Skid and The Chaos Kingdom

Bonus Story

By: Cutegirlmayra (Hey yall! It's been tough with drama and emotional stuff I've been having to deal with to find the energy to write. It's really difficult. But I've been trying to at least edit and get some stuff done. As you know, this will be the last story to Chaos Kingdom, and afterwards, I'll be editing for Instincts and Metallic Need and giving them a second season. The plots already have been laid out so please, stay tuned for that~ and now, ado my good friends, until the next wonderful story! Also, big thank you to everyone who's been supporting me. And for the suggestion to put the Babylon Rogues back in business! :Db)

Returning once again into the Chaos lands, Shadow strode with half his cape draped over his muzzle, into the deserts that border the edge of where the uncharted territories and the Chaos Kingdom lay. However, the territories were finally named and mapped by Shadow's own hand, continually returning to Sonic's kingdom and presenting them to him with their respected names and information he's gathered concerning them.

Sonic, receiving this happily and dutifully, then make decisions based on peace and the prosperity of his kingdom to befriend or let be certain territories.

After many years away, Shadow strides into a town bordering the desert wastelands, and unwinds his cape to drape back down by his shoulders and back.

Maria, having strode behind him, wearing more of a traveler's apparel, silently helps the cape down and makes sure it doesn't obscure itself by his long, back quills.

Although half immortal, Maria has aged into a beautiful but tough young woman. Silently and steadfastly following her father through his many long journey's and aiding him in any oath-driven task he receives.

However…

They walk together into a tavern, the place going silent even in their music, as all continue to recognize the face of the immortal prince of peace.

Some with ancient respect for his penance, and others still with dread or hate, seeing nothing but a bad omen in both him and his company…

Shadow turned to Maria, silently giving her a cue to take a seat.

She found a table and immediately sat to it.

After buying more provisions and receiving smack from the tavern's keeper, the two carried one bag each and left.

However, three men snickered to one another, eying Maria, before walking out of the tavern.

About her age, they stopped Shadow and her in their tracks.

The dust rose slightly… as wind began to silently streak by their wicked expressions.

"Hey, forsaken loser!" A kid cried out, as Maria glared up at them, but Shadow kept his head down, his expression emotionless.

"Hehehe,… You're still under the oath of the Chaos King, right?" One pointed, with a knowing eyebrow slanted upwards to Shadow.

He remained silent…

Maria looked to him, but said nothing.

The boys snickered, "Give us your daughter for a night, old man!"

Maria flinched back, eyes widening at their impudence, although she wasn't entirely unused to this sort of behavior.

Some lands would just try to seize her, and they'd be force to run or fight depending on the circumstance. It was becoming difficult for her father to do his life's work with her now.

Even when her face was covered, most would try this stunt, or outsiders would pursue in hopes of simply having 'conquered the fallen prince's legacy'.

It was almost becoming a rumored sport to claim Maria… And many bounty hunters were hired to try and take her just because of higher nobles finding the fun in snatching the only thing the Immortal Prince had left.

She worried she was becoming a bother, a nuisance to her father, and this day was definitely confirming to her that she was indeed, an annoyance to him.

She looked away, ashamed of her beauty and the ridiculous lust of others.

"Father…" she hid her face in the shame of a darkened shade by a building just by them, turning away from him.

Before she could finish, Shadow threw the bag down.

"By right of Fathers, I could slit each of your throats for dishonoring my daughter's name."

His back straightened, his voice still holding such power and authority of a king, though no power entitled him now.

The boys squirmed a moment, moving back, unaware he could do that.

"W-wait… doesn't your oath-?"

He drew his sword, then lifted it to cock the blade that wielded an ancient technology within it, and lowered it back to shine in the light.

"The next thing you'll see… is the flash of your deaths. Death is not black… it's white." He then slung the heavy metal up, pointing it with just one hand towards them.

They each froze with trembling bodies and eyes, scrambling then, one over the other, as they took off. Their teenage bodies flinging across themselves as they fell down and crawled to escape such frightening wrath.

"I didn't know he could do that!" one cried out, as they all ran for their very lives.

Shadow tilted the gunned sword, letting the light reflect off of it as the boys saw the light on a nearby building's window, blinding them a little.

They each stopped, raming into each other, staring at the bright glowing window.

Shadow re-titled the blade back, letting his deep, dark reflection of his silhouette show in the window instead now.

They screamed, "It's death!" they cried out in their foolish buffoonery and took off away from the two once more.

"Hmph." Shadow rose his gun-sword, and then swiped it back into its scabbard on his back, tied with scraps around his shoulder and down under his armpit.

Maria turned back to look to her father, still seeming to hold self-hate before her words betrayed her and she squinted her eyes, holding back tears.

"I could have defended myself, Father. You needn't indulge them."

"…Silencing youth is handled differently than men, Maria." He turned to her, lifting her chin up as he saw it lowered in her quaking, her shoulders bouncing though no tears showing.

"… Always keep your head raised… You are dethroned royalty." He removed his hand but kept his eyes on her, as she kept her head where he had placed it. Her eyes still remained closed in her loathing of her face, which she swore must have been a pitiful excuse for her father's continual struggles; which only were added onto by her cursed complexion.

She took deep breaths to calm herself, "A normal woman of nobility wouldn't deal with such offenses. Nor would any abled child allow their father such disgrace and humiliation as to deal with such intrusive and crude statements of any kind."

Her age had made her less subtle to a degree, more alarmingly refined but bold.

She hated being bold with her father, but sometimes… she could not stifle her emotions like he, impressively, could.

Then again… he's had more than lifetimes to perfect his craft of a sunken, forlorn face being carefully masked by a proud, strong, and reserved expression.

"You are not a normal nobility." Shadow eyes shifted ahead, not one for displays of emotion.

"I don't need your constant reminders..!" She shook her head away from him, swiftly walking to the side and in the middle of the road, letting the bag fall to her side as she immediately regretted her outburst.

She held her head up in dismay, "Forgive me, father… lately,… I feel as though I am a burden to your already harsh sentence…" she kept her eyes closed, just letting the color of her eyelids shift with the light of the sun on them.

It's warmth was painful in the desert heat, especially on her obsidian quills. She heard a shuffle from behind her then, and looked down.

Shadow had dragged the bag away from her, lifting both bags over his shoulders and walking onward.

"Come on." He spoke reservedly, but it was his only response.

She took his response as either avoidance on the harsh matter of what she believed was a truth statement, or that out of respect for his oath, he may have conceded to resign from the topic for her sake.

After all… the oath bade him to be kind. She held half the blood of the Chaos kingdom in her veins, mingled with her accursed blood.

She took a second to look down at a vein in her arm, and carefully examined the black of it. She couldn't spot a vein, but to her, she was honored to wear the weight of the fallen Ark Kingdom.

She clutched her fist, and looked back to where her father carried on.

She knew he wasn't one to speak much of feelings, but tender memories of him holding her at night and humming till she fell asleep loomed over her mind's thoughts like gentle reminders of his true, kind nature. Sitting by her side as friendly travelers sang their people's songs, relaying to her the old Ark Kingdom's ways and traditions, teaching her to pick the correct wild berries- holding the basket for her to place them in when it got too heavy for her to carry- still trailed her thoughts daily.

Her fondest memory of her father was when he had smiled proudly to her, when she finally stood at his side before a tribal king in the uncharted territories, close to the barbarian wastelands, without a shroud of shyness. No, she remembers having fully stood upright, back straightened and arms delicately placed to her side, and her forward stare of regal elegance that he had always hoped for her to portray. He had smiled to her, showing his pride in her actions as he tilted his head down to look at her. His gentle expression had forever touched her in ways she could never express. But that small, unspoken moment of seeing her father's happiness in pride of his only, unprivileged heir made her always act in the way that her father may smile again.

All she wanted was to be of use to him. To make the weight of suffering light upon his shoulders.

Lately, she was nothing more than a threat to his otherwise successful reign of keeping the peace… without authority to do so.

She wished she had never troubled him, never ailed him in anyway.

But alas… to raise a child in such a life as a nomad… what more could she had done but simply survived for his sake? That he might have company in this otherwise lonely life. She once believed her company was all it took for him to be at peace within himself, something he couldn't do for himself without her.

But now…

She followed after him, making her way through the dusty, sand smitten streets till they came upon a neighboring band of traveling caravans.

For a rather cheap price, they allowed their camels to carry their bags, and in return, Shadow provided protection from thieves.

"…You should let me carry a weapon." Maria finally spoke after many hours from their last conversation, but Shadow acted rather coldly to this request.

He dipped his head down and tilted it slightly to his side, gesturing he was speaking to her from behind.

"A lady doesn't require weaponry."

"Even the queen of this nation holds to a hammer, father." She tried to not sound harsh, although she couldn't conceal her pleading without some of her frustration bleeding out into the counter. She tried to use logic to make sense of her, otherwise tame, argument. But there were hints of talking back to him in her voice… and she hoped her behavior wouldn't upset him too greatly…

She knew that his word was law to her… but perhaps,… he may change his mind on occasion now that she has become older and more defined, refined, as a woman.

She was usually quiet and mouse-like… but as she had gotten older, her tongue began to be more direct… but she held herself back once again in discipline.

Once more she tried to speak to him again.

"Even a woman of the wild carries a spear."

"They work with men, they must." He slowed his pace, and for the first time, Maria noticed him examining her.

To him, she was still a young lady, not old enough to be fully considered a woman. She was about the age of those teenage brats from earlier, although he had raised her to be presentable. This caused many to mistake her as older, leading her to believe she was, in fact, older and more of an abled-body woman than a young girl.

He admitted she was able to wield a weapon; expertly? Perhaps not. But able.

But she was still so young…

He lifted a hand to her forehead, gently letting the back of his finger stroke downwards on a faded red stripe, a marking that trailed just before it reached her eyes.

"…F-father?" she was startled by the sudden affection, but he held his hand there,…

A tender look of pondering in his eyes… as if memories and thoughts were emerging continuously from them, had him staring once more to her, stopping his every movement once more.

He then tapped her forehead in reproof.

"Do not ask me again." He stated, this time firmly but with a hint of gentle love mixed in it.

Was he worried about her?

She could fight rather decently. He had taught her that if ever the time may need come, to pick up his sword and to even shoot with it.

Why was he so..?

Her eyes watched him as he continued to keep up with the traveling party, before realizing once more the painful truth.

"You are… emm…" she turned and looked away.

Once more, he was schooling her as a princess, even though he would constantly remind her of her lowered position due to those Chaos rulers she would loathe so.

They took everything from her father, although, he spoke of that conquest as though it had been the day his soul was saved.

She understood that her father had been in the wrong, but taking everything from him? Putting him in such a state as a nomad?

He still wanted her to be lady-like, proper, even though she was worth less than a slave!

Shadow suddenly swiped a hand over her, stopping her immediately from moving further.

"Father, what's wrong?" she kept her voice down, getting ready for any surprise attacks he may have heard; not at all unaccustomed to his protective stances and abrupt actions.

"…Your expression… it's full of sorrow I haven't seen before."

She suddenly snapped out of her own thoughts and self to look back at her father.

"..Even some rage.."

He definitely was reading her accurately… but she couldn't bear to disappoint him and state her true mind.

In a moment of childhood shyness, she drooped her previous stance and took a more humbled and reproached look, holding her arm and bending her eyes down to show her true misery.

"I… simply feel I am of no use to you." She spoke plainly, knowing he would keep questioning her if she kept quiet.

And lying was out of the question.

His expression changed as he blinked, seeming to have not thought that to be her reply at all.

"No use to me?" he lowered his arm, striking more of a look to gain understanding than reprimanding.

He seemed surprised instead of enraged, something she hadn't expected.

He furrowed his eyebrows, not sure of himself concerning her now.

"Y-yes, father." She turned back to him, nodding her head, before looking down in painful anguish of spirit. "I feel my resourcefulness has become somewhat an ailment to you… More so than before- now that I've reached the age of maturity." She looked down at her grown body, wishing she was somewhat still a child with childish looks.

Then, perhaps, the men would leave her and her father alone.

She was unaware of eyes at that age though… perhaps they had always been watching her.

"…You scorn your beauty… because of me?" Shadow raised an eyebrow, looking perplexed.

She looked up with a silent rush of air flinging into her lungs and out of her in shock at his words.

"Of course not! Father!" she slightly fell, clinging to him, almost on her knees, as he stopped walking to turn and look down at her.

"I.." her eyes trembled. She loved him so much. Her beauty was a curse to his mission! To his only role in an otherwise miserable existence.

"I only wish that I could hide my face… that you may continue in your long, honorable work…father." She ducked her head again.

"Forgive me." She shook her head, rising it to his chest. "I don't know what's come over me."

She had never let such emotion take over her actions before, but it seemed impossible not to emote how she was truly feeling at this time.

Perhaps she had held it in too long, now letting it roll over like a dam breaking and destroying the crops of well-nourished fields.

"Do not be angry with me, father…"

He felt her hands shake as he gripped him, and sighed.

It was becoming more of a reality now… what he knew he must do.

"Remove your hands." He gently took his own hands, removing hers carefully, and holding them.

She looked up, nodding and getting up fully by herself.

His touch and voice was gentle…

He moved his hand, raising it to her cheek.

"Prince."

Someone called from the front, and he turned to look at them, taking the diversion from his daughter seriously.

The man gestured his head towards the front, showing they still expected him to guard.

They had all stopped to wait upon him, since he had stopped moving and come to the train's long assemblies backend.

He turned to see this fact, realizing how much ground they lost, as his eyes examined this unfortunate mishap.

Feeling more shame for having caused distraction, Maria quickly ran forward.

"My apologies, we're heading there now." Shadow looked to the man, then to Maria…

"…"

They reached a town just outside of the castle's walls. The flags flapped in the wind as many merchants' charts rolled down the streets.

Maria had purchased with the last of her money a piece of fabric to wrap around her face, keeping her identity secret but her father remaining true to his own.

She wondered why he refused to wear a disguise of any kind, but she thought it was mostly pride that caused him to not hide his face.

What she didn't know was that by hiding himself, none could then ask favors of him; and his oath and covenant to keep the peace of the kingdom and pay the price for his eternal sins would be meaningless.

Because he wasn't covered, all knew the darkened maiden behind him, even with her face hidden, was her anyway.

"You err,.. child." Shadow, in a fluid movement, turned around and ripped the fabric off her head, revealing her long, draped black hair with the faded red, and her beautiful complexion. Her quills angled like his, but down as a female hedgehogs usually grew out to be like.

With a harsh look of discipline, he wrapped the fabric around his arm, not taking his eyes off her. "We could have saved that money for something more necessary then hiding your face." He thrust the fabric to the ground, making her watch as it lay at her feet… covered instantly in the musty, and more damp dirt beneath them.

This was fine soil… a fresh land. Far away from the torturous tundras and vast, desert-lined wastelands they've faced before.

It had been years since they've been to the Chaos Kingdom… but as she watched the fabric drift lightly in the wind by her feet… she slowly leaned down, reaching for it.

He stomped on the fabric, flinching her hand back.

"Why do you continue to disobey me?" His voice was much more pronounced now. "Leave this foolish notion of concealing yourself! I find your lack of self-confidence in your appearance to be-"

"Disgraceful!?" She rose up, standing before her father in a since of complete rebellion.

His eyes widened, seeing her take such a forward stance.

"Maria… what are you doing?" His voice lowered, but his eyes held a stern look of disapproval. "Why do you speak back in such anger towards me?"

"Because I feel as though I need to conceal myself for your convenience." She lowered her head, "Father, forgive me. But am I not a hindrance to you? Allow me to do whatever I can that I might not be such."

"…" he stared long and hard at her, before lifting his foot off the fabric.

"Do as you will… but I will not indulge you in such activities. You are a-"

"Dethroned princess. A scorned abomination of a corrupted and manipulated king." She rose down, grabbing the fabric and reciting perfectly his next words.

His eyes widened once again, amazed that she was able to speak his words with such precision.

"My blood is tainted, but apparently not my looks… I must hold myself as refined as any princess in any kingdom naturally would. I don't have servants to attend me, I have sufferings to school me. I don't follow your oath, but I will follow you. And I do so not out of spite or disapproval of my life-"

She then went off script, speaking of herself now, and walking passed him.

She flung around, looking square into his eyes, "But because I love you."

He watched her, her words ringing in his mind before he looked up, a shadow and windy drop catching his attention.

"Maria!" he darted towards her, ramming into her and skating along the dirt in a slide as a hooded man dropped from the roofs right where Maria stood, and looked back up.

"Bounty hunters?!" Maria's eyes widened, before holding tight to her father as he picked her up, glaring at them.

"Show the rest of you."

The hooded man got up, as many more dropped and one even flipped out a dagger, spinning it around in his hand for style.

"We're not here to harm anyone… we're not bounty hunters. But we are paid to escort your daughter to one of our clients… he wishes a dinner."

"He won't be alive to finish it." Shadow glared, before more men dropped behind him.

He turned to give them the same respect as the ones in front of him,… a glare.

"Either surrender the girl… or we'll at last take the blood of the mortal prince of peace." A man teased, as Maria realized they didn't believe the legends about her father.

Her arms held tightly around him, still uncertain, but clang to him all the while.

She ducked her head into his chest, his white fur giving her comfort as she took in his familiar smell that gave her some sense of safety. The soft pieces of each tuff that spiked out reminded her of resting there as a child, her head feeling the only soft leisure of something even remotely close to a pillow gave her a strong connection to her father; along with the moment now, giving her assurance she wouldn't be taken or harmed.

He had always kept her from being taken, or stolen, or otherwise hurt.

"Father…" her fearful tone couldn't be held back however, as Shadow's eyes glanced down to her.

A sudden intense feeling to protect sent a rage through him, and he glared towards his enemies.

If only he had a Chaos Emerald!

"Don't try and stop us, Gramps…" the men bent down, slowly beginning to advance. "You knew this day would come, anyway. Not like your pretty, little girl's face hasn't been on the mind of countless nobles before…"

Maria's eyes shook, looking back at the men.

A sudden, painful memory of her crying for her father as he slashed in the dark and many nights; countless men's hollers, till he had successfully caught the bandit that was trying to take her and killed him too.

She remembered, her head over his shoulder, as he held her with one hand, walking through the massacre of the rogues that all lay at his feet.

He had ducked her down, seeing her nose twitch at the smell of death, before gently lulling her to sleep as she placed her head on his white fur... bouncing her up and down a bit to get her to relax.

She was so young then… that memory… had long been forgotten.

She removed her arms from around him, slowly, twitching as she placed them on the sides of her face.

Her desired face… had troubled her father since infancy.

They tortured him by trying to take her for what? For the satisfaction of a millennia ago when he fought them to avenge his fallen friend!? Were they still justifying their heinous actions by saying he deserves this fate? To take the only thing he possess away from him!? To give him total misery!?

Does humanity have no compassion?!

Shadow rose his hand, seeming to strain it as if willing something were clutched within.

'Chaos…' he spoke within his mind, never once having addressed the God of Destruction so formally as in a prayer. 'Do not allow her namesake's fate to come upon my daughter!'.

The Master Emerald, far into the distance, having priests and priestesses host migrations to allow spiritual journeys for those seeking enlightenment and peace come to pray and worship there- suddenly glowed a magnificent manifestation of its power.

The people, close to its location, saw the rising sun suddenly shine a shade of green.

The horizon manifested the green far and wide, as Shadow's hand could feel the Chaos power flowing through it.

He shifted his eyes up, still angered by the situation, but not letting his astonishment at being able to control Chaos at such a distance be recognized by the details on his face.

Then again… he hadn't been so close to the Master Emerald in many years… he had grown stronger through his acceptance of its power and ability to change hearts.

Perhaps… this is why it willingly aids and obeys him now.

Perhaps it still recognizes his royal blood.

"Chaos… spears!" he wrapped an arm protectively around Maria, before swishing it forward and jumping back, watching as the men were spiked with the powerful lances that came out from the chaos power within him.

He started to race off, still holding Maria bridal style as she clung still to her face. Ducking her head further down, she let out a wince, still having memories of times she's long forgotten.

Her eyes squinted in admitting her painful truth, the unbearable lie that she was of any help to him on his journey.

She had always caused him grief, hadn't she?

Why?

Why hadn't he refused to take her, let her grow as an orphan that would do him no harm, no trouble of any kind…

But she immediately put off such thoughts.

She loved her father. She loved the life she had with him.

It was people who were the source of her grief, it shouldn't be towards herself.

After all…

She looked up at her father, slightly lowering the grip she had on the sides of her face, letting them linger down and away from herself.

Her father loved her dearly.

Didn't he..?

Shadow turned into what appeared to be a front, small yard to a public school.

The arch in the center matched the arch of the finished building and made a constant look for the entrance and school to go by.

He sat her at the steps of that school, bending down as if she was a child to place her there.

He gently put a hand to her cheek.

"Wait for me here." He instructed, then dipped his head down with such a fierce look of rage…

She knew he was planning to kill for her.

"Father!" she threw her arms out but he stayed them, biding her once more to remain there.

"Attend this… school." He had to look around, making sure he knew where he was placing her.

"When will you return?"

"Ack! Find that girl! Kill the Prince of peace!"

The familiar sound of the man that once attacked them shouted out in pain, spitting to the ground as it sounded like he pulled a chaos spear from himself.

Shadow turned back, rage still apparent in his eyes as he more forcefully put her hands down to her sides, pushing them to the ground.

"You will remain here! Understood?"

"But.. Father!"

He placed a hand back up to her cheek, a look of absolute strain to contain whatever it was he was feeling.

He leaned her head down and moved forward, roughly kissing her forehead before turning his face down to have their foreheads touch, breathing in rushed breaths, clearly emotionally stirred as he flung around.

His goodbye… meant everything to her.

Was this forever?

Or…

"Fa…"

Her eyes widened as he raced out, crying out a battle cry she had never heard before.

It slashed through the air and clung to her heart. A fierce roar of a lion couldn't have racked her so immensely as the sound of the piercing anguish her father declared from his lips as he raced off out from the school's entrance…

"Boooorrrrring!"

"Will you take a break at voicing your opinion already? Son, you've only cried out the same word FIVE TIMES." Sonic, sprawled out on his chair like in his former, glorified, youthful years leaned up to hold his five fingered hand out to the chair below that held his represented future heir to the throne.

Skid folded his arms, draped in hand-me-down's from his father, and his father, and countless ancestors before him… looking mighty frustrated at the court cases he was forced to be apart of.

"We all don't like to hear the sap stories of other people, no offense." Sonic held out a hand to the man before them, who 'uup'd a hiccup of shaky sorrow at hearing him say that, before Sonic looked back to his kid.

"But come on! I'm old and I'm still putting up with the same backache and boredom you are. You're just gonna have to get used to it, too." Sonic stretched, putting a hand to his back and opening his mouth to let some of the pain escape through a soft groan of discomfort.

"Besides… your mother can handle the rest!" Sonic suddenly flipped out of the chair, still having enough spunk to pull off aerial movements like that, as he looked back to his son, seeming to hint at racing him.

"Which adventure shall we pursue? Another territory? Or closer to home?" Sonic smirked, seeing his son get excited and lift his feet out from the chair, before thrusting himself forward and racing up to be neck and neck with his father.

Both their hands moved out in a runner's springy stance, but froze as they conversed.

"I know you might mind this, but I'm kinda itching to see the beauties of the oases." His charm never left him…

"Same old, same old." His father rolled his eyes, "What's with you and water?"

"Ha! You think I'm talking about the beauties of water?"

"Boys!"

The two flinched, turning to see Amy rise from her throne, glaring disapprovingly at the two.

"You're not expecting me to-"

"But honey…" Sonic turned around, wrapping an arm around Skid, starting his theatrics. "Skid is a growing boy who needs as much experience in the world as he can get. To understand the people and their local customs and etiquettes." He played what he knew she would approve of, but she folded her arms, taking none of that.

"Sonic The Hedgehog, I've been married to you far too long to not be unable to see when I'm being played."

Sonic frowned, having a hand up to try and speak again more matter-of-factly before putting it down and having his ears annoyedly point back at his failure to convince.

"Sonic… if I might." Tails then approached the two, before turning suddenly to Amy, "Maybe just a quick horse ride to the Master Emerald's pilgrimage? After all, it's been nearly a year since the young prince got to practice his abilities." Tails looked away, but behind him, he fisted Skid's returning bro-fist.

Skid snickered behind him, holding a hand in front of his face to muffle the sound, bending behind his uncle Tails to not be suspicious.

"Ohhh.. Not you too, Tails?" Amy smacked a hand to her face, letting it drag down in weariness.

"Twirls hasn't been there yet." Tails commented, "I want my daughter to experience the power of the Chaos Kings and the Master Emerald firsthand. For science and history!" Tails pointed his finger up, proud of his fatherhood, as Amy sighed.

"Then what about me..?!" she whined, dropping her shoulders forward in defeat. "I deserve a vacation too!"

"Father and son time." Sonic looped another arm around his son, pulling him in with a wink. "He spends too much time with girls, anyway."

Skid smirked, looking away as he pleaded guilty.

Vanilla, much older now, and holding a cane shook her head, looking up as if speaking to Chaos himself. "Only you know.. he's too much like his ancestors before him." She shook her head, and continued to watch at a distance. Her grey features suddenly slowly turned to look at a maid who was struggling with her chores, and with a kind smile, she chuckled and left the entertaining royal scene to attend to helping her out.

Sonic sped up to Amy, hearing her still sound disapproving as he rushed up with a hand over his mouth and whispered something in her ear…

Suddenly, her face shifted, her eyes widened and her mouth curled into an excited grin.

She giggled, and fawned as if still youthful in her red cheeks and swayed herself back and forth.

"Oh, Sonic~"

"So… is that a yes?"

"If you promise to be back before sundown~" she cooed, flirting a bit as she flicked his chest and giggled, waving to her son and Tails. "Bye, bye now~ Have fun AND NO EXCESSIVE FLIRTING! You're too young!" she gripped the ends of her long, royal dress and proceeded to make her way up to the king's throne.

She liked the height's added viewpoint, anyway.

Sonic grinned, rubbing under his nose before darting back to his friend and son, wrapping once again his arms around them, pulling them in. "It's settled then! To the Master Emerald we go!"

Tails smiled, "Let me pick Twirls up at school first, after all, she can be a handful sometimes… mind helping me with her?" He scratched the back of his head, as Skid turned around and revealed an overly willing expression.

"Of course, uncle Tails! Twirls is the cutest!" he smiled sweetly with a thumbs up. "When I'm king, I'm going to have a hundred daughters! I hope they all look as cute as Twirls." He grinned, before his father smacked him upside the head.

"Ow! Hey!" He held the throbbing spot of his head and turned to his father, looking hurt that he would hit him like that. "What's your beef on that?"

"My beef?" Sonic folded his arms, glaring a side scold as he raised an eyebrow up. "As if that's not self-explanatory." Sonic then dipped his head down and closed his eyes, avoiding any explanation.

Tails sweat dropped, tilting his head to the side as he deduced Sonic's reasoning. "Haha, I bet your father's worried you're going to bring in concubines or something…"

"Well…" Skid smirked to the side again, "More love in the home, right? OW!"

Sonic hit him more forcibly this time.

"Ever heard of true love?"

"Only a thousand times." Skid rubbed the spot, before dreamily looking up into the sky as they headed for the stables. "And only experienced a thousand times…~" he seemed to be quite the Casanova.

Tails nervously looked to Sonic as if apologetic for Skid's behavior, after all, Tails was his teacher.

But Sonic just rolled his eyes, continuing on into the stables, muttering, "I'd like a horse to buck him so hard that it matters for him to only have one wife…"

"I thought you had a first love, Skid?" Tails got up on Tornado, who was extremely old and frail now, but since Twirls was going to be riding with him, he wanted a mare who was gentle like her to accompany him.

"Can she make the journey?" Sonic side-commented, not wanting to bring up the topic any further but his efforts failed him.

"Huh? Oh. You mean…" Skid looked forward, closing his eyes before he raised his head up.

"Maria…"

"Don't start that again."

Sonic dramatically rolled his eyes and even put his head into it.

He wagged a hand out, "Day in and day out, ever since he was young. All I ever hear is his countless dreams and pinning over our fallen, prince's daughter. True fact! A sworn enemy in days of old." His father scoffed, disapproving of his son's fancy in her.

The three trotted out of the stables, as Skid smiled at the memory of her.

"She was beautiful, dad! A dark angel…"

"Sounds like a bad omen." Sonic, unamusingly stated.

"She was royalty." Skid leaned up on his horse, stating his justification, before leaning back and letting himself fall a little ways back as the reins kept him from completely draping over the horse.

"She would be my queen in a heartbeat…"

"Before she stabs it and takes back her father's lost kingdom?" Sonic tauntingly smiled to the side, sarcastically imposing on his son's 'wishful' thinking.

"She's long gone by now. Sticking with her dad all these years."

"It's true that rumors of her beauty and even a price for her have circulated far over the realm." Tails lifted up a hand, mentioning the tales he's heard on his outings. "But I imagine that must be hard on Shadow… having everyone take sport in trying to seduce your daughter…"

He looked down then, his own father's instincts immediately seeing the dread in such a thing. Shadow was a legend, one that many wanted to prey on. He empathized deeply in that regard… The want to protect your daughter from heathens…

"I'd protect her!" Skid turned his horse around to address Tails. "I'd protect her with my very life!"

"You don't even know her." Sonic was growing frustrated now, not liking his son's fascination in women being so single-minded.

Skid looked forward, blinking his eyes before pouting and narrowing them forward, kicking his horse to move up and meet his father as the gates began to open.

"Can I ask you something?"

"No."

"Why'd you marry mom?"

Sonic's eyes widened, he flinched a little as he remembered the terrible betrayal of his youth, and looked down, eyeing the ground for some form of distraction. A diversion. Something!

"…She was pretty, right?"

Skid leaned forward, trying to see his father's face, though he was obscuring it with his downward angle.

"O-of.. well, I mean, of course she was pretty. But she was my childhood friend too. I'd known her since forever…"

He looked away, not wanting to relate such a tale. Especially since he knew Amy distorted it for Skid when he was younger anyway.

He didn't want to get a fake detail wrong.

However… he remembered himself having said that… by making Amy Queen…

He could protect her.

He coughed and 'ehem'd before continuing to hold himself high and regally. "Anyway. It took me a minute, about a good long minute,… but I found that deep inside my heart, your mother was the only one for me." He turned back to Skid, smiling kindly with a nudge and wink.

"And also the only lover I can put up with." He teased.

Skid shook his head, "I would be honored to find a woman like mother." He stated sincerely, before looking up to his father. "Someone so loyal… so true… sincere and trustworthy… Not to mention that Mom's a complete babe." He wobbled his head as if this was a popular opinion, and Sonic just flung his eyes back to him and then pushed his shoulder.

"Knock it off."

"Ayyy~ It's true! Mom's a score, dad!"

The gates opened and Skid went charging out, 'yahoo'ing as he was finally free to explore, something Sonic wished he had more of when he was a kid.

Sonic shook his head as Tails finally made it up next to him. "He's gonna be like Amy, you know… find that one and stick with her. You shouldn't worry about him." He smiled, "He bluffs all the time."

"He's too much like her father." Sonic grinned, "Though I've only heard stories about him." He could barely remember her father from memory, so stories were all he could go off of.

"Huh? Really… Hmm… I wouldn't be able to tell." Tails thought about it, but he really didn't know anything about Sir Rose.

Skid charged down the streets of the market, before encouraging his horse to move faster and faster, jumping over obstructions in the road or rounding corners as best as the horse could.

It's mighty heart beat wildly, trying to keep up with its masters demands, before he passed the small entrance of the school. Looking over, he saw an older woman gesturing to a maiden he hadn't seen there before, asking her to help the young child back on his feet from falling when at play.

For an instant, the world went quiet.

His horse's feet were hovering in the air, slowly descending, as his eyes widened and pupils shook while dilating.

Her beauty caught him completely off guard, as he recognized the girl that had haunted dreams, flown through thoughts, and danced in his heart's quiet fires for so many years…

Maria rose up and nodded to the woman, quickly helping the boy and then fixing a girl's sulked ribbon that was coming undone.

Her eyes met his then, as her head come up and bent body slowly rose before freezing.

His frame and color reminded her of a distant memory as well…

In that space of slowed-time, the Master Emerald's green glow finally faded, and a spark of a chaos pulse rippled the air as it had once before done… many… years… ago…

The soundwave caught the attention of everyone but the two… before Maria swiped her head to look up at the green flicker of the wave above her head, and Skid's horse landed, time returning to normal, and bucking in the fright of the sound and abnormality.

It wasn't a real moment of slowed time, but to the two, it seemed as though time was lengthened for their stare to last and bind a lingering effect on themselves.

"W-woah!" Skid was thrown off, landing behind the horse as it took off.

"Ah! Your highness!" A teacher, old in her years, looked horrified at seeing him fall, before she addressed a few women behind her. "Quickly! Fetch his horse!"

Maria, startled by this new development, turned to and fro as her head followed the countless shapes of women flocking to lift up their dresses slightly and race down the entrance way and through the streets to reclaim the unruly horse.

Remembering her vague first encounter with the prince, she mouthed the title, and turned back to look at him with slight fear.

She stepped back once or twice, before fleeing with the other women, faintly recalling that he had forced her to dance with him, and didn't want to be singled out against her will again.

He shook his head, coming too, as he reached up to rub the slight bump that was forming there.

The kind old woman raced over and reached down, helping him up as his head swiftly rocketed straight from a firm shake and tried to spot Maria again.

"Young prince, are you alright?"

"She was… she was here!" He held onto the old woman, trying to regain his balance as his feet scampered across the dirt. His grin was unfathomably overjoyed, and completely in wonderful suspense of delightful shock.

It was quite pleasantly humorous, actually.

"Skid!" Tails and Sonic raced towards the small, arched entrance way and dismounted, racing over to him as the girls had finally caught the horse, trying to settle him down.

They cried out in fright at it reaching up and kicking it's high legs out a moment, not liking being corralled by a bunch of scared women before Maria stepped forward from among the crowd of skittish girls. Reaching both hands out, she placed them to the top and bottom of his muzzle.

"Cease! Quiet, I say. Shhhh… shh… you're at peace with Chaos… peace.. peace…" she soothed it down, having it shake it's head a few times out of her grasp before patting his feet to the ground, rocking ever so slightly as she petted the top of his long face, all the way down in a lingering sensation of restful tameness.

He neighed a few times,… but grew quiet as she chanted her words.

The women applauded her, but she clung closer to the horse, stepping towards it and letting it dip it's head into her bosom.

She didn't like all the attention… especially after-

"You calmed my horse."

She tensed up, turning around and slightly ducking behind it's neck.

The horse fidgeted, but remained still with her hand tightly on the top of it's nose.

Skid moved from the old woman, gaining his sense of balance and orientation as he stumbled towards her.

"You… you're… you're her…"

She peeked slightly from around, before seeing the king in his rope and crown… slowly stopping before fully coming onto the scene… his royal, mutated-tail advisor behind him.

She scanned the situation… strategizing.

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes…

When she let it out, she started to move to walk the horse towards it's master, before standing tall and proper before the handsome prince.

She didn't like thinking him handsome… but she couldn't ignore the sensation happening in her heart.

She had presented herself the way her father would have wanted her too. Without fear, and without shame. Like a princess, but never as one.

She… also had to give him back his horse,… somehow.

"Your horse… Prince Skid." She handed him the reins.

He immediately reached out, only taking a moment to look at the reins before clasping her hands, holding them as if he had caught a butterfly in-between them, and grinned from ear to ear.

"You're here." He repeated. "I've been wanting to see you since the first day I met you…"

She flinched back a moment, frowning openly at the bluntness of his statement before remembering the complexion of her face…

She blushed a moment before searching for her fabric.

"Thank you." She pulled her hands away from under his, having his hands freeze a second as if experiencing shock from losing their grip on her own.

He looked up in amazement at her scurrying around her plain traveler's clothes, and pulling out the fabric and neatly tying the dirtied thing around her face.

She then bowed, before shaking her head and remembering it was common for ladies to curtsey here.

"Well," she tilted her head, a little jittery. "Goodbye." She speedily strode to round him, and make her way back to the school.

He was in complete astonishment.

"Goodbye..?" He almost breathed out, before chuckling and turning around. "Oh, not ever again!" he almost skipped, a little side-stepping as if dancing, before racing after her.

"Wait! Maria!" He eagerly called her name, chasing after her.

The girls saw his strange behavior, looking less masculine as they were expecting, and giggled to each other, covering their faces as they did so.

Sonic was embarrassed for his son, looking at the girls slightly mocking his 'feminine tendencies' and then looked flabbergasted over at his son pursuing, apparently, his previous mortal enemy's daughter.

"H-…How?" Sonic kept looking back at forth, as Tails walked over and grabbed the horse's reins, then nonchalantly putting them in Sonic's hands.

"According to that 'wedding flash' by the Master Emerald. I'd say that it's probably destiny." He teased, reminding him of The Master Emerald's approval of his own marriage through similar circumstances.

"Best not to fight it too much." Tails saw Sonic's jaw drop at the recollection and lightly tapped a hand under it, popping it back in place and walking in.

"Sweetheart? Daddy's here!" Tails called, walking into the school as Maria quickly tied her shoes' bands more neatly around her ankles, but looked over her shoulder to see Skid coming up beside her. She quickly dodged any further looks and continued down the hallway, having him immediately follow after her.

"Heh." Tails shook his head, "Like a love-sick puppy." He commented, hearing Skid continue to spout out questions to her, not giving her time to answer.

Suddenly, an adorable, squeaked up voice called from below Tails's feet.

"I'm right here, papa~"

He looked down, a tender look in his eyes as he breathed in and out; a father's pride and joy.

His adorable little girl wore sagging overalls, since that was all Tails owned from his younger years, and most of her 'pretty dresses' were being washed today.

He sighed, thinking this look was more suited for a 'scientists' daughter, but his wife always disapproved of such 'farmer's attire'.

Her three tails began to rotate over the other, before she leaned forward, "Daddy, daddy! See what I learn! I do now." She spoke a little brokenly, but turned to look back at her tails.

He had been worried about any mutations… but his wife was very consistent in letting him know that she thought her daughter's three tails were adorable.

At least they were all the same size.

The tails began to wave and weave in and out, crisscrossing and braiding themselves.

"TA-DAH!" she raised her arms up, performing her last move as Tails bent down, looking over the tail formation.

"Wow. Nice." He studied it a moment, actually taking into consideration the tails maneuvering of muscle and conscious thought in actually being able to perform this trick. "Actually, it's quite impressive." He leaned his head back, truly amazed at such a little girl's thinking power.

His daughter was at this 'specialized school' because he noticed her IQ was a little off. Upon further study, they had mentioned that her development wasn't quite as normal as the other students.

In panic, Tails tried to research his daughter's behaviors, and realized that their deductions and observations were sadly proving true.

His daughter was just slightly slow. But enough to require just some special attention, nothing further.

It was these moments where Tails constantly believed his daughter was just on a higher train of thought, and that her 'slowness' was just from things being too simple for her to want to process.

She smiled and giggled, before he pointed to his nose and she took the cue that that meant he wanted a kiss.

She leaned up and rubbed her nose to his, before he kissed her nose and she returned it, a ritual he had continued with her since she was young.

"Ready to learn a bit more about Chaos Emeralds today, sweetie?"

She was distant again, suddenly her mind had trailed to something else and was slowly calculating on another channel…

He sighed, seeing her space out a moment as she looked out and watched nothing in particular.

He lovingly picked her up, smiling, and held her in his arms.

Maria continued down the hall before turning into an indent in the wall where many of the young ladies working at this school had placed their belongings in. She began to dig around in her things before pulling out a mirror.

Positioning it right, she leaned it against the back of the dipped squared space and tried to fix the tie around her fabric, pulling it just right to mostly cover her face.

"What are you doing?"

Skid came back up behind her, looking through the wide rectangle indent while behind her to see what was going on.

"I'm thinking it's none of your concern, Royal Highness." She gently tugged her fabric correctly in place and moved on.

He looked in the mirror a second, smiling, before continuing after her in childish innocence.

"Could you maybe think it is my concern?"

"And for what cause? My liege?"

"Enough with the honorifics, already. I'm just Skid. You remember me, right?" He gestured to himself, but she didn't bother turning around.

Now she was just speed walking down different hallways of the school, trying to lose him, but not realizing his super speed could keep easily up with her. Even when she turned swiftly through corridors and exit ways, she thought she had lost him.

She would look forward and smile under her fabric, relaxing a bit before he would startle her by speaking another question again, and she would jump slightly before glaring at him.

Realizing he was either always by her side or just behind her, she gave up trying to flee him.

"And another thing-" he began, before she spun around, holding her arms firmly to her sides as the clothes draping around her arms spun with her, and her travelers attire revealed for a moment a beautiful figure.

"Could I believe that a man who's only known me for a single night of dancing could ever actually be that concerned with my well-being?" she felt she spoke plainly and truthfully, suspicious of him for his reputation at being a bit of a flirt.

He stopped abruptly, showing a bit of confusion and hurt on his face. As if he was the victim of her accusations, and had nothing to be guilty of.

"I was only under the impression that you seemed discontent." He gulped, a little fearful at her sudden boldness.

She realized her behavior and looked down, skimming the ground.

Her tone turned more heavenly sweet and kind then, still a bit unsure of him, but trying to come off in a better light now. "You're right… forgive me. I seem to have come off that way a lot lately." She commented briefly, mostly giving reason for what her father may have thought of her behavior, before taking off again. "But I must kindly request you cease from this pursuit. I have nothing to offer you. My father contains all the necessary things you may wish to know-ah!"

She was suddenly stopped by a hand on her wrist, that forced her to reflex and turn back.

Amazed by his closeness, she remained still and breathed lightly, as he came closer, a serious look in his eyes.

"I didn't speak to you with the hopes of a few maps…"

She stared at him, unsure of what this feeling was that gripped her within and caused a nervous, bubbly sensation inside her.

She was breathing oddly, and as he stepped forward she had to look up as if hypnotized by his piercing eyes… but the pierce was soft. It seemed as though they were opening a way for her to release all the tension she had once felt before…

The feeling was strange, but she didn't reply as he came even closer, seeing the silence as an invitation to proceed.

"….I don't believe your father has anything now that I want of him." He slowly began to wrap an arm around her.

In a whisper and coming more forward… he spoke softly again… with a bit of lure this time…

"I believe I've found all I need…"

She gasped and pushed him away.

He immediately didn't fight her, but just held his hands up and away, looking worried at her response.

"Wha-…" she swallowed, hunched a bit at the exertion it took to thrown him off and away. "What on this earth were you doing..?"

"Umm…" he looked around, not sure how to answer since he thought his feelings were obvious. "I was trying to confess and woo you." He admitted.

He then held his hands out, "Was there something I did wrong?"

"Wrong?" She almost said that as if applaud, stepping back.

"I'm afraid to speak so boldly again… but under the circumstances… allow me to clear my mind by stating how I felt about that. In further clarity."

He suddenly saw a shift in her and began to grow frightened, as she stood powerfully now in front of him, no longer a mouse in her quiet tones.

"I am not one that wishes to be wooed. And what form of entitlement gives you any right to romance me? I'm the daughter of a forsaken and dethroned enemy. I'm the least rightful person for your interest, highness. And no, I refuse to accept your feelings are at all sincere in that they are mostly formed off of childhood memories which have since proven obscured."

"Obscured?" He looked confused and a little offended by that comment. He narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, seeking understanding. "How is my memory obscured?"

She stepped forward, tilting her head. "You barely know me. But by a chance at seeing my outward appearance you have mistaken me for some form of delightful company."

He stepped back, a bit floored by her answer. "…I do consider you delightful company."

"And there we have our error." She turned back to a softer tone, but her eyes held uncertainty in her boldness. "Forgive me if I seem rude."

"You aren't forgiven." He smiled, suddenly changing his manner as he noticed something…

"Why… am I under the impression you're hiding yourself from me?" His playful tune caught her off guard, as she abruptly rose her posture up straight and moved back, away from him.

She searched the ground, back and forth for a response, as he came forward again, more confident now that he had her on the run again.

"That fabric… around your face." He pointed to it suddenly, her hand immediately shot up to grab it, still fidgeting in a finicky manner with her eyes. They would look at him and then away somewhere else, as if eye contact was suddenly a challenge for her now.

He kept advancing, making her quickly walk backwards, "Are you by chance… uncertain if you'll ever be discovered to be-"

She suddenly let out a frightful gasp at hitting the back of a wall, leading to two separate corridors to her right and left. Some light came in through continuing arches along the sides of them, open and airy.

He slowly lifted his hands to the walls beside her, looking down before her.

Her chest rose and fell in utter silence.

"Delightful…." He slowly lifted a hand and pulled the fabric down, revealing her face. "….company?"

"Young prince?"

He looked over towards the noise, as Maria trembled a moment but was thankful for the distraction. She quickly pulled up the fabric, her gaping mouth now closing in the process before scurrying away. Taking the side where his arm wasn't blocking her way now, she tried to duck her face down and almost hurriedly sneak away.

"Ah, wait!" he held out a hand to her, as she squinted her eyes shut at being forced to obey an order from a prince.

He stopped to turn around and look behind him, "Coming, Uncle Tails!" he then looked back forward, towards her.

"I'm sure your father has spoken of the Master Emerald before, hasn't he?"

She looked at the ground, still holding her fabric up over her face.

"Come with us." He offered, still leaning towards her way even though her back was towards him.

"I must…em.." she had to get a hold of herself, trying to calm down from the nerves of before. "W-wait for my father." She turned her head slightly to show she was addressing him, but no more than that.

"Please…" he pleaded, and offered her his hand again. "At least to know if you're birthright is still there."

That intrigued her, as her ear perked up and swiped back to hear him better.

Letting Maria ride the horse, Skid takes his gentlemen pride and holds the reins, walking alongside Tails's horse as he tries to re-teach his daughter, who had forgotten once again, how to fly with her tails.

"Hold them steady, like so." Tails sat on the horse, letting it move forward at whatever pace it pleased, and held his daughter's tails stiff in his hands, before trying to straighten out the third in front of him.

"Then, spin them around each other, at a pattern and consistent speed." He started to quickly, almost juggling in it's own way, flipping the tails around each other as he swapped them in his hands to move them quickly. "Hup, hup, hup-yeah!" he saw her straining and then starting to twirl them, and happily let go for her to do the rest.

"More umph, Twirls. You need more power."

She strained some more, as Tails worried a minute maybe she needed to poop.

"Ha!" she jumped up, scaring Tails half to death as she hovered slowly down by her gently twirling tails.

"I've got her!" Skid raced over and let her fall in his arms, then lifted her to his shoulders as she clapped. "She fell like a cloud, Uncle Tails!"

He sighed, "At least she can survive tall heights." He leaned his head up, "if she remembers… that is."

"Give her more faith." Skid looked up and saw her climbing over his quills to the top of his head, shaking her nose at him as he Eskimo kissed her back.

The nuzzling made her giggle a little distortedly, her disability showing a bit as she suddenly looked up at the sky and was lost in Lalaland again.

Maria gently smiled under her fabric,… Skid was a kind man.

She got ruffled by the sentiment of seeing him as such, and quickly looked forward, just curious about The Master Emerald and the seven servers, that was all.

Skid then let his head fall and Maria plopped down into his arms, as he adjusted himself to hold her there and continue to walk.

Ahead of them, Sonic looked like he was pouting, sluggishly letting his body move up and down with the horse's pace and seeming deeply disbelieving at how Maria could just randomly appear after they were discussing her.

Tails had trotted up, letting Skid try and carry a conversation with Maria on his own, and went to speak privately with Sonic.

"You shouldn't be so disapproving…"

"I'm worried, Tails." Sonic turned to look slightly behind his shoulder, trying to be sneaky about it, before seeing Skid look ahead and quickly turning back.

"It's strange that she's here without her father… Where's Shadow?"

"You think there's something suspicious going on?" Tails looked distastefully at that remark, pulling his face back as if to criticize Sonic's judgements. "I think you're too quick to jump to conclusions…"

"But if they fall in love-!" he turned to more fully face Tails now, a hand on his horse's back end to exaggerate the action.

He then cautiously turned back to his son… then to Tails, whispering. "He could regain the throne!"

"I thought you've fully forgiven him of his past crimes?" Tails didn't even look at Sonic, just wobbling with his horse's stride as he gave a deadpan tone to his voice, not liking Sonic's attitude at all.

The remark was almost done with the perfect measure of sarcastic, making Sonic push his lips together and narrow his eyes at Tails even more; scrutinizing his expression towards his concerns.

"I'm only saying-!" Sonic threw his arms up and down. Again, being a bit of a drama king… "If she's here… then don't you think something's going on with Shadow?"

"Maybe he's going to a dangerous location and he doesn't want his daughter to follow him?"

"That could be true… but what if it's not?" Sonic leaned forward, as Tails rolled his eyes and slightly shook his head. "It's just not like Shadow to abandon his daughter like this…"

"Since when have you been paranoid about Shadow? And it's not like he's left her for good… Right?"

"It's not just Shadow. I've been worried ever since Skid got to dance with her." He looked back again, as Maria finally noticed the strange trend of checking behind himself over and over again, and gave him a furrowed brow of confusion while tilting her head to him.

He quickly turned back, "I just can't seem to find a reasonable solution to all of this mess…"

"Ever thought there isn't a mess?" Tails smiled, turning back to his friend, "Maybe you're creating a mess that isn't even there?"

"Could be…" Sonic looked down, relaxing a moment, folding his arms as he stood slightly more upright on his horse. "But a father worries about what's best of their kid…. and what makes her want to know about Chaos Emeralds and even Super form? I mean, she never did mention wanting to know… but what if-? Ah, nevermind…"

Tails, finally in understanding, was much more gentler in his countenance towards him now, and leaned forward to pat his back. "Just watch, someday, I'll have to worry about guys hanging around Twirls. I'm sure by then, I'll be able to more fully sympathize with you." He looked past the last sentence, thinking Sonic just overthinking things.

Sonic sighed, before nodding his head and smiling kindly back to his friend, matching his soft approach. "I pray to Chaos that your child isn't as troublesome as mine with this matter…"

"Huh, that doesn't sound like you. Praying?" Tails friendly mocked, laughing a moment before making an impersonation of Sonic, trying to seem high and mighty as he did so. "I hope so, Tails. Afterall, she's a cutie. Haha!"

"That doesn't sound like me either." Sonic gave him a funny expression, but smiled with him before looking ahead. "I guess I've grown old… you know, Amy's been having me pray with her lately…"

"Has it done any good?"

"Well…" Sonic flung his hands up over him and gave Tails a look like he was referring to the situation they were just placed in and talking about. "How would you define this!?"

Tails laughed, "Chaos knows best!"

"Oh, knock it off!"

The two charged forward, youthful friends again, as Skid stopped his chatting to realize Maria's attention was off towards the two racing.

"Heh," he smiled, looking off towards them too, but mostly to his father. "He's always been a bit reckless. He really shouldn't race so fast on that horse though, considering both their backs aren't what they used to be." He teased, closing his eyes to snicker a minute before turning up to Maria.

"Hey, do immortals experience back pain?"

"No." Maria grew solemn, having remembered her father and looked down, lightly kicking the horse forward to chase slightly after the two.

Skid watched her trot off and frowned, eyes bending back. "Was it something I said?" Twirls just patted and hit his arms a few times, amused in her own way about doing it, before looking up at him.

"Where'z daddy?"

She couldn't recognize that with the movement of the horse's location, was also the movement of her own father's location.

Skid smiled, shaking his head slightly in loving fondness of the girl's obliviousness.

"He's right ahead." Skid rubbed her head, and held his own slightly against hers. He then looked determined to show off and raced ahead, using his drift ability as he placed her on his back. "I'll be the horsey!"

"Yay! Horsey!"

He held her little legs tightly as he kept himself lowered, but cut through the dirt of the racing horses and sped past his old man and Tails, making Maria open her eyes even more so as she realized his dust was taller and wider than their horses.

She coughed, as Sonic and Tails came to a halt and looked to each other, not sure why he did that before looking back at Maria, who then still looked astonished forward.

"Do…. D-do all male hedgehogs of royal lineage have super speed?"

Tails smirked, "You don't?"

The two friends looked to each other, and then started laughing. If she didn't have it, then maybe it was just the men of royal decent.

She felt left out a moment from some joke, and frowned a little, leaning away as if embarrassed.

Her father had skates to help him out… though he was relatively fast in reflex as well.

She… did not gain these attributes.

Many times, Shadow would try and test to see if she had any unique abilities, and many times he would seem disappointed and state, "Perhaps we need an emerald…" and this was the very reason why she wanted to see the Master Emerald and it's servers…

If she had some type of power…

Something from her father…

Maybe…

Maybe she wouldn't prove to be so useless anymore.

She was determined to undermine her own beliefs about herself, since her father disapproved of those type of demeaning thoughts anyway.

So, she narrowed her eyes and whipped the reins into a wave, sending a ripple that had the horse's head shoot upright, and take off towards Skid; figuring he knew the way.

"H-hey!" Sonic saw her charge forward past them, and quickly stuck a hand out. "...Oh… I get it. A wild one, eh?" He smiled, "Hyah!" bolting his own horse forward, he followed her with Tails shrugging and trailing right along with them.

He then suddenly worried about Twirls, with Skid going such high speeds… her head…

"Skid! S-slow down!" In a worried panic, he suddenly had to push his poor, old mare forward and straighten his legs up, leaning up and forward, trying to lighten the load on his horse as he frantically worked his way up to try and get close to Skid.

He was only able to push his horse up to Sonic, before he noticed her condition. He called out to Sonic, "Sonic!"

Sonic, smiling at the opportunity of a race, looked to Tails.

"It's Twirls! The whiplash from Skid's drifting… it's not good for her!" He called out.

His shouting left Maria to look behind her.

Her eyes immediately widened as she looked up towards them going up a sand dune, heading towards the location of the rebuilt bridge to the alter where the floating island lay with the Master Emerald.

"The little girl…" she felt a strange sense of motherly concern come over her, probably from the time she spent at the school caring for both her and the other children.

"Skid!" she cried out, "Your highness, wait!" She shook the reins more fiercely, as the horse immediately tried to pick up speed.

Sonic looked forward, as did Tails, before they both realized she was trying to get the message to Skid.

"Not a bad dame." Tails leaned back, looking relieved as he saw Skid slowing down for her to catch up to him, before she leaned down and scooped the child off his back, putting her in front of her and letting her hold onto the horse's saddle horn; letting her balance that way.

She then proceeded to give him a scolding look that caught him off guard, and made him nervously hold his hands up as if asking, 'what'd I do wrong?'.

"Hmph." The childish action of seeing Maria turn away from Skid while he gave a confused expression up to her reminded Sonic of times with Amy…

The memory was replaced with Amy looking back at him, laughing as he laughed too.

Suddenly… his opinion of Maria changed almost instantly.

And Sonic smiled.

Up, high on the rooftops, a figure rose and landed with a leap of their feet, remaining low as a ragged old cape flew beyond their figure.

A few ruffians were below the figure, surrounding some campfires outside in the open but within the walls of a rich noblemen's manor.

In the outdoor, squarish yard, One of the figures was peeling away some skin off a fruit, before ripping into with his dagger still in his hand as he ate.

"Man… that bounty is really something. But now that the prince is wandering solo, we'll never be able to find that girl!" One bandit stated, before spitting into a pot and continuing to eat.

"…If I know one thing.." Suddenly, a hooded figure stood up, his beak turning into a scowl. "Is that this mission is bogus."

The man looked up, finding this fellow strange before two more figures got up.

He removed his hood, "Come on, Storm… Wave… We've heard enough." Jet, revealing his true face, threw the bag of their split pay towards the man. "The old prince is ruthless. Even with a kid, he's still gonna pulverize your butts if you dare even try and seize what's his."

"What's this? Someone bailing?"

A few of the bandits and ruffians started getting up, sensing dissension.

Jet looked behind him, his crew stopping with his action while they were about to depart.

"Oh, please. More like saving our skins." He smirked suddenly, before seeing the figure in the shadows of the rooftops.

Shadow rose his head, revealing himself purposefully to Jet.

His eyes narrowed in the flickering of fires… a sign that if he was going to forgo being involved with the men after his daughter, he better stick to it and scram fast.

He was after blood tonight…

Jet eyed him a minute, realizing what he was about to do, and then looked to the men.

"If you value… or think there's any worth to your pathetic rogue lives… I'd stay clear of that girl. One day, the prince is gonna lose his patience, and take down the whole lot of you who even dares mention her name in sour taste…" He grabbed his cape and swung it around himself, heading out of the manor as the thieves were about to go after him.

One did try, but Storm threw his cloak back and revealed his large stature, whamming a fist into the lone ruffian's stomach and knocking him back with the wind completely out of him; he struggled to breathe in wheezes, failing on the ground, hitting and pounding the palm of his hand to the ground while stuck on his back, as if asking for help.

"Leave him, Storm." Jet stated, as Wave looked to Jet. "They're not worth our time… besides," he flicked his head a moment, "They've got what's coming to them…" he started off again.

As they left the manor, Wave moved closer up to him. "Jet… we could have kept the money." She said this with slight distain, but mostly in worry, what made Jet so afraid that he'd even abandon the money? "Did you flinch at the blood money? You know we weren't gonna hurt the girl, just deliver her, right? And since when have you been finicky before, anyway?"

Jet spoke out, making her lean back as she realized the seriousness of his expression.

"You saw Shadow there… he wouldn't have let us walk away without completely detaching ourselves from them. It was the only way." Jet scowled, clearly not wanting to let go of the money.

Suddenly, shouts of fright and horror came from within the manor. Places lit on fire at each corner and through many windows.

Jet just kept walking, as Storm and Wave looked back.

"Come on, slow pokes!" He cawed out, "We're back to lookin' for more dirty work…."

The two looked a bit frightened, but realizing they were spared, turned back to Jet and quickly followed after him into the night.

"We could have at least stolen a horse…" Wave mumbled.

"WOULD YOU QUIT SQUWAKING!? I saved your sorry hides!" Jet turned back, angered as he stomped his foot down and yelled right in her face.

"…." She blinked her eyes, not phased in the least by this action before sucking in some air, making him lean back with widened eyes… knowing what was coming to him…

"WE-COULD-HAVE-RODE-OFF-WITH-THE-MONEY-AND-BEEN-CLEAR-GONE-WITH-HORSES-ABOUT-NOW-IF-YOU-WOULD-HAVE-TOOK-A-SECOND-TO-THINK-THAT-THROUGH-YOU-ARROGANT,-SON-OF-A-YELLOW-BELLYED-CHICKEN-LIVERED-" she spoke incredibly quickly, but the force of her words made him plug his ears.

"S-Storm!" he cried out, squinting from her overpowering the shouts and cries in the distance. "Hide in the brush! We'll plunder the place when Shadow's revenge is done!" That silenced Wave, as she happily smiled.

"Now,… that sounds like a good plan." She grinned with her hands happily on her hips, snickering as the two boys sweat-dropped at her behavior…

Hiding in the brush of nearby bushes and plant life, the three waited out the cries before hearing nothing but groans and moans.

"Alright… let's be quick about it…" Jet sprung into action.

As they came towards the manor, they were immediately shocked at how much damage and fire was still spreading around the place…

Shadow was gone, but the bodies and injured people were staggering.

Jet's mouth slightly opened, remembering how powerful the old prince truly was, before shaking his head and looking upset.

"Darn it! He's still so powerful! I was hoping his immortality had at least a limit of somekind!" he stomped his feet down, rage filling his brow and the fire mimicking the one in his eyes.

"…He's… hunting them all down… isn't he?" Wave looked down at the parchment the rich duke had signed, before shaking her head, seeing it torn up and barely intact.

"Yeah… he must really love that kid." Jet suddenly grew a little more solemn, before turning to Wave.

"…Hey… you ever thought about kids?"

"I'm keeping my eggs far from you." She spat out, walking over and starting to pillage.

He pouted at her rude response, before walking on and grumbling about something regarding women and clipped wings.

"If you were wise…" Wave warned, hearing a little bit of the intended meaning and sharpening her eyes towards him, having them shift slowly to where he was, narrowing them in a mighty threat…

He waved a hand back, still grumpy, before noticing a man still breathing.

He bent down, seeing the man holding something… gripping it tightly to his chest.

"That girl… isn't worth…" he coughed, hoarsely, "As much as they p-..p-ahh… pay." He was shaking, his body saturated in blood.

Jet looked the man over,…

Before ripping out the item from his hand and stuffing it in his bag.

"Goes to show you should judge your opponents wisely." He gave a cruel, insensitive smile to that statement, and watched the horrified man loosen the last of his lungs air… breathing a sigh… having that be his end.

Out of some respect, Jet closed the man's mouth and shut his eyes.

He shook his head, getting up. "This business keeps getting worse and worse… soon, they'll be asking us to kidnap babies." He repositioned his attire, and then went off into the manor's home.

The duke was dead, figures.

The entire place was either being deserted or ransacked by the few survivors who hid during the massacre.

"Boss!" Storm called, as Jet shook himself out of the frozen state of staring at everything that one lone immortal could do before rushing to the window, looking down at Storm.

Storm was pointing to a message on the wall.

Jet looked up, and gulped…

The message was red… it read….

No More.

"You were right." Wave stood up, speaking loudly so Jet could hear her from where he stood with both hands gripping the bottom of the window's carved block.

He quickly shifted himself to look down to her.

"….He's after them all…" her eyes almost watered under the fire's slow flicker…

"Maybe early retirement would be best."

She flung the bag of looted things over her shoulder.

"Or at least a vacation." She turned to walk away.

Jet studied her expression as she walked towards the entrance before he seriously contemplated something…

"….I couldn't be king…" he stated, looking up with his eyebrow raising.

Then he smirked.

"But how about a duke with a fancy manor?"

Finally arriving at the Master Emerald's altar, Tails got off and happily extended his arms towards where Twirls was in Maria's arms.

"Come here, Twirls. Haha." He smiled, opening and closing his hands to show he wanted her to come to him.

She stared a good minute, but Tails was patient, letting her process…

She suddenly shouted out a giggle, spreading her arms out, understanding and twirling her tails together to slowly and gently make her way through the air over to him.

He was so proud! She was flying all on her own. Even if he was a bit a ways away.

"That's my girl!" he laughed, wanting to shorten the distance for her when he saw her start to glide a bit down, and walked forward.

She strained though, and Sonic held out his hand. "Wait, Tails!" Tails turned back slightly, "Give her a chance." Sonic smiled, seeing her now start to grip her fists and lower her head, forcing her tails to spin faster so she could level herself more and keep from gliding downwards.

Tails, in amazement, quickly saw the improvement and stopped where he was, happily encouraging. "You can do it, Twirls! Almost there!"

"Da…daddy…" She twitched her squinted closed eyes, raising her head to the sound of his voice, wanting so badly to come to him.

Her little tails were moving in strange unison, a little bit off from one another, but her disability probably accounted to that.

She was able to regain some air, but slowly began to falter again as she grew tried.

"I've got ya!" Tails happily bent to a knee, and she floated gently into his arms, falling asleep a bit once there.

"Haha! That's a good girl, Twirls! You're amazing!" he gleefully landed a big, whopping kiss her forehead, before getting up.

"Thank you, Maria. Sonic." He nodded to both of them, then glared a slight scold to Skid, leaning forward as he did so. "You should know better. Hmph." He turned his head away from him, making Skid falter a bit in his steps, looking guilty.

"I wasn't gonna hurt her! You know that…" His ears bent back, he didn't want to be the bad guy…

Tails kept his head positioned high and away from his sorrowful gaze, flicking his tails out slightly. "It's not that I'm blaming your intentions, but you should have known your super speeds would have racked her brain around her head! That could make her condition worse, you know." He then looked back, as Skid put his hands together and bowed, respectfully in apology.

"I'm so sorry, Uncle Tails… Honest! I was just trying to play with her…"

Tails sighed silently, seeing so much of Sonic's heart in him and nodded with a smile, showing some mercy for the poor boy. "I know… Just be more considerate that she's not as strong as-" As he was speaking, Twirls suddenly woke up, well-napped out, before climbing up to his shoulder and looking over it, making him strain as she pushed his head out of her way.

"Daddy! Emmeruds." She tried to pronounce, pointing off at the shining stones that caught her attention, all on pillars around the Master Emerald.

"H-huh? Oh, that's right." He looked up at her, and then happily nodded, ducking his head down as she went to climb more and sit upon his neck; backwards from him.

He smiled nervously as her tails started wrapping around his head as if supporting her up, slowly and one at a time.

"I-It's… the shrine for Chaos… honey.." his full face was now awkwardly covered in his daughter's three tails looping around him for support, as she happily clapped her hands and giggled. Sitting on his neck, he was forced to lean forward, and you could slightly see him giving up with a sigh that waved the hair on her tail and made her shiver.

He lowered his hands, as Sonic chuckled at the scene, tilting his head at the funny but cute scene.

"Seems she understands your bedtime stories, Tails." Sonic dismounted, having a priestess bow her head politely before she took his horse once she saw him nod his head in approval of her action. "But, maybe not your personal space yet."

He walked forward and slammed his fist into his other open hand. "Son! Let's check out what you've got."

Skid turned around, and then smiled, nodding to his father. "Sure, dad. But let me just teach Maria how to-"

"No thank you." She dismounted, but politely bowed before the royals. "I'd hate to intervene on your travels. I'll just explore to see if I have any connections to Chaos's powers on my own. Thank you for letting me ride your horse and accompany you on your journey." She directly turned to Skid, this time, she dipped down a bit in a light curtesy before walking off.

Tails popped twirls off the back of his neck, holding her up as her tails flung around for something else to cling too.

"She's a tough one, that girl." Tails commented, blinking at her wanting to take her practice on her own.

"Heh." Sonic smiled, placing a hand to his hip and tilting his head. "She's just like her father. Always having to do it himself." He turned to Skid. "Watch out, kid. She's a loner." He winked to him, and started for the Master Emerald.

"I'm still nervous about her learning anything new… but I don't think her intentions are ill-willed. Let's just have some fun!"

"Ill-will?" Skid seemed offended, stopping on the steps and looking angrily towards his father. "What do you mean? Did you distrust her this entire time!?"

Sonic kept walking casually up, before turning his head back to Skid. "Well, yeah.. yes. But that was before I saw her unselfishly go to help Twirls. And then the way she acted with you, hahaha!" he laughed, raising his head up. "It was like watching a mirror to the past! Your mother would have cracked up with a blush. Hahaha!"

"So… you accept her now?" Skid took a step forward on the stairs.

Sonic stopped laughing a moment, slowly lowering his head down and rubbing a finger under his nose. "Hmm… accept her? Well, I'll say I trust her. But she's still my family's greatest enemy's daughter. I think it'll take more than heroics and good deeds to make me approve of that." As he continued on, Skid looked down, almost melancholy.

"…I'm gonna pursue her, Dad."

Sonic stopped in his approach towards the Master Emerald.

Skid slowly rose his head, but his eyes remained lowered. "I know she comes off steely… but even with Shadow's blood in her… I don't think he's completely evil… to have raised such a strong, young woman…" he scratched the back of his head. "He can't be all that bad."

Sonic's eyes remained quite neutral… before looking up at the Master Emerald.

He saw no sign from it…

Sonic knew in his heart that Shadow was a changed man.. but his crimes and actions were still within his blood…

He looked down a moment… had he truly forgiven Shadow and let go of all the murders Shadow had committed towards his family throughout time and history?

He then lifted a foot to the next step, moving up so he was fully upon it, and then closed his eyes, folding his arms. "You know what that means, right?"

Skid still didn't look up…

"That means you'll have to fight for her."

He locked his jaw and tightened his fists.

"…It means that Shadow won't give her up lightly.. nor easily.." Sonic furrowed his brows, frowning.

That was going to be the worst battle of all…

"Are you still willing to fight for her?"

Sonic looked behind his shoulder.

"Cause I won't take her in without knowing you're serious on this one. You've had a lot of flings, Skid. If this girl is the one you've decided on, you're gonna have to prove it to me." He held a sympathetic expression, as if doing it for her and Shadow's sake. Not to mention… he wanted to know if Skid was really going to-

"I love her." Skid looked up, determined.

Sonic's eyes widened slightly, before reverting back to normal.

He turned fully around, as the wind whipped his cape back against him, and he truly looked at his son.

So grown… almost ready to succeed the throne…

He could say that… without holding anything back.

Sonic smiled, his eyes growing softer before looking down and closing his eyes.

"You're just like your mother…"

He barely knew this girl… but was completely dedicating the rest of his life to her.

At least Sonic knew this meant the kingdom would have a kind and loving king… again.

"Well!?" Skid stepped forward, raising a fist and being as serious as he could possibly make himself. "Will you approve of this?"

"…Of what?" Sonic smirked, suddenly raising his head and having the Master Emerald shine behind him. "What in Chaos's domain could I possibly think you're talking about?"

Now he was playing games.

His royal cape floated with intensity as it rippled, and Sonic spread his arms out as the shine of the Emerald completely encompassed him.

Skid threw an arm over his eyes, "Ahh.." he grunted, the light blinding him a moment, before he saw the Chaos Emeralds also light up and the green dim, and lowered his arm.

"Ah! Hey, no fair!"

Sonic stood as a glowing, powerfully hovering figure in the sky.

His cape draped the skies a moment before he rose his head and chuckled down at his son.

"What are we talkin' about?"

"Grr.. no more games, dad! I want an answer! Answer me!"

"Power up and make me see the man you've truly become. Then we can talk about if I deem you worthy enough to marry and succeed me as king. Especially at such a young and… tender… age."

Sonic was egging him on, tilting his head as he was trying to make a point and tease him quite a bit.

"S-…Show you?"

Skid realized his father wanted him to prove himself, and so he smiled and nodded, powering himself up as well.

"…Dad, you know I'm a pacifist."

"Heh." Sonic leaned down, hovering higher up. "Let's see if you can take on your old man's training, then. But one day… when you're serious about all this…. You'll need to know that by fighting… you're defending." He gripped his two fists, and then bashed them into each other. "Better to know how to protect as both a King, husband, and father. Here we go!"

Sonic continued to instruct Skid, as he powered up and turned a brighter golden than his yellow father. With the two streaks of goldish yellow in the sky, Maria turned from a priestess she was speaking to for information to watch them fly and slightly mock a battle.

It was… stunning.

Her eyes found it a little difficult to keep up with their movements, but it was clear Skid still needed training… Since one clearly knew how to fight, and the other, only in theory. The sparring lesson turned less into 'proving oneself' but more into 'becoming that self'. Sonic was satisfied that he was at least taking the training seriously, as Skid truly felt nervous about his powers for such things, but let out a power blast in the distant ocean, as his father patted his back in encouragement and pride.

Maria was now enchanted by the idea of…

Well, she hoped maybe some power could be activated within her… anyway.

She began to move towards the Master Emerald, walking up the steps before reaching out towards it.

Suddenly, a strange feeling came over her being, and her hand shook out of fear.

She gripped her arm, trying to compel it to touch the stone, but her fright was prohibiting her from even moving.

She quaked and wondered why she was so shaken up by her father's stories about the Master Emerald… and the regular emeralds….

Was she truly afraid she would forever be useless?

If this didn't work… didn't do anything… what then?

In a field of sorrow, seeming to consume her on each dark front, and canceling out all hope left within her… she stopped shaking and removed her hand from its presence.

She started walked down the altar, towards where Tails was instructing Twirls on a blanket.

"Huh?" He looked up at her, cutting off from this lecture as his daughter clearly didn't seem to be picking up anything, but fiddling with flowers, off in her own world. "Back so soon?"

"..I.." she gripped her arm. "I'm not sure I know how to use Chaos's abilities…"

Tails smiled, "You could use them from here, you know." He winked. "Try it, since the emeralds are so close by. Why not a Chaos spear?"

She hesitated, knowing the move very well. "…I… can't um…" she sucked in her lower lip, biting lightly on it as she looked away in shame.

"…You don't know how to channel it?" Tails tilted his head, and then got up, motioning the proper way to swish out your arm to aim and also explaining the pure, changed heart that was required for Chaos's powers to activate.

"Are you… worried about disappointing yourself? Or Shadow?"

She rubbed her arm, worrying about failure was just part of her now.

What if she couldn't? Or what if her heart wasn't pure enough? What was this 'change' she needed? Did that mean she wasn't good enough as she was, presently?

Needless to say she was willing to at least try and be someone who succeeded…

"Chaos…" she felt a swirling in her chest, and hoped this was what her father had once meant. As she raised her arm to cross her body, she then shot it straight out and down. "Spears!"

….Nothing….

Her eyes twitched, and she continued to try many different things.

Finally, she broke down, crying and heaving at being unable to do anything of use or even have a smidge of her father's power.

For a few moments, Tails just rubbed her back and comforted her.

"It takes a certain kind of emotion." Tails stated, lightly trying to soothe her depressing, but soft cries now. "If you haven't had that knowledge of that certain emotion… it can tough. Prince Shadow never learned how to use Chaos because he resented so many things,… but once he found a purpose for himself again, he rediscovered himself, and that feeling brought a release of Chaos's power."

He waited a moment, hearing her calm down.

"I think maybe you just have to experience more of this life… and it'll come when it's right."

After a while she pulled her knees closer and slumped over, keeping her head ducked down as Tails turned back to his daughter.

"Okay, back to the lesson." He went over and sat down by Twirls again, then spoke over to Maria for a second more. "You should hear this too."

She sniffed, but said nothing. Though… she was listening.

He looked at her a moment before smiling and looking down.

"Chaos used to be free roaming. A spirit of destruction… not knowing anything but the chaotic movement of the universe and the disruptive forces it held. But the ancient kings, almost before any of the kingdoms, showed Chaos the destruction he was causing for the people of this world he dwelled upon. Realizing the terror and destruction he brought to the people of this world, Chaos first experienced compassion, and allowed the wizards and priests of that time to seal him away into the Master Emerald, to be governed by those chosen of himself to wield his power; he also allowed seven servers to control his abilities and powers. It was his way of helping us to escape the fate of being destroyed by his power." As Tails talked, he animated with his hands as a story Shadow had once told Maria came to life in her mind, the scenes and the battles…

Shadow sat with Maria, quite young at this time, who happily clung to his leg, waiting for him to adjust himself before he nodded to her that it was alright to sit up upon his leg.

She opened her mouth and sucked in an excited breath, climbing up as he continued his story.

"Out of gratitude for those brave Hedgehogs, one being our ancestor, Chaos gave their blood a special power. An ability to harness unique abilities granted from himself. That's why, the royal families tend to breed power into their heirs. Sonic's father had a super speed, but Sonic exceeded his father's ability, and now, the Prince can drift at somewhat fascinating speeds."

Maria made a frown and ruffled her nose at the mention of the prince.

He chuckled and smiled slightly at her response, patting her head as she seemed embarrassed at him noticing her dislike of the young Prince.

"Don't worry. I won't have him by you again."

She smiled.

"What… um…" She paused, growing shy and looking away.

"….Your power?" he laughed, leaning his head back before pulling her up and getting up himself.

"I haven't the slightest." He looked down as she cuddled up to his white fluff, and just 'hmph'd at seeing her start to fall asleep.

"Well, perhaps… you may come to know of it. If Chaos permits." He continued to walk, pulling his cape with his free hand that wasn't cradling her and swiped it over himself. It covered her from the harsh sands and cold winds of the night, but also kept her warm being close to him.

He continued, as a nomad, in his dutiful punishment. To bring peace and chart all nations, helping the Chaos kingdom in whatever way he could… to make up for the sins of his clouded past. Where judgements… were based on lies.

"…So that's why Chaos is in the Emeralds, and how they're here in the first place!" Tails happily finished his teachings, but again, Maria peeked up to see the little girl completely off in her own world.

Then again.. a moment ago… so was she.

"…Why do you insist on telling her stories she'll never remember?" She tried to sound kindly about the question, but it came off a little sour…

Tails turned back to her, before his eyes grew soft and hopeful, gently turning back to his daughter. "We don't know that… She's smarter than she looks. She's just… a little bad at focusing is all." In absolute love, he leaned over and patted her head, rubbing it as she giggled and looked up to him, coming back to the world they were apart of and jumping into his arms.

"Daddy, daddy!"

As she clung to his stomach, he smiled and wrapped his arms and tails around her, bending his head. "I'll teach her everything I know. Time and time again. Because that's all I really can do. Just wait on her own time to understand." He then looked back up at Maria, his tails wagging in his joy. "Doesn't Shadow also give you a lot of patience too?"

She flinched, before turning more directly to him as if wanting to state something back… but held a hand over to her heart.

Guilt swarmed her face, as she looked down and tucked her legs to the side and under herself.

She remained silent…

"I bet you have a special power deep inside you, Maria. Maybe more than the Emeralds can activate, or even you can use on your own." Tails then got up, waving to Sonic and Skid with Twirls in his other arm.

"You should stay, haha!" he chuckled, then turned back to her once he knew Sonic and Skid got the message that it was getting around the time to head out again.

"S… stay?"

She seemed confused.

"Yeah, stay with us in the castle till Shadow comes to get you."

Maria's eyes widened and she quickly shook her head, getting up.

"No. I-I mustn't. I've already disobeyed my father by leaving the school grounds… I must go back and await his return there…" she quickly started back to the horses, before halting and withdrawing her hands.

"…" she turned around and bowed to Tails. "I shall not trouble you anymore!"

"Wait! At least take Skid's horse-!"

"I thank you for your consideration but I must kindly decline-"

A gust of air seemed to swoop her up and carry her farther into the sky.

"Ah..!"

"If you're going back, at least let me take you there!"

"Y..You… L-let me down! This instance! I-….ahh…"

At first, she fought back in a struggle for a slight moment against Skid, but then suddenly, seeing the ground below her and the beautiful landscape of the once desolated land her father used to rule…

She was caught staring below her and admiring the vantage point.

It was a beautiful view, and he was gently carrying her in his arms while flying through the air at a pleasant and relaxing pace.

Below, they saw the figures of Sonic and Tails waving them off and getting on horses, before she blushed and turned to Skid, still looking a bit awestruck but denying help.

"I-..I um…"

He smiled down to her, before leaning his head closer to hers, "No need to thank me. I couldn't let your shoes get filled with sandy dirt now, could I?"

"You… You're being awfully kind…" she looked away, ducking her head down to avoid eye contact, before he laughed and she immediately reflexed to looking up again.

"What's so funny?"

"Hehe, you don't really say how you're truly feeling… do you?"

"I'll have you know, you don't have the right to know anything about me…"

She said that with a light tone, but looked away, as if sorrow was mixed in somehow…

Instead of the stinging edge it could have caused… it was more silently self-loathing than anything else.

"…I think you may not know yourself." It was bold to say, but he also spoke this with soft kindness.

"I think you have to learn how amazing you are too,… Maria."

"Hmph. Well, I can't fly. There's that." She smiled, closing her eyes as he returned the gesture.

"But you can smile."

She blinked her eyes opened and looked back up to him.

He winked.

"That's a pretty amazing sight too."

Her face brightened to a beautiful hue of red, before turning away and slightly fighting him on his hold.

"Y-you're too close!"

"Hahaha! You only noticed that now?"

"I-I noticed!"

"Beforehand? Why didn't you say anything then, eh?"

He smirked, teasing her before she tried to fight back more and he just laughed at her struggles,…

Until she accidentally knocked him in the cheek with her fist.

"Oh!" she covered her face, "I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

"Ow…" he whined slightly, before looking at her with a pout.

"You may not be able to fly,… but you sure can hit."

"Forgive me, your highness!"

"Hey, what's with this 'highness' stuff again? I'm Skid, remember. Just Skid. And it's quite rare to find a woman who can knock a fella good like that."

His smile was so kind… it wasn't like her father's, but it filled her with the same sense of security and hope….

She looked down and remained still the rest of the trip. Her hand lightly gripping his shoulder for support, but the touch was enough to satisfy him.

He just wanted to get to know her… be closer to her… more than ever now.

As he dropped her off by the school, she quickly started to move away before stopping abruptly… having her hands together a moment, overlapping the other before she slightly turned herself around in a few steps.

"You… I'm thankful for today."

"…Your welcome."

He nodded.

He stared… and so she dipped her head down more, fidgeting in nervous jitters… for some reason…

"Can I call on you again?"

"Call?"

She looked up, not sure what he was saying and blinked in innocence.

"Heh." he grinned, thinking her adorable, before blushing and scratching the back of his head.

"What I mean is… can I come see you again?"

He closed his eyes and looked back to her, smiling like a shy boy asking for another date.

However… she wasn't sure the intent, but was frazzled by it nonetheless.

Her quills slightly stood up on end before she shook her head.

"O-oh no! That's fine! Please." She bowed, smiling. "I'm sure Twirls will be happy to see you."

He flinched, "T-Twirls?"

He realized she thought he meant picking Twirls up… and sighed, showing some disappointment in that.

"Right, Twirls… I'll do that then." He hunched a little over, but smiled soon after and gave her his father's signature thumbs up.

"Till we meet again! .. Maria .."

He said her name with such profound elegance…

"…Till then."

In a flustered walk, she quickly made her way back into the building, where she noticed other women who worked there were hiding and giggling at the scene.

She quickly made her way passed them in embarrassment, before Skid slightly stepped into the air, waiting to see the last glimpse of her, and not caring about the other girls before grinning and kicking his feet out in a giddy glee.

"Ya-hoooo!"

He took off then, happy as ever to have been reunited with what he believed was his 'true love'.

"She's back!?"

"Yes! Isn't it horrible!"

"Oh, you… it's wonderful!"

Amy, in her surprise at hearing all this, swung her arms together and up by her face, thrilled her son was finally in love with just one girl.

And the girl she was hoping could fully unite the conquered Ark kingdom with the Chaos Kingdom once and for all!

Officially…. Of course. ;)

"Where is she staying!?"

"A school off by the sides of the town.."

Sonic was still glowing, having not powered down as he removed his shoes, before sighing.

He then looked to Amy in a sly way and laid back, "How long has it been..? Since we've had a… 'super' time?" he grinned with wicked intent.

She pfft'd at him trying to change the topic, and then continued with their conversation, walking by the bed. "So she's staying here… I wonder what happened to Shadow that would compel him to leave her behind like this.." she put a finger to her mouth as Sonic looked disappointed, before moving up and opening his arms to her.

"Hey… I want some love here." He teased, "Don't ignore me… Ammmyyy~" In weariness, he whined and leaned towards her as she once again walked by him.

"Sonic! Do you know what this means?! He could court her more easily now! Hehehe~ My son, in love with an Ark princess~" she swooned, as he fell to his side at trying to follow her, and let his arms flop down.

"Yeah. Our dethroned, immortal enemy's daughter. Grrrk!" he stretched himself out again, his arms reaching for her off the side of the bed and his hands flexing to try and reach her. "Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie..!" He muttered as he stretched himself more towards her across the bed, laying on his back, raising his head back and up to try and make himself longer.

She looked to him and smiled, giggling before walking over and letting him pull her towards him. "Yes! Success!"

He rolled over and brought her with him, making her laugh as he smothered her.

"You've certainly gotten more affectionate over the years." Amy commented, opening one eye and squinting the other as he nuzzled her.

"Haa…" he let out a sigh and released her from his tight hold. "… I saw how Skid was with Maria, and…" he peeked up at her from the angle his head was at on the bed. "And I couldn't help but remember how beautiful you are. And how lucky I am… that I get to keep you." He lifted a thumb up and gently stroked her cheek, making her giggle again.

"Is that so?"

"I don't approve of him taking over the throne just yet… and I still think he's far too young for marriage but… if that's what the two want." He turned to lay on his back and stretched again,… before bursting out laughing.

"But she's a hard one! He'll be chasing her for some time. Hahahaha!"

"Oh really…?"

Amy looked away a moment, before smirking and thinking of how she could help her son…

"Sounds familiar! Teehee~" she giggled.

"Oh, completely."

"Which means… he'll probably win her over in time."

She cuddled up next to him, placing a hand on his chest and then her head under his own.

He looked down a moment, and then put one hand behind his head and the other he lowered to fiddle slightly with her hair and quills. Stroking them out, feeling the tips a moment, before releasing them and repeating the process again.

"Well… if he plays his cards right…"

"Hmm?" She looked up, curious what he meant by that. "As in?"

He moved down to be level with her and smiled.

"So long as he's handsomely persuasive… I don't think she'll be able to resist him."

She smiled, and they lightly kissed before Sonic rolled to be on top of her, turning it more passionate, until Amy stopped him.

"Haha! You were serious about the whole 'super' thing, weren't you?"

"Honey, I'm still charged up!" he laughed, "Ready to go!" His super form flared a moment in a bright glow, showing he was still pretty much powered up still for anything…

"You're ridiculous." She moved away from him as he suddenly looked rejected.

"Hey! How did the roles shift here?!" He reached to grip her legs before she fully departed under the covers to get to bed, and clung to them as if desperately begging.

"Don't do this to me, Amy!"

"Power down and get some sleep." She cooed, lovingly kissing his forehead as he whined and frowned.

"Ammmyy…~"

Maria waited on the steps of the school's porch. Every night she did this. Waiting….

She looked around, hearing a scurrying outside the arch of the school's entrance and perking her ears up in anticipation… her eyes intently staring at the entrance…

A small mouse scampered by, and her expectant eyes lowered in sorrow, before she pulled her legs towards her and continued to wait….

And wait…

And wait…

Till the head-teacher would come out, gently scold her, and send her off to bed.

Every day, Skid would come to drop off Twirls and also pick her up as well. Spending more time than usual to do so since he now was always striking up conversation with Maria.

She would sometimes try to walk away, but he would pursue, letting Twirls play a little longer as he would see Maira get shy all of a sudden. As she spoke though, he would imagine that beautiful smile on her face, and gently, he would reach out to lightly touch a lose piece of fabric of hers… or lightly her hair,.. her anything to feel like he was closer somehow… that she was actually there, and speaking to him. He would follow behind and perform these little gestures of love softly and silently, simply wanting what he couldn't fully reach as she would turn around and he would pull his hand back, listening before trying to push the conversation further and not let her end it abruptly.

Even if she did ask kindly…

Over time, their communication turned lighter and more easier, friendlier, until finally he started pushing a little more forwardly for her to join him and live at the Castle.

It was common knowledge that both he, and his father, weren't the most patient of royalty, but the girls at the school were surprised that he was sticking around for so long with this stubborn and usually quiet, to herself, kind of girl.

"He's taking his sweet time.." Skid muttered under his breath, still following Maria before she sat down at a bench inside the open school's sections where trees were mixed with the pavements of cobblestones and benches like these were. Scattered sunshine fell from the piercing rays that got through the thick cover of leaves overhead, and down upon them on the bench.

She sat as he ruffled some leaves off the bench and sat down as well, scooting closer, and trying to see her face. "I'm not trying to say anything negative about your father… but I think it would be good for you to come to the castle. You wouldn't have to work for your food. Or scrape up the dirty walls to compensate for a place to sleep. I'm trying to tell ya, Maria, you're better off with us for a while… until your father comes back." He took a bold move and gripped her hands that were lightly placed on her lap, but there for a reason.

She was trying not to get so close… trying desperately to push away her enjoyment of his company…

For the past while.. he had been her only friend. The only one willing to speak with her, hear her thoughts, listen to her reasoning and subtle complaints.

She tried so desperately not to get attached, or even to complain that much… it became easier to not complain to herself when he would smile and brighten up her often gloomy, waiting day.

He saw her not resist his touch and quickly moved in, getting down on his knee and now holding both hands in his own.

"Maria, please… I hate to think of another second of you wallowing away in here… when you could be completely spoiled at my place! I'll take care of you. I'll provide and we can talk every day! No time restraints! Ah! W-well.. unless I have some duties but… Oh, they don't matter that much anyway!" he scratched the back of his head, before shaking it and looking determined to convince her again.

"Come with me. Please? I promise you'll be happy there! You can smile every day! What do you say, Maria? Wait at the castle. I'm begging ya here!"

She felt weak in his touch, and was completely torn by his sincerity when she looked at the ground and to the sides of him, trying to think this through some more.

"…Maria.." His eyes weakened as well, seeing her still struggling to answer him.

"Maria,… you do know how I feel about you… right?"

She flinched, before continuing to avoid eye contact.

"…If Shadow.." he took a strong breath in, knowing he needed to tread lightly here, before moving his leg out and scooting closer again, still by the bench but now fully there by her with one knee on the ground.

"If he doesn't… come.." he looked away, "And we'll give him every opportunity to do so.. but…" he turned back to her, a lovestruck man, as she shook her head lightly.

"Skid.. please, .. don't-"

He tightened the line on his lips, and went for it.

Tilting his head, it was the first time he truly meant a kiss.

For her, it was the first time she had ever experienced a kiss.

It was a sensation she wasn't prepared for, but she felt her body give into it all the less.

When she finally realized she was kissing him back, she pulled away, shocked and gasping some air back in.

"I can't do this.." she got up, moving away from him as she removed her hands, walking to the tree and gripping her arms around herself.

"My father is coming!"

"Maria.." Skid got up, being a bit more aggressive in his language now, but never forceful with his touch…

He lightly turned her to him, speaking firmly out of love and care for her. "I don't think he's coming back, Maria."

"No!" she fought him slightly, but she felt the choking grip of something lodged in her throat, a swelling in her heart, and the tears threatening her voice and sight.

"He.. He loves me too… He didn't abandon me! He wouldn't.. he couldn't…" she started to cry and sobbed in Skid's arms, as he held her and closed his eyes, allowing her to release the pain she's been feeling for.. oh, so long...

It was heartbreaking, but Maria started to believe that perhaps Shadow did leave her so she could live her life without the hardships that were being placed because of him.

It's true she was old enough to manage on her own… but every bit of her being within her body wanted to be with him again… it wasn't enough to wait, or live her life, unless there was hope he would return…

"Maria…" A gentle voice broke her sorrows as she gained control of herself, and looked up at Skid.

"I love you more than I could ever say… more deeply with each passing day… if you'll have me, I want to marry you, Maria."

Her eyes widened, and she stepped back, a bit out of his grasp.

"..What?"

He loved her?

Marriage..?

Suddenly, the wheels in Maria's head started turning…

She looked up.

All those stories of being dethroned, of being accursed because of her father's ageless sins. The memories of stories told of her once royal father, and his eternal servitude all came rushing back into her mind.

'…If I married Skid…' she locked his pleading eyes to her own strategizing ones. '… I can reclaim my birthright… my father's throne and honor… his blood would no longer be doomed but redeemed through me… Through Skid…'

She stood straighter, just like Shadow had taught her.

She held in a breath, trying to calm herself through her rush of tears.

She looked royal, even spoke with only a slight quake in her voice, but with elegance like a Queen.

"I will." She nodded.

Skid looked shocked and amazed, unable to speak.

"…I'll marry you… Skid."

While preparations for the wedding were on their way… a dark figure, clothed in blood, continued across the landscape with a hunt for vengeance and final peace for his interests; slaying and killing in the name of that hoped for peace for him and his daughter.

A man scurried back across the ground, his eye already sliced and bleeding on his right side, before he held a hand up as the figure proceeded to advance; his cape flying threateningly in the storm. The rain beat down with wind lapping at his darkened figure in the night.

The hills gave a contrast to the brilliant darkness with the bluish light of the moon…

A crack of thunder as he placed one last foot fall down, and hovered over the man, dipping his head slightly up.

"Why… how are you able to do this!? Your oath forbades you! I'm of the Chaos decent! I command you-!"

"The oath… cannot save you now." Shadow drew forth his sword to the side, as the man panicked.

The man, his mouth completely agape by seeing the weapon that will end the last moments of his life, quickly cried out. "HOOOWW?!" his shrill pierced the skies, as lightning struck once again.

Prince Shadow raised his sword, the light from the electric skies revealing his true identity.

"By Right of Fathers… I slay you for your daring to hunt my daughter down and take her from me…"

The man's eyes widened, the reflection of the gun-sword in his eyes.

"…with ill-intent…"

He slashed the man through and watched the corpse fall, looking up to the fierce skies as the clouds bellowed a cry.

"…It is done." He stated, and sheathed his sword, turning around.

"They are all dead."

News of The Vagabond Prince of Peace's deed had spread across the land, even to the ears of the Chaos King… as he had slayed in the name of the Right of Fathers, none could condemn his deed based on his oath… all the Bandits and thieves and bounty hunters that dared to take Maria were now gone. Leaving only a warning… a bloody reminder… that all who would dare try for Maria's capture, or even hire for the action to be done, would suffer the same fates as the reddened halls of noblemen's homes, or the blood fields of the uncharted territories and wastelands… or the mountainscapes slathered in the light of the sunset of ended lives… Or the burned and ruined wastelands of bounty hunter, barbarian, savages huts and tents… for red was no illusion of the sun, but the reality of his fatherly wrath and vengeance.

Shadow… was once again feared in every land, and uttered in dread upon every tongue…

But one who didn't know.

"This is murder… this is all, cold murder!" Sonic, holding the articles of reported war-zones of major massacres across the countries adjacent to his own… and worse… far worse reports from places even farther than Shadow's known maps were proclaiming deaths and bloodshed across the paper's scribbled, frightened, and hurried ink stains.

How they knew that Shadow was Sonic's responsibility still puzzled him. But apparently, the Prince was more 'popular' and the oath… well-known… now than ever.

He slammed the papers down, and threw his other hand upon his face, his gritted teeth baring in his tensed sorrow.

"RAAHHH!"

"Sonic, calm down!"

Tails tried to rush to him. Knuckles was by his side but remained still and calm with his arms folded, as Sonic swiped the accounts off his desk; letting them all in their unique ways of written address fall in chunks to the ground.

Tails pulled back, flinching at the sight before worriedly looking back at Sonic, who clung to the study room's drapes on the long window… as if gripping it for support to not fall.

"I thought he was a changed man… but I suppose his tendencies for violence were still within him all along…"

"Sonic, he was trying to send a message. He wanted Maria and himself free!" Tails, speaking reason, bent down to pick one of the papers up and shake it at Sonic's face.

Sonic turned around, his upset demeanor showing in his chest rising and falling before he leaned his head back, shaking it, and then moving away from his friend.

"He lied to me! They may have been men of the wrong trades and crowds… but this is a genocide! So what if they were criminals!? They were men! And all under my law I gave him… the Law he requested so many years ago to protect his daughter… Grah!" he slammed his fist into the wall, and turned back to Knuckles.

"I want him arrested! I want every man hunting his hide! I want him to explain himself and what he's done. Realize that he's threatened another war with countless other kingdoms! They're looking to me to right this wrong! Those were also their people! Dirty and filthy as they were… this is still human life!"

"…Crimes gone down though…" Knuckles nodded, remaining calm through Sonic's outbursts.

Sonic reached his hands up as if to strangle his friend before shaking his head and falling away from Knuckles, landing in a chair.

"Oh.. Knuckles… thanks for keeping things sane…" Sonic rubbed the tips of his forehead's temples, before relaxing fully back in his chair.

"Better?" Knuckles smirked, as Sonic nodded.

"As better as I can be… Tails… I don't want anymore statistics… I just want to know where he is and if he's stopping already..." Sonic rubbed his head with both hands now, as Tails nodded and brought forth some documents, not showing them to Sonic as he stated.

"He was last reported coming out of the jungles. Heading for us…"

"For us?" Sonic removed his hands, looking up as he hunched his back forward and over on the chair, feet apart.

"So… Does that mean he's..?"

"I think.. personally… if Shadow killed to protect him and Maria… and now that his message of 'leave us alone' is finally across every criminals mind… I think he's heading to reclaim what is his.. Sonic.."

"So does he know?" Sonic suddenly looked sorrowful again, but seriously concerned as he stared straight into Tails's eyes.

"Does he know that she's agreed to marry Skid?"

The two looked away in opposite directions, and Sonic looked down, nodding at their response.

"Right…. I get it." Sonic took a deep breath, and let it noisily come out, rubbing the back of his head now.

"He knows."

"It's likely he's gonna claim the excuse of Right of Fathers again to pull Maria away from this marriage." Tails turned to Sonic again, as he nodded in agreement.

"Oh boy." He shook his head and covered his face, laughing slightly. "Skid's not gonna stand for that."

"We're preparing guards. But it is law. He can take her if he so wishes." Knuckles gestured a hand out, "We think…" he then motioned to him and Tails, before speaking once again to Sonic more casually, "That cancelling the wedding may put people at ease… we don't think he'll threaten with anything, since his clear and only motive is to get Maria back… but we're uncertain and so we just want to play it safe."

"Play it safe… heh. Since when have I ever played it safe?" Sonic got up, showing now his slight frustration in Shadow's actions. However… everyone knew that deep down… his actions… weren't showing his actual rage like before that he was trying to keep down and out of sight.

He had tried to forgive Shadow, even let him live… but this…

This didn't look like it was going to end well.

"My fathers fought Shadow and their fathers before them. I defeated Shadow. I gave him an escape from his crimes." He clenched his fist. "I've even allowed his own daughter to be invited into my home and into the very family her father sought to slaughter for centuries! Eons! And is he grateful for anything I've done for him? Even in allowing his own KIN TO RULE ONCE AGAIN IN THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE?!"

"Sonic..." Tails bent his ears back, as Knuckles once again tried to remain calm and let Sonic vent.

He lowered his head, closing his eyes as Sonic continued.

"I'll personally kill him… I will… For causing the brink of war!"

"Would you have done differently?"

Sonic's fist, shaking violently over his intensely sharpened eyes suddenly relaxed as did his gaze.

He looked surprised by the question and turned to Knuckles.

"What?"

"Knuckles…" Tails looked worriedly at his question, but Knuckles kept a cool demeanor…

"You've got an only child. Heir to everything you've ever worked for, and the love of your posterity. Would you allow thieves, and mongrels, and corrupted officials to continually endanger the only family you've ever created with your own bare hands?!"

Sonic held in his wrath, but it was clear upon his face that he was starting to sympathize, and looked away.

"…You've never had a daughter,… Sonic." Tails finally spoke up, being brave.

"…But I would do anything…" he started to tear up, his shoulders bouncing as he closed his now streaking with tears eyes and clenched his fists. "Anything to keep Twirls out of harms way…"

"…Shadow acted under law… But that doesn't excuse the mass killings of lives… even outside the Chaos Kingdom." Sonic moved towards his desk, placing a hand on it as he stared out at the sunny window…

"Nations want their dues… He's not even, legally, a Chaos citizen. But a servant of it… He must pay by their hands too…"

"Even if we forgive him… he's got a new debt to pay." Knuckles sighed, and scratched behind his head, seeming to just state facts. "My people sure as heck won't let him off so easily… no matter what reasons he may have carried…"

"There is no excuse for blood other than defense. And Shadow will claim it, Sonic." Tails wiped his face and looked up, trying to be professional again.

"I know…" Sonic leaned against the side of the window, staring out at it still.

"We may pardon all offense… but he'll have to deal with them himself."

The two smiled, seeing Sonic was going to let Shadow off the hook, but…

Only as far as he could.

"But I have to do something… after all, these other kingdoms will despise me if I pardon all offenses." Sonic turned around and put both arms out on the table, peering down and looming over the papers spread out upon it…

"But what about Maria?" Tails asked, "Are you still going to give her up too?"

"… That's for Skid to decide." Sonic moved away, heading for the door. "But I won't allow Shadow to fight him. Right of Father's or not. He is my only son, and heir to the Chaos throne… I won't let him risk his life…"

"…." The two remained silent, knowing that wasn't going to end well.

"…For the hand of an enemy's daughter."

"She's his true love!"

"She's a threat to peace now. We have to let Shadow take her back."

"Sonic, you can't-!"

"Amy! It's the only way!"

Amy fell to her knees, gripping Sonic's waist as she slid down, crying profusely.

"He won't just let her go… he loves her, Sonic! He loves her.." she cried, as Sonic clenched his jaw, and looked away from her, not bearing to see her so distraught.

"For the good of the kingdom… he can't marry her."

"Does he know about this? Does she even-?"

"She'll hear that her father's come back for her and leave his side in a heartbeat." Sonic tried to move out of Amy's grip, pulling her away as she clung even the more tighter.

"Amy…" he gritted his teeth, trying to not make this difficult.

"You can't just ignore his feelings!"

"I can't ignore my kingdom, either! Isn't that something you taught me!?"

"Would you have let your father, if he was still around, have thrown me out because I wasn't royalty!?"

She slammed her hands down and released him, crying as Sonic's eyes blinked in astonishment at the question, seeing how much pain this was causing Amy…

She was feeling the pain of what would happen if Skid found out… if he knew what his father was about to do…

"Amy…" Sonic bent down, cupping her face with his hands, trying to be sensitive to her motherly care for her son. "I love him too. I would fight for you, of course I would. But this isn't us. This is bigger than just my father… who, by the way, would have been swayed by my mother's compassion for you to reconsider." He smirked, having already told her that his mother was approving of them one day having an affair anyway.

"But he'll kill Skid, Amy." Sonic stopped the chuckling moment to turn it back to reality now.

He let his forehead touch hers, as her eyes shot open in fright.

"He'll kill him… if he tries to keep her."

The day of the wedding quickly approached, and Skid and Maria were already halfway through planning. Sonic came in to a large study room, looking strong with his brow fully down between his eyes,…

Something was wrong.

He closed the door behind him, some books on the nearby bookcases shook slightly with the impact of force from it. He folded his arms, seeing the servant rush in, looking a bit like he had stumbled to make his way as speedily as he could over here...

"Where's my son?"

"S-Sire… h-..Ehem, he asks you to wait."

"Wait!? When Shadow's on his-..!" he sighed, and lowered his shoulders, having had his arms pulse out as if ready to shoot off and track down his son.

He had to be sensitive, Amy told him so.

"Fine…" he grumbled, and turned away; his royal cape flying behind him a moment with the spin of his turn. As he folded his arms again, frustrated, he spoke once more but with a much more calmer tone. "But tell him to come at once."

"Yes, your grace!"

The servant quickly bowed and rushed off, traveling down the many halls and walkways till he finally stopped for air, seeing Maria and Skid in the open gardens and her bending down to examine a flower.

She smiled up to Skid as they seemed to talk about it.

As he regained his breath, he also admired the beautiful scene between the two,… before hurriedly continuing to rush in his errand to get to Skid.

"Prince Skid! Your father is waiting ever so patiently… which you know isn't easy for him." He hunched over and tapped his chest, trying to get another second wind again as Maria got up, looking concerningly to Skid and the man.

"Whatever is he so impatient about?" Maria asked, before turning to Skid and putting a hand on her heart. "I hope nothing has gone astray…"

"Don't worry." Skid comforted her by placing a hand to her chin, squeezing it slightly in a playful and loving way before releasing it and having her smile shyly and look down, cutely lowering her eyes as she nodded. "My father doesn't quite understand the term 'busy' when it comes to someone other himself." He grinned, and put his hands behind his back, lightly rocking on his heels.

"Tell my father I'm coming. But after I speak to my… future wife." He turned to Maria, gesturing out a hand and speaking that last title with such fondness and joy that when she raised her head, she had to gaze into his eyes a moment out of awe.

He had so much love for her… she wondered if she'll ever be able to love quite as deeply as he did.

She always didn't feel enough, but every little thing she could try and do he absolutely adored! So…

Perhaps… she was just fine the way she was. The way she loved that most suited her comfortability.

He led her by his hand in a gentlemen's manner over to a gazebo, letting her move her dress so she could sit down as he sat beside her.

"Maria.. you've made me so happy these last few weeks… And it's almost been a full year since we've truly gotten to know each other… I just have to ask you something. Something that will put my troubled heart to ease."

He looked away before back to her with such sincerity, it caught her breath every time.

"Whatever it is you wish to know…" she smiled then, "You may gladly receive it."

He smiled, and looked down, nervously taking her hands. "I love you not for beauty's sake or even by rank or anything under any silly motion than that I absolutely adore being around you. Everything about you is springtime to me. My father once told me… he felt like spring anytime my mother would smile… and I honestly believe that out of all these flowers growing here… today. Under this… wonderfully constructed royal garden of ours, that you're the one I've seen grown the most here in the castle. You've learned to accept yourself. I've seen that lately… and… and you've even allowed me to indulge you with silly talk of love like this." He leaned forward, gently letting his nose rest by hers, making her duck her head and blush. This action made a small giggle escape her lips quickly, before looking up back at him.

He truly made her feel… something.

Was this love?

"But Maria… I don't want you to do anything you're not 100 percent ready for, or wanting. I want you to truly know I love you, dearly. And I… I…" he stuttered a moment, his eyes turning to sorrow before he looked away.

Her smile faded, and she looked even more worried with concern for him.

She tried to turn to see his face more.

"Skid?"

"I'm so terribly happy with you… if you were to answer me… I feel I may either burst with joy, or die of grief." He shook his head.

"All my life I've been chasing girls just to find one that could make me feel like how my mother or father describes being in love to be like… but all those girls were missing things. Either too short, too tall, too shinny, so boring,… all… unimpressive. Though I swore I liked them all."

He rolled his eyes, before keeping his face forward and away from eye contact with Maria.

He still held her hands though… and she gripped them tighter suddenly… seeing something pure and true escaping at last from the depths of his hearts.

"All girls were flowers to me… and I wanted to be king over all the flowers of the world… because I never wanted any of them to wilt under oppression, pain, sorrow, affliction… I wanted to protect them all from poverty and strife. I guess in a sense… I wanted to be a hero like my father was. Not for the praise.. but for the love of many."

Maria caught her breath then.

"…But with you, Maria." He looked back at her, his eyes glossy from his very soul being poured out before her.

"All I've ever wanted… was just for you to love yourself."

Her mouth gaped open slightly, her eyes bending back as understanding flooded her mind, and she lowered her head to scan the ground around her as her heart and mind were communicating at lightning speeds now.

"I know this seems… a little fast." Skid looked away, almost embarrassed to admit that. "But I love you. I sincerely do. There's not another flower in this world I want by my side than you! Please, Maria, I must know… I hate rushing you but this is what I need! I need to know."

She could barely speak.

"Do you truly want to marry me? Truly love me? Because I will do anything, and wait as long as the earth spins to hear your answer. But not like this… not if you're only going with this for reasons other than-" he scanned the ground too, putting emotion and emphasis in his words before her head shot up and forward, out and elongated towards him.

"I do."

"….What?" he turned back to her, a little confused as his heart raced… but he wasn't sure if it was fright or excitement.

She held her mouth open a little longer, before nodding and speaking again, her eyes never leaving his own shocked ones.

"I do… love…. you."

His staring blinks and dumbfounded expression suddenly turned to an overjoyed open-grin.

"You do!?"

She lightly smiled, before having tears leak from her eyes against her will as she nodded, dropping her head down and wiping her face.

"I think I do."

He suddenly let her hands go, backing away as he threw his own up. "YOU DO!" he raced around the courtyard, the throne room, the council room, shaking men's hands and shouting, "SHE LOVES ME!" before being careful not to trample any flowers in the gardens to speed and drift back over to Maria, embracing her and almost having her fully fall backwards at the force of him suddenly stopping and sitting by her again.

"Thank you, Maria! I promise-No… SWEAR to be a good man, husband, and king for you! It's an oath I shall never fail you with!"

She patted his back, trying to calm him down before nodding, and scooting further into the embrace. "I trust you will." She then looked to the skies…

"More than he… perhaps." She shifted her eyes in sorrow over and away from the moment…

How could her father leave her? When he had once sworn a similar oath to her?

And then the doors were barged open…

The two unembraced as a few knights were called to the throne room, and then suddenly an explosion that threw them back.

The two gasped before Skid got up, protectively moving in front of her. "What's going on!?"

The same servant from before, rushed out with torn clothes and burnt hair, falling to Skid's feet as he panted for breath.

"Sire! It's… He's returned!" He bowed profoundly to Skid before horror took over him and he rose his head again. "He's come for the girl!"

Skid's eyes widened but searched in confusion.

"Who's come for..?"

Maria's eyes shrunk a moment before dilating and opening again, honing in on the entrance to the halls where the throne room lie…

She got up slowly.

Lightly breathing…

"…Father..?"

Sonic sped into the destruction of the throne room, seeing Tails fall back as he raced up and caught him.

"What's going on!?"

"Shadow! He's demanding Maria!" Tails gripped his friend's shoulder by twisting himself around to do so, since his back was facing Sonic from where he caught him.

"What!?" Sonic glared and bit his jaw tightly down, getting up as Tails also dusted himself off and returned to his side, looking out in the dust-filled, dark grey cloud before it cleared momentarily for Shadow's figure to be standing on a fallen piece of the roof's pillars; pointing his gun-sword towards a Knight's head.

"Where is your… King?" Shadow hissed and spat out the word, clearly enraged as the poor junior knight trembled in his unfitting knight's armor, trying to pull his helmet up to look at the sun-tipped blade before him, his doom it seemed.

The clattering of the armor was silenced the second Sonic stepped forward, drawing his own Chaos blade and parleying with a swing to clang against Shadow's own sword.

"Well.. you look good… for coming on a few thousand years." Sonic kid, before flinging the sword up and away from his knight.

"Get out of here, kid… this doesn't concern the knights…. Actually," Sonic was acting cool for a moment, stepping in front of the knight to defend him before turning to slightly speak to him over his shoulder, "Please make sure Amy doesn't find out the mess we've made." He sheepishly had a sweat-drop slide just slightly down the side of his face, before closing his eyes and giving a nervous smile. "Please."

"Hmph." Shadow stepped back, walking to the side of the fallen pillar and tilted roof before making his way down. Looming for a second over Sonic though, he spoke as he gestured his hand around, "I won't ask for anything less than is my right… I want my daughter from the hands of your covetous son!"

He hopped down and swiped his sword out, showing some rebellion but also, mostly, letting out some steam.

"Where is she!?"

"Do you really think I'd allow a marriage she didn't want to be apart of?" Sonic bent his head down, not being intimidated by Shadow's outrage.

"Pfft. She wouldn't marry unless I gave command too." He pointed the sword up to Sonic. "You gave me the Right of Father's! She is under my protection!"

"The girl is a woman now, Shadow! That right has long been overused." Sonic turned himself to the side, standing boldly before Shadow.

"You murdered under the name of pride! Not protection!"

Shadow's eyes widened, before he went to slash a deadly wage of war, before Maria and Skid drifted into the hall.

"FATHER!"

Sonic had leaned back, but never stepped down. Now he looked over to Skid and Maria, as Skid didn't want to set her down but did so as she struggled.

She raced towards her father, but stopped at Sonic's hand rising.

"You win. You'll get the girl back. But you still have to pay for your interkingdom crimes."

"Crimes?" Maria let the air out of her strained but elated lungs. She was so thrilled to see her father… but…

"Crimes? What crimes? What is he talking about.. father?" She tilted her head towards her shoulder, not sure what was happening here.

Realizing she hadn't heard, Shadow glanced her way and then to Sonic.

"Oh? So not only were you ignorant,… But my son didn't have the time to hear it for himself either."

Skid was also confused, walking forward and towards Maria.

"Dad,… what on earth are you-?"

Shadow, seeing from the corner of his eye the movement of Skid's feet coming closer to Maria, swung his sword and fired off a warning shot by his feet, making Skid stumble back out of shock.

"SHADOOWWW!" Sonic sped forward, their swords collided and Shadow braced himself.

Being close to Shadow's face with their swords locked in a 'X', Sonic spoke through gritted teeth. "I could have you KILLED for even daring to point a sword at me.. but firing towards my only son-!"

"I won't have anyone taking my daughter away from me. Not one soul shall lay a finger on her head!" Shadow dipped his head down, "I'd be willing to wage war for her! I'd take on the kings of the Chaos Kingdom again and again! As if it was her namesake all over again!"

"And would you kill her descendants too? If she refused!?"

"Refused?" Shadow smirked, "What reason would pursue her to disobey me? HRAAH!" He thrusted Sonic away from him.

"I'm here to claim my right! Either hand over my daughter, or you will face war again! I won't have another thing taken from me. Not her… not ever again…" he held his sword over his face, before swiping it down, a tradition of the Ark Kingdom. A declaration of future battles if agreements weren't made.

"Maria of old is dead, Shadow! You're talking about your daughter as if she's dying too!" Sonic stepped forward, "She AGREED to be married to my son! While you were out killing millions upon millions of thieves, bandits, hooligans… just to get a point across!" He clenched his fists, as Maria's heart dropped suddenly.

"…what..?"

She turned to her beloved father.

"Is that what you want your daughter to know your love by?! Bloodshed and sins!?"

Shadow's anger suddenly turned to a frown, his shoulders moved up with a steady breath and lowered to show him coming out of his blood-seeking state.

He lowered his blade, letting the tip just barely hover over the floor with crumbled pieces of the ceiling upon it; Shattered and dirtying up the place with reflections of the sunlight draping down from slots in the broken roof above.

"…Bloodsheds?" Maria moved closer to her father, "Father, it can't be true." Her voice shook slightly, "You killed all those men… who were after me?"

"Or dare would be." Shadow confirmed, not even looking to her as he eyed Sonic down.

He was making him look like the villain again!

Sonic purposefully wanted to avoid this… but Skid had kept him waiting too long!

"Dad… Dad you're not gonna just let him go with her… are you?" Skid turned to his father, who also didn't acknowledge him with eye-contact.

"He has to leave, Skid… He's banished for who knows how long… and knowing that thousands of other lands want his head,.. he's going to have to fight to even keep himself alive." Sonic showed no mercy in that statement.

"Of course, if he wanted to spare his daughter of such affairs-"

"Shut up. The more you talk, the less you remind me of that king who defeated me so long ago."

Shadow almost growled out, as Sonic let a small portion of his lip curl up in entertainment at Shadow's words.

"Oh really?"

"Dad!"

"Quiet, son. You're the reason we're in this mess." He rose his sword, "If it weren't for your undying love for the girl, none of this would be happening."

"He still would have killed."

"Yes, but at least banishing him would have been easier to deal with." Sonic then spoke louder, showing he was addressing Shadow now, and bobbed his head up. "Hey! Take the girl and get out! Your oath is worthless if you're a criminal again. I'll be forced to hunt you down but thanks to law you're only found an offender. But you threatened peace, meaning I'm handing you over to every sorry kingdom you offended. Let them do what they will, you'll probably endure and live through it anyway."

"How heartless can you be!?" Maria, in absolute horror and love turned desperately to Sonic, not a hint of anger but mostly justice in her voice. "He was protecting me!"

"From men who hadn't committed the crime."

"Yet." Shadow slurred out the word as if it was proof enough, or a cuss word rolling off his teeth.

"You wouldn't understand.. You're not a father with a daughter!" Shadow hunched over, but tightened ever muscle in his body. "I broke no laws here! I upheld the oath!"

"You put all eyes on the Chaos Kingdom," Sonic put the sword down by his side and stepped forward, showing his seriousness, his royalty and position, speaking only fact as he held himself high upon the destroyed throne room. "You gave us possible enemies. And according to what you said, the possibility of an enemy means they are one anyway. Isn't that right? They're all watching to see what I do to you. And if they don't agree with it, which I'm sure they won't, they'll come in here with swarms of armies to completely obliterate us. All just because you couldn't wait till they tried. Or asked for help for that matter! I could have given you some leniencies, guards, men to protect her and you, old man!"

"I didn't want your help." Shadow stepped forward, angling himself, also showing his true royalty. "I can handle what the other nations want from me!"

"And put your daughter in further risk?! More danger than ever before!?"

Sonic thrust his open hand out, shaking it to try and show Shadow the errors of his ways.

"And they called me reckless! Have you even thought about her life after this!? With a murderer!?"

"AHHH!" Shadow charged him, but Skid rushed in and grabbed his father's sword.

"Skid!"

"Ha!" Skid blocked the advance, as Shadow's eyes widened.

Maria's throat closed and she felt her whole world was going black.

"NO!" Sonic pushed the two men away from each other, and put his hands on Skid's shoulders.

"What are you doing!? You barely know how to keep yourself alive in a real fight!" he whispered, pushing his son back.

"He was going to break his oath, Dad…" Skid's eyes were one of a righteous intent… but …

Sonic shook his head. "No… I wanted to avoid this.. you're a pacifist."

"But this is love." Skid moved away from his father's hold, gripping the sword even tighter. He kept his hand on his father's shoulder though, before smiling and speaking without fear…

"She said she loves me, dad. There's nothing to worry about." He turned to Maria. "Tell him, Maria. Tell him there's no reason to fight or start a war. It's alright." He was so sure… so confident…

Maria held her silence… breathing hard and feeling light headed.

Shadow turned to her, a disagreeable expression, but seeming to wait on a response.

When none came, and Maria continued to stare at the ground, Skid's courage waned and he stepped forward, letting go of his father.

"Maria..?"

Shadow suddenly chuckled, seeing the dropped confidence in Skid and his daughter's submission to silence.

He threw his head back and laughed, a piercing cry as he suddenly pulled his cape back.

"She was simply taking cover. Using her clever wit to stay out of trouble. As I've taught her to be a lady, she has only followed my counsel since infancy. You were simply her shelter till I returned for her..."

Skid's mouth closed.

"She has become the noble woman I taught her to be. But she is still very much a girl. Very much my daughter… and under my right!" He now spoke louder, mostly to Sonic it seemed.

Sonic sucked in an angry breath, before looking over and showing sorrow for his son's trembling hand… still gripping the Chaos Blade…

"I.. I don't believe I was just a cage for her."

Shadow suddenly stopped his bold speaking, looking slightly annoyed at the boy not quitting.

"…I… I believe she meant it… when she said she loved me."

Maria rose her head, her heart gripped with conflict and grief.

Shadow's cold stare held… until Skid rose his head up high and struck a mighty pose of defense.

"I accept your challenge by Right of Fathers!"

"NO!"

Sonic reached for the Chaos blade, but Skid held firm to it, looking seriously sincere in his conviction.

"You can't fight! You can barely hold your own! He'll kill you!"

"Listen to your father, boy." Shadow glared, before moving to direct Maria out of the throne room. "By Right of Fathers… you would be challenging me to battle… the victor… the one found still breathing…"

"I know of the law." Skid moved from his father's protection, as Sonic's eyes shook with fright and horror.

Never had Sonic felt so afraid before… then watching his only son take on his family's greatest enemy…

Was this what his father had feared before him? And their fathers before that?

Shadow sighed, having raised a hand to move Maria away, as she seemed almost like a zombie, unable to compute what was going on or what to say.

Her eyes in darkness, she seemed almost distant from the world…

Shadow bore his fangs.

"If you insist on being so adamant…" He suddenly turned, shooting out bullets.

"Then let this not be war, but a battle of rights!"

Skid quickly maneuvered and dodged the bullets, before skidding around Shadow and for the first time, swiping out his sword in the intent to strike.

"No.." Maria's breath was light upon the air…

Shadow and Skid began to move side to side, striking and blocking, Skid mostly on the offensive side as Shadow aggressively went for the kill every time.

"Shadow… Shadow don't you DARE hurt him.." Sonic's fists clenched. "Spare him and I'll give you back your daughter!"

"And risk your son coming to try and collect her from me!? Never!" Shadow slashed and Skid fell back, the hit too powerful, even with his rebound.

The vibrations rang through his arm, and he had to hold it with his other hand to try and still it.

Shadow was ruthless, coming in for another hit, but faked a swipe and instead, rammed his shoulder into him and pushed him back.

"SKKKIDDD!" Sonic shouted out, racing forward, but Tails, having been carefully observing, reached forward and grabbed him to hold him back. "Grk.. gahh!" Sonic struggled and fought back, but Tails shook his head.

"It's law! You can't interfere now that they've started! Only Maria has the right to do that!"

"Maria…" Sonic turned his attention to her, as she flinched at her name… she was trembling, fear and insecurities once again resurfaced into self-hatred.

This was all because of her.

Her father was about to break oath because of her…

Skid… Skid could die because of her…

Her father… her father could was to be banished and at the mercy of ruthless kingdoms because of her…

All of it was… because of…

Her.

She gripped her shaking fingers over her eyes, still in great horror as they shrunk and shook back and forth, side to side.

"If you loved him… or ever did…" Sonic yanked and shook Tails off of him, stepping forward with wild eyes, and with each foot fall declaring more and more…

"THEN SAVE HIM!"

Maria's eyes flickered back to the battle, where Shadow's hits were relentless, and Skid was now on the ground, struggling to fight against the powerful hits and swings.

"SAVE HIM!"

Shadow loomed over him and with every strike, pushed him more down as the Chaos Blade was struck over and over again.

"SAVE HIM!"

Skid strained to see through each terrifying strike, before the sword was flown out of his arms, and with shaking, gritted teeth looked up to behold the end of this battle…

Shadow rose his sword up, one… final… strike…

"And with this…" Shadow stated…

"We are free."

He went to lower his blade.

"SKIIIIIIIDDDD!"

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNG~~~

With so much emotional stress, a sudden light shone from Maria, her head ducked down and her hands held straight out.

Her tears burst from her eyes and her cry pierced the heavens.

So much so, that the Master Emerald shone and covered the sky once again in green.

Her hands… blasted out it's green glow.

Engulfing the destroyed throne room, it's light stilled everything around it.

Sonic and Tails were frozen in spot, their bodies shook along with Shadow and Skid's, the blade almost to his chest.

Shadow gritted against the powerful time magic… but was forced to remain frozen.

"Is this…" Sonic began, through gritted teeth.

"Chaos's power..?" Tails was in shock, but also strained to move and couldn't, his body trembling as well with the others.

"…I… I waited for you… father." Maria's eyes remained closed, her Chaos power stopping time and freezing them in that instance.

Because she wanted them to hear her words, only the rest of the world was completely frozen, as when Sonic had used Chaos Control so many years ago…

"But he would also come to me… cheer me up when I was down… he gave me a home when you had never sought fit to provide such a structure…"

Her face softened, and she smiled as she remembered Skid's kind smiles to her, his affections, and the times they've had together.

"I love you more than any daughter could love any man in the world, Father… but I love Skid in the only manner of how a woman can love any man in the world… and that's why… that's why…" her voice trembled now, her power waning…

Shadow's eyes saw her from their peripheral vision, and seeing her tears… her speaking so much… he realized from her actions that Skid was right.

She did love him.

He closed his eyes. Not accepting such defeat very well… but forced to comply to her wishes.

He loved her… But so did Skid. What more could a father ask for..? Then for a man to love his daughter… and provide for her through her joys and sorrows?

The frozen time magic suddenly stopped, as Shadow yanked his sword up, and watched his daughter fall to her knees, covering her face as she cried.

"I love him… I love him cause he taught me to love myself… I've never once felt like I've been a nuisance or bother to him… but you… you killed thousands for me… when all he's done to prove his love… is to kill the darkness distilled in me."

Shadow stood up straight, before moving away from Skid, and raising his sword to sheath it upon his back.

"Father.." Maria looked up, seeing him departing, and quickly got up, racing to him. "Father!"

She fell upon him, as he remained upright and she slumped down, clinging to his purple, royal cape.

She cried and cried… but he didn't acknowledge her.

Instead, he spoke to Skid. "You've won over me… Prince … of The Chaos Kingdom. I consent to whatever the will of my daughter be. And… forfeit my rights to my daughter's well-being…"

"Father…father, please!" she hugged him, but he still didn't move.

"I want to come with you, Father! I may love him, but that doesn't mean-!"

He helped her up… and then gently, but with force, pulled her away from his royal Ark robe.

"Father!"

He started to depart, as Sonic helped Skid up, and Tails quickly flew over to Maria, trying to comfort her as she once again fell to her knees, gripping the ground in tight fists, before crying out one… final… time…

"FFFAAATTTHHHERRRR!"

Little news was found on Shadow's whereabouts, as he had left rather suddenly… he had also disappeared rather suddenly.

The wedding was beautiful, and Maria consented to the reality that her father may never return for her again.

But she was happy…. More or less… as she truly found herself stronger than her father had ever taught her to be.

Skid had taught her to love herself for who she was… and though her father never intended it, being with him only made her feel useless and resentful of herself and her pretty state.

Pitiful and Petty… would maybe be better words for it.

However…

At the proper time for the first heir to be born, a hedgehog baby cried in the night…

The guards stood watch, but none could see the silent silhouette that sneaked and rounded himself through the rooftop pillars into the child's room.

Looming over the cradle, the figure approached and the moonlight revealed him ever so slightly.

The baby continued to cry, before Shadow reached down and picked the child up, rocking it in his arms, shushing it to sleep.

Maria, weakened by lack of sleep and only having had a few days to recover, wearily opened the door and walked into the room, rubbing her eyes before freezing at the sight of her newborn child in the hands of her… her…

"Father?"

"…" he stared at her, before returning to the baby. "…You've returned your blood to power and royal status… I'm … proud of you, Maria."

She held her hand over her heart, speechless.

"You've always done what you were told… I'm… happy… you're at peace with yourself now."

He lowered the child back into the cradle, but the child, cooing and squirming in its blankets, reached up and cupped his finger, keeping him there.

Shadow flinched, unwanting to stay in the pressingly awkward moment. But before he could react, he felt hands around his waist.

Maria smiled, tears threatening but this time… in joy.

"I'm so happy to see you again,.. Father."

"…As am I." He reached a hand back, and lightly rubbed her forehead, as he once had done so many… many years ago.

"..Has he a name?"

"She."

"She?"

He felt embarrassed.

He turned his head, "No sons?"

She giggled, "You're just like the king." She lovingly referred to Sonic, but rolled her eyes slightly.

He chuckled too, and turned back to the child as she moved forward and rested her head on his shoulder, her arm around his own now.

Sonic had long since stepped down from the throne, enjoying his new freedom with Amy, but still retaining the title of king.

After all, he worked so hard for it!

"… Strong grip… for a princess."

Shadow smiled at the infant still clinging to his finger, as Maria returned the exact same smile. Something inherited, perhaps.

"Skid calls her… the living proof of the Chaos and Ark kingdom's union… forever… and at last."

"Then… her name?" Shadow turned back to her.

"…. HarmonyRoseTheHedgehog.."

"Rose?"

"My husband is all about flowers. But he also mentioned something about his Mother's maiden name."

"Hmph." Shadow was amused by that comment, before seeing the baby's grip loosen.

Taking back his hand, he rubbed it and looked away.

"I should go…"

"Must you leave now?"

Her plea was heartbreaking to him, but he pulled away from her embrace, nonetheless.

"I must insist."

"After so many years… you're still being hunted by foreign affairs..? We could see to it that you're safe here, father… No one could harm you-"

"Then they'd wage war with you." He smiled and placed a hand to her cheek.

"…You've grown so much… Maria…"

She softly let some tears go and nodded, as he walked back up to her and placed his head to her forehead, as her hand cupped his own around her cheek.

"I will always love you."

"And I, the more."

The two parted, and Shadow escaped through the window, as Maria watched him head out in the night…. Before closing the window, and turning back to her child.

She lowered her finger into the cradle, and the child gripped it in its return to sleep…

"You… are the daughter of a true princess and rightful prince." She began as her father once had for her, many years ago. She spoke as her father continued to sneak past guards and around the large wall that held the Castled Palace under great security and defense.

"You are a beautiful creation, and reminder of peace, as your name suggests."

He continued to race away, before a guard let out a cry, and he quickly ducked into the brush.

"You shall stand to be the Chaos Kingdom's greatest Queen, and rule with dignity, as you are royalty. And never.. ever shall you feel alone… or abandoned…"

As the guards began to swarm the outer wall, facing the town, Shadow jumped on a horse and bolted off. The guards suddenly after him on foot, and losing him almost instantly.

"Or forgotten."

He curved a corner, his horse's breath breathing wildly, as he was never heard from again…

However,

Maria and Skid lived happily… ever… after.

This ends… the Tales of the Chaos Kings.

(Hope to see you in future stories, everybody! :D As for this story, it's officially… the end!)