile again. And I would be lying if I said the thought wasn't tempting. Maybe I'd even give in if I weren't so exhausted. He rubbed his eyes, which burned with fatigue, and was about to apologize again. But no sooner had his vision cleared than he suddenly noticed something strange in the forest not far from the palace. He was almost certain that he had seen a figure in one the treetops who had stared over at him and then quickly hid behind the trunk. What was that?! Is someone climbing around in the trees down there, watching us? All of a sudden, an uneasy feeling came over him.

Briefly, he considered if he should go and check. Even as tired as he was, he was still the fastest thing alive. It would only take him a second. Well, maybe two seconds, if he didn't want to blow up half the palace again. But on the other hand, he didn't want to worry the princess, either. Also, who in the world would be crazy enough to climb around in the trees at such a late hour? In the darkness of the night? His overtaxed senses had surely just played a trick on him. Or perhaps it had been just some animal. Still... There was this queasy feeling that almost made his quills stand up. Something wasn't right. Maybe it isn't such a bad idea to stay with Elise a little longer after all. Just to be on the safe side. I'll make up for the lost time on the way to the hotel.

"All right, you convinced me," he said. "I'll stay a bit longer. But really only until you're asleep! After that, I'll sneak out and return to my hotel."

"Oh Sonic! That really makes me happy." Elise let out a loud cry of joy. Laughing, she clapped her hands and jumped from one foot to the other.

Seeing the girl he loved in such high spirits made him happy, too. With a broad smirk, he watched her open her balcony door to let him in.

.

-===XXX===-

.

What the...?! Did he spot me? He was looking right at me! Amy's heart almost stopped in shock, and she became alternatively hot and cold. Barely daring to breathe, she pressed herself so tightly against the tree trunk she was hiding behind as if she wanted to melt with it. Fear and tension made her hands tremble, and she tightened her grip on the giant sledgehammer she had stolen from the equipment room in the basement of the 'Venice Inn' to prevent it from slipping out of her grasp.

Holy crap! I just hope he hasn't seen anything! If he gets suspicious, he could be here in less than a second. And if he discovers me, it's game over. How am I supposed to explain this to him? How am I supposed to explain to him what I'm doing here? An assortment of lies and excuses flashed through her mind, but none of them made the slightest bit of sense. There was nothing she could say that Sonic would even remotely buy from her. He was nice, but he was not stupid.

For the third time that day, the Hedgehog girl was sitting on the branch fork of the tall tree in the woods near Kingdom Valley Castle. For the third time that day, she had to witness how the one she loved was spending his time with another woman, with a human woman of all things, instead of devoting it to her as he should have done in her opinion.

For hours she had waited for the two of them to return from their trip into the forest, and she had already been afraid that they were going to spend the whole night out there, in the wilderness, doing who knows what dirty things with each other. But then, after what felt like an eternity, they had shown up again, and Sonic had brought that princess back to her balcony with some careful jumps.

But instead of finally saying goodbye to each other, they just stood around on her balcony, staring up into the sky and holding hands. Holding hands!

And if only that had been all! But, no, they had kissed again. Kissed! Again! And this time it hadn't been just a peck on his forehead. This time they hadn't done things by halves. Not at all. This time it had been the whole nine yards.

At that moment, the already utterly distraught Hedgehog girl had noticed the first rays of the morning sun reflected in the windows of the palace, and the realization had hit her as hard as if a wet towel had been slapped across her face. The sunrise! My Sonikku is watching the sunrise with her! Tears of anger and despair had welled up inside her, and a pressure had suddenly built up inside her head so intense that it threatened to burst her skull. It had forced the tears out of her eyes, and they ran down her cheeks like hot torrents.

How dare he do this to me?! How dare he?! He knows how much he means to me! I've been courting him for years now, but all I've ever gotten from him are missed dates and flimsy excuses! Her strength suddenly seemed to fail her, and the hammer, with which she had wanted to offer that red-haired princess bitch a free beauty treatment, almost escaped her hands after all.

Since when does he actually go for human women? What the heck does he see in her? What does she have that I don't? Is it because she's a princess and I'm not? Or just because she has bigger tits? It felt as if something inside was being torn apart, ripped from her heart, and for a second Amy thought she could no longer breathe. Stars danced in front of her eyes, but they were not the ones now fading in the brightening night sky above her. Sonic, you unfaithful bastard! Maybe I should just kill you as well while I'm at it!

At least he didn't seem to have spotted her after all, because now he turned back to the woman and waited for her to open her balcony door, grinning like a fool. Is he even going to spend the night with her?! The Hedgehog girl suppressed the manic laughter that was trying to wrestle its way through her throat. The thought was as absurd as it was frightening. The only thing missing is that he carries her over the threshold like a fucking bride!

Clinging to the tree trunk, Amy forced herself to breathe calmly and evenly, struggling to bring her pulse and heartbeat back to more moderate levels. As long as Sonic was with the girl, there was nothing she could do anyway. But now that she was here, she might as well wait a little longer. There was still a chance that he would return to the hotel at some point. The night wasn't over yet, and she wasn't going to give up that quickly. And there was no way she was going to come back here a fourth time and squat in this damn tree like a monkey that needed to take a shit. It was now or never.

She moved her tense limbs to assume a more comfortable position and rested the hammer on her legs. Not taking her eyes off the princess's balcony for a single moment, she nervously tapped her fingers on the heavy tool every second, and the the click of her claws on the cold metal sounded like the expiring clock of a time bomb.

.

-===XXX===-

.

"Why don't you make yourself comfortable," Elise said, flicking on the bedside lamp on her nightstand, which cast her room in a warm and not too bright light. "Have a seat. I'm just getting ready for bed quickly." She scurried into her bathroom and closed the door behind her. "Be right back with you," she added from inside.

Still a little insecure, Sonic looked around her room. 'Make yourself comfortable', he repeated her words in his mind. 'Have a seat...' His eyes scanned the furniture. Does she mean 'on the bed'?!

The huge bed that dominated her room indeed seemed to be the only comfortable place to sit. The only other seating was a tiny wooden stool in front of her small makeup table, and that thing looked anything but comfortable. But he didn't want to stand either, or even sit on the floor. The one would have been a bit impolite, the other quite inappropriate.

For the chamber of a princess, the room was furnished rather spartan. There was her wardrobe, in which he already knew she kept at least some of her clothes, and in one corner of the room stood a folding screen in front of a floor-lenght dressing mirror. Above her bed hung a long shelf with all sorts of odds and ends on it, and on the wall next to it was a large display case containing a variety of different bird feathers, most of which looked really pretty and colorful. He also saw the peacock feather he had given her still lying on her nightstand. She probably hadn't had a chance to assign it a place in her collection yet.

Finally, the Hedgehog made a decision. Well, it's not like it's the first time for me to sit on her bed, he thought with a smirk. He stepped up to her bed and examined the sheet by stroking over it with his hand. So soft and fluffy! He pushed the blanket aside a bit and sat down on the mattress. So cuddly and cozy! He simply couldn't resist. He kicked off his shoes and stretched out on the mattress, arms folded behind his head. This bed is a class of its own! No comparison to that scratchy cockroach cot in my hotel room. Tired and exhausted, but at the same time relaxed and content, he dreamily looked up at the ceiling, letting his mind wander.

So many crazy things had happened today. Most of them he couldn't quite believe himself yet. And yet it was true. He had fallen in love. And the one he loved felt the same for him, reciprocated his feelings. The thought filled his chest with flames, set his heart on fire. He was in a relationship now. In a relationship with a wonderful, graceful, beautiful woman. A human woman! Who would ever have thought that possible? A broad, goofy grin settled on his lips. If I didn't know better, I'd swear this is all just a dream.

Briefly he had to think about Amy and how she would undoubtedly respond to the news. He could imagine her reaction pretty well, and if it hadn't been so sad, he would have had to laugh at the thought. She had changed so much over the years. Her initially somehow cute crush on him had at some point turned into a kind of morbid obsession, and the devoted friend she once had been had become an intrusive stalker. She even didn't perceive anymore how he was doing, how he was feeling about it all. She was completely fixated on herself and only ever interested in satisfying her own desires, often without even realizing it.

He actually felt rather sorry for the young Hedgehog girl. It was only because of that, and out of respect for their long-standing friendship, that he still endured her embarrassing behavior and her sometimes quite annoying advances. I'm sure she'll get over it. She has a good heart, and will eventually find the right partner. I made it clear to her already a long time ago that there will never be anything more than friendship between us. And now that I have a steady girlfriend, she'll hopefully get over those stages of grief she seems to be trapped in for years now and finally move on to acceptance. He just hoped that she wouldn't see Elise as some sort of rival and get the idea of doing something to her.

The Blue Blur was barely aware that his eyes were slowly falling shut, and he was about to drift off into a doze when a giggle suddenly snapped him out of his slumber.

"Now look at that! Seems like you've found a way to make yourself comfy," Elise remarked, and had to giggle again at the sight of the Hedgehog lying barefooted on her bed.

He hadn't noticed at all that she had returned from her bathroom in the meantime. "Sorry, couldn't resist..." Sonic sat up and blinked a few times to drive the haze of sleep from his vision. But as soon as he caught a clear glimpse of the young woman in front of him, he instantly was wide awake again.

She had changed her clothes, replacing her dark, casual attire with a short, white, sleeveless nightgown, and that thing was a wisp of nothing. Its hem ended almost exactly where her thighs began, just barely covering her to her hips, and the gauzy fabric was virtually see-through. He could make out the bandage that was still around her rib cage, and the fact that she wasn't wearing a bra didn't escape him either. The ornate pattern of flowers and feathers that adorned the airy piece of clothing was pretty much lost among all the other captivating impressions he had to deal with.

His irises contracted into narrow stripes as he gaped at her with widened eyes, and had he been a bit less tired, his reflexes probably would have catapulted him out of her bed again. "E-E-Elise...!"

The princess did not miss his glances. "Do you like my nightie? It's my favorite!" She raised her arms and spun around, which caused her already rather skimpy garment to slide up another inch towards the danger zone. "See? It has feathers on it." She let out a bright, cheerful laugh.

"F-F-Feathers...?" Sonic's mouth suddenly felt so dry that his tongue almost became stuck to his palate, and he was very glad about the fact that she was at least still wearing that little thong underneath her sleepwear.

Still, the Hedgehog couldn't keep his eyes from wandering up and down her shapely body. He thought she looked breathtakingly beautiful, downright enchanting. The delicate, light-colored nightgown fit her perfectly, accentuating her petite hourglass figure as much as her alabaster skin, and her short red hair, as always held in place by her white, feather-shaped hairpins, provided a perfect contrast to it all. With all the self-control he was able to muster, he forced his gaze back up to her eyes again. "It... It's beautiful. You are beautiful!"

"Thank you! How sweet of you." She giggled shyly, but was obviously flattered by his compliment and clearly enjoying the way he was looking at her. "But you're also pretty handsome, Mr. Sonic."

"I know," he stated confidently, winking at her.

"I didn't expect any other answer from you."

"Say... does it still hurt?" He pointed at the bandage around her chest.

"Only when I think about it. So let's stop thinking about it, all right sweetie?" Finally, she crawled onto the bed beside him and snuggled into her blanket. "By the way, is it okay with you if I call you that?"

"An honor when it comes from your lovely lips, dear," he joined in the amusing game of exchanging mutual terms of endearment. "And way better than being called a 'worm'."

"Hey, it was you who came up with that twinkleworm thing," she pointed out, smiling.

"Can't remember that at all," he claimed, playing innocent. But his joke was quickly followed by a hearty yawn. "Well then, I guess it's time for me to hit the road..."

"But I'm not asleep yet," Elise objected with feigned indignation. She pulled the duvet up over her nose and peered at him over its edge with big blue eyes. "Speaking of sleep... Would you mind telling me more about your dreams, Sonic?" she asked, her voice muffled a bit by the covers. "Please. I'm so curious! You said I was in them, too. So... what happens to us in those nightmares? What are you dreaming about?"

The Mobian sighed and laid back down, propping his head on one hand. "Let's see..." He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking. "In my dream, I'm carrying you, and we're trying to escape from a very dangerous situation. There's fire and smoke all around us. Something is exploding. Everything around us seems to be falling apart. And then we're falling, too. It is a very vivid dream, if not even some kind of forgotten memory. It feels so terribly real. The heat, the noise... Your weight on my arms..."

Suddenly, her nose reappeared above the blanket. "My... weight?"

"Yeah. But in that nightmare, you seem... younger somehow. Here, in real life, you definitely look older than you do in my dreams."

"You really know how to flatter a woman, don't you, Sonic?" Her eyes sparkled mischievously.

"Err... I... Uh..." He snickered insecurely. "More grown-up, I mean. More... m-mature."

She laughed. "I'll take it as another compliment, then." But then the noblewoman suddenly turned serious, and a somewhat anxious glint crept into her gaze. "Can you also tell me something about that Dr. Eggman? You've been up against him so many times now. Surely you're able to judge him well."

"Do we really have to talk about that jerk?" The corners of his mouth dropped a few degrees. "Just the thought of him is an absolute mood killer."

Elise nodded understandingly. "I believe you, and I'm sorry for asking. It's just because... Well, as strange as it may sound, he plays an important role in my nightmares. I'm being abducted by him, and somehow I know that he needs something from me, and that I will die as soon as he gets what he wants." She swallowed hard. "Dreaming that over and over again... It just scares me!"

"It would scare me too, trust me," Sonic agreed seriously. "That guy's not one to mess around with." He paused for a moment, and Elise could see that he was struggling with his emotions. His voice was husky as he continued. "He came into our world even before I was born. He ravaged our land. Destroyed entire regions. Killed countless animals. He kidnapped our children, turned them into machines, and used them as weapons against us."

"Oh no...!" Elise clasped her hands over her mouth in horror.

"In his greed for power, he knows no bounds," the Hedgehog hissed between clenched teeth. "He has no feelings. He shows no mercy. He may look like a man, but he's a monster." I can only hope that those dreams are really just forgotten memories, of events that are already behind us, and not visions of things to come. Hopefully her friend is really able to help us with this matter today. In any case, I have to take good care of Elise. If that devil should really get his hands on her one day... He didn't even want to finish the thought.

"S-Sonic...!" She noticed that he was shaking violently.

"I'm sorry, Elise. I didn't mean to scare you even more." He forced a smile onto his lips, but she could see that it was not reaching his eyes.

She wriggled one arm out of her blanket and held out her hand to him. "Take my hand, Sonic."

It was not a command, and yet there was a power in her voice that brooked no dissent. He did as he was told.

As best as she could, the young princess intertwined her small fingers with his large ones, locking his huge paw in her grip. Then she looked into his eyes. "Sonic... as long as you're with me, as long as we're together, I fear nothing in this world." She squeezed his hand a little tighter. "I'm not a fighter, not in the way you are, but I can be strong, too. So let's always be there for each other, one for the other, and never let each other down. Promise?"

Now he no longer had to force that smirk. It came all by itself, straight from his heart. If he hadn't already been in love with her, he would have fallen for her now. "Promise!"

"Great!" Happily, she smiled back at him and let go of his paw. "And now... would you please do me just one more favor?"

"And what kind of favor would that be?"

Suddenly her pale cheeks blushed fiercely. "Would you... please... take off your gloves again?" she asked shyly. "Like yesterday, when you applied that bandage to me." She blushed even more. "I would so much love to see your hands again! Will you allow it?"

So that's what she'd had in mind when she suddenly grabbed my hands, Sonic realized. Holy moley, and I almost fell off the bed! His head still resting on one hand, he brought the other to his mouth. He bit down on a corner of his glove to hold it in place, and pulled out his hand. Then he showed her what he had revealed.

With wide, shining eyes, Elise examined his peach-furred paw, her mouth forming a silent "o" in fascination. She reached out for it, but then stopped an inch away, her fingers in midair. "M-May I...?"

He could not help but laugh at her curiosity and marvel. "Of course," he said, nodding.

Gingerly, she began to touch him, feeling over his soft palm and stroking his furry fingers. She tenderly traced their course with her fingertips, and finished her exploration by carefully tapping the tips of his small, pointed claws. "They're beautiful!" she exclaimed, beaming with joy. "You are beautiful," she returned the compliment he had paid her earlier, blushing slightly again.

He became red as well, mostly around his nose. "My oh my! If my friends could hear how much you flatter me, they'd say you've to be careful not to inflate my ego too much." He chuckled, but it ended up turning into a mighty yawn. Gosh, I'm so tired!

The princess curled up with her blanket again, but left one arm outside so she could continue to caress his hand. "Tell me about your friends, Sonic."

"Oh Elise, come on! Weren't you going to sleep at some point or something?" He wasn't able to stifle another yawn, even though he tried with all his might out of politeness. "I bet all my friends are already asleep, I can tell ya that much." Well, except for Shadow, maybe.

She snatched his hand, pulled it onto her pillow and nuzzled her cheek against it. "I'm working on it."

It didn't look like he would get his hand back anytime soon. What can you do, he thought in surrender. Sighing, he stretched out his other arm as well and let his head sink onto the bed. He was dead tired, and it was long past time to go. But then again, it was so comfy here, in this luxurious bed, and the most beautiful girl he could imagine was lying right beside him, her warm breath brushing over his fingers. Somehow, he didn't want to do without that, either. No, he didn't. In fact, he also didn't want to be even one more moment without her. He relaxed, and yawned again.

Elise giggled. "Sweetie, if you open your mouth any wider, you may end up swallowing me." She let go of his hand. "It's okay, Sonic. You can leave now if you want. Really." She closed her eyes and sighed. "I could go on talking to you forever! And I still have so many questions... But I guess that'll have to wait. And there's no hurry, because we'll surely spend a lot more time together from now on, won't we? The rest of our lives, I hope! And in a few hours we'll already be together again, right?"

He did not respond, so she assumed that he was listening in silence and continued, "Somehow, I was almost afraid that if I fell asleep, it would all turn out to be just a dream as soon as I wake up again. Today was – no, is – such an incredible day! Yesterday I thought my life couldn't get any worse, and today it suddenly turns out that dreams can come true after all. I'm so happy, Sonic. I can't even describe how happy I am."

He still said nothing, so the noblewoman opened her eyes a crack to peek at him. "Sonic...?" She noticed that his eyes were shut. "Sonic?" she tried again, a little louder this time, but the only answer she got was his deep and steady breathing. She lightly nudged him on the chest. "Sonic!" But it was no use. He was fast asleep, right by her side. It almost made her burst out laughing.

She gazed at him for a minute while considering what to do. He's sleeping so peacefully, and looks so cute. I just can't bring myself to rudely shake him awake. Besides, I told him. He might as well sleep here with me. Again she had to suppress a chuckle.

Quietly, and with careful movements, she reached behind her and switched off her bedside lamp. Then she shifted a portion of her duvet over to Sonic to share it with him, gently covering him up to his chest with it.

Suddenly, the Hedgehog moved in his slumber and slid closer to her. Deep asleep, and probably without even being aware of it, he snuggled up tightly against her and took her in his arms, placing one hand on her hip.

Elise's heart started to beat wildly, and she almost gasped in surprise. He was so close to her that she could feel his warm breath on her skin, and some of the fur on his forehead tickled her nose. I had no idea that he's such a cuddler, she thought, smiling. But there's no way I can fall asleep like this. That tickles to no end!

Ever so slowly, so as not to wake him up, the princess pulled one of her feather hairpins out of her mane and carefully fiddled it into the fur on his forehead, pinning down the little tuft that was pricking her nose so badly. That should do the trick! Smiling, she looked at the result of her efforts. Feathers suit him pretty well, too! She laid back down and gently wrapped one of her arms around his little body, returning his embrace.

Today, one miracle after another happens, she rejoiced. This was undoubtedly one of the greatest days in her life. She was well aware that there were still quite some challenges ahead of her, especially with her father. Maybe with the council, too. Maybe even with some of her friends. And maybe even with the rest of the world. But from now on, she would no longer let anyone tell her how to live and whom to love. Never again. She cast a fond glance at Sonic. I will be strong. For you. For us!

She knew he probably wouldn't hear her, as sound asleep as he was. But she said it anyway, whispered it softly into his ear, and she did not even have to move much to do so, so near he was to her. "I love you, Sonic."

His ear twitched like that of a cat, and suddenly his long nose moved up and down sniffing as if he was taking in her scent. Obviously engrossed in a pleasant dream, he slid another inch closer against her and mumbled something unintelligible before letting out a deep, contented sigh. A peaceful, almost fulfilled smirk curled up his lips.

No bad dreams tonight, I guess. Elise had to grin, too, and finally closed her eyes again. It took only seconds for her to fall asleep as well, and the happy, satisfied smile on her lips grew even wider as she also drifted into a blissful dream.

.

-===XXX===-

.

There they were, lying side by side, peacefully sleeping in her huge bed together. Snuggled up close to each other, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. So Sonic had really decided to spend the night with her, Amy thought, and had to bite on her tongue to avoid crying out loud.

Tired of waiting, she had quietly and stealthily climbed onto Elise's balcony. There she now stood, peering into her room through a gap between the curtains. The light was off, but the rising sun already provided enough brightness to clearly make out the furnishings, the bed, and not least the two figures lying on it, nestled against each other in a tight embrace under the covers.

The young Hedgehog girl's hands cramped around the handle of the hammer in her fists, and her claws, protruding from the burst tips of her punctured gloves, dug painfully into her palms. That means he's not only unfaithful to me, but is downright cheating on me! A feeling of deep, crushing despair washed over her like a wave, threatened to overwhelm her, and her legs almost gave way beneath her. The unbearable pain of mortification and disappointment pierced her chest like a jagged dagger, inflicting her heart a terrible wound, which would probably never completely heal again.

Yes, he had told her. More than once. He had told her that he had no deeper feelings for her. That she would always be a good friend to him, but never more. But those had been just words, hadn't they? The heart often spoke a different language, and for some feelings one simply could not always and immediately find the right words. But the heart always knows the truth.

She had wanted to give him time, had not wanted to give him up, and had not left his side for all those years. She had followed him everywhere, done everything for him. Always ready to fall into his arms as soon as he would finally listen to his heart and realize the truth. And the truth was that she was the one. The right one. The only one. The one his heart was destined to love.

But now it seemed that she was too late, had waited too long. Despite all the effort she had always made for him, despite all the sacrifices she had made for him, despite all the hardships she had had to endure, the one she loved had now apparently chosen someone else anyway. And then, of all things, a furless, corpse-pale human slut!

Maybe she had been wrong all the time. Had given herself false hope, until the very end. And now it was over. Everything was over. All her love had been in vain. All her dreams had been shattered. Again, she wanted to cry, to turn her sorrow into water and let it drain out of her body through her eyes. But she had no more tears. She felt empty. Hollow. Numb.

But she was not dead! There was still life in her, still love in her. As long as her heart was beating, it would carry love for Sonic. She had once sworn to herself that she would never give up on her Sonikku. She would fight for him, as long as she lived. He belonged to her. He was hers, hers alone. She would not let him go so easily!

The morning sun behind her had risen higher in the meantime, tinting the curtains magenta, and Amy became aware of the fact that her body was casting a shadow on them. It was not wise to stay here any longer. She had to leave now, or she could be discovered at any moment. Desperately she thought about what she should do now. What she could do at all.

And then she had an idea. Maybe there was another option, one she hadn't considered yet. Her father, that king, or duke... What was his name again...? Hector! Yeah, right! Duke Hector of Soleanna. At least that's what it had said on the frame of her ugly painting in the history museum. I wonder if he knows what that spoiled brat that he's calling his daughter is doing all night, and especially who she's doing it with. A dastardly glint entered her eyes.

Maybe I can convince him to put that little cunt to a chain, just as she deserves. Maybe I can get him to teach her some manners. I think it's time to change the tune. She bared her teeth, and for a moment she looked like a ferocious beast. Oh yes! I think it's time to pay her daddy a visit.

...