Chapter Text
"Yeah. So that's where we're at. Rebuilding's taking forever, and we've got a bunch of other stuff piling up too. So I figured it'd be nice if at least one of those problems could be solved a little faster."
He set the tea mug on the table— both of which were covered in roses— and crossed his arms.
Roses covered nearly every wall.
Painted roses.
Carved roses.
Even roses woven into the tapestries.
It was overwhelmingly beautiful.
Sonic would have appreciated it—if he wasn't creeped out, just a tiny bit, by the place.
The scent was very strong in here, and it made Sonic' nose twitch.
(He even sneezed.)
The place still carried that the kingdom shall last forever vibe.
Sonic didn't let that stop him though.
He was in Merlina's tower, afterall.
They needed her help. Desperately.
He looked at her with a friendly smile.
"What do you say? Are you in the mood to swing around some rocks with your magic?"
Merlina hummed.
"...I am not sure that's a good idea. Have you discussed this with Sir Lancelot? Sir Percival? Or even Sir Gawain?"
Sonic grimaced.
"....Welll–"
"He hasn't."
The sword said, with a sharp glance toward Sonic.
Sonic raised his arms.
"Hey–"
"But I think that Sonic is right. It really would be beneficial to have you there. You are quite the powerful sorceress, after all."
Calibrun smiled sweetly.
Sonic snapped his mouth shut.
Damn.
Merlina tilted her head.
She turned to Sonic.
"... After everything I did...
why would you trust me? And ask for my help? Why, Sonic?"
For a moment, only the wind answered.
Somewhere outside, birds were singing.
"... I mean, why not?"
Lancelot would have probably taken out some popcorn, if he knew what that was.
"How can we let her help after everything she's done?" Percival hissed. "It's because of her that we're in this mess in the first place!"
Merlina lowered her head.
Sonic grimaced.
"Yeah, and that's exactly why she should help fix it," Gawain shot back. "Just because someone made a mess doesn't mean they can't help clean it up."
...Actually, had Shadow ever tasted popcorn?
Would he even like it?
Probably not.
The discussion grew increasingly heated.
Then, suddenly, the two knights drew their swords.
They never got to the actual fight.
"Stop."
A voice growled sharply.
The word echoed through the hall.
Even the candles flickered.
The two knights froze and turned toward the owner of the voice.
Even Lancelot looked taken aback.
The blue hedgehog stood with both hands planted firmly on the table.
His head was held high.
His green eyes were sharp, shining in the light.
Piercing.
A true king.
For a brief moment, it was easy to see why Caliburn had chosen him.
Then Sonic ruined it by grinning, and pointing toward the door.
"We just rebuilt the walls, guys. If you absolutely have to spar, do it outside."
The knights looked at one another.
Then, reluctantly, lowered their weapons.
The meeting was dismissed for the night, and everyone returned to their respective quarters.
Merlina would help repair the rest of the castle.
As for all the other problems...
Well.
They were tomorrow Sonic's problems.
Sir Gawain bit his lip as he followed the king—Sir Sonic—through the halls.
(Sonic, meanwhile, was heading for a tree outside. He still refused to sleep inside the castle, like a normal person)
"...When we first sparred, you acted as though you knew me," Sir Gawain said. "But I'm afraid we've never met."
Sonic spun around on his heels.
His green eyes were full of amusement.
"Yeah, you're right. We never met. I just know someone who looks a lot like you."
He paused.
"You don't happen to have a second name? Or a surname? Like... Knuckles, or something?"
Sir Gawain blinked.
"...No? Not that I know of."
He looked thoroughly confused.
"Ah."
Sonic looked away for a moment.
Then, he smiled.
"Figured. Good night, man."
He turned and continued walking.
For just a moment, though, he seemed slightly disappointed.
Sir Gawain had no idea why.
The night was quiet.
Too quiet.
A person was rushing through the streets toward the castle, riding a horse at full speed.
The great castle stood illuminated against the night sky.
...That was new.
The guards nearly stopped the rider, but they broke through. The horse kicked one of the guards aside, creating just enough of an opening.
"I need to speak to the king!"
The intruder's voice echoed through the courtyard.
The guards slowly closed in around them.
Carefully.
"I need to speak with someone who's in charge!"
they shouted again.
"What's all the fuss about? I was just eating my midnight snack—"
A blue hedgehog descended the stairs.
Or rather, jumped down.
Green eyes stared at the scene in front of him, slightly perplexed.
"...Oh, hi. And who are you?"
the slayer of kings asked.
The blue hedgehog.
Consuming food in the castle.
With King Arthur nowehere to be seen.
The intruder gulped.
So the rumors were true.
Why else would this... peasant be standing in the king's castle?
They raised their weapon.
"I came to duel you and free the kingdom!"
The words echoed.
The blue hedgehog raised an eyebrow and cracked his knuckles.
For a moment, his green eyes flashed.
A challenge was a challenge, after all.
But he stopped himself.
"...Sure, we can fight. But why?"
"Because you killed King Arthur! You overthrew the kingdom! You killed the sorceress Merlina!"
The intruder proclaimed, raising their fist.
"Hold on. I ain't dead yet."
A voice called from above.
The intruder shuddered.
"See? Her spirit is haunting this pla—what are you doing?"
The slayer of kings was pointing somewhere above the intruder.
The intruder hesitated… then turned.
Silence hit like a wall.
Merlina sat in the window light, knitting a scarf with quiet, deliberate patience.
The intruder stared.
Dumbfolded.
She was supposed to be dead.
Actually.
What was the meaning of this?
...
Perhaps the witch had been spared.
But the knights? Surely he had killed them. He had defeated them in battle. Surely they were killed by this fool.
"You killed the Knights of the Round Table!"
The intruder insisted.
"I ain't dead either."
Sir Percival poked her head out of another window like a curious cat. The torchlight danced across her helmet, coloring it orange.
...
Sonic paused.
A memory had involuntarily resurfaced in his mind.
He closed his eyes, and shrugged.
"See? Everyone's fine. Do you wanna discuss things inside, or do you wanna keep yelling at me out here?"
"Do you wish to return to your kingdom?" Merlina asked carefully.
Sonic froze mid-bite.
"Uh... Aren't we literally sitting in it right now?"
He smirked.
Merlina raised an eyebrow.
His voice echoed through the nearly empty hall.
The throne stood off to the side, untouched for days.
Months, perhaps.
"...You know what I mean," Merlina said.
Sonic chuckled.
"...I mean, can you yeet me back to it?"
"No."
She didn't even hesitate.
...
...Well.
That answered that.
Sonic smirked.
"Then what's the fuss about?"
A little later, Sonic got dragged back to his world.
In the middle of a conversation, a portal zapped him through and flung him back into his world—right into the grass.
Sonic yelped and crashed.
He groaned.
"...Wtf, Merlina."
He was face-first in the dirt. The grass.
Green Hill’s grass.
He closed his eyes and took in the smell of...
Home.
Oh, he had missed this. So damn much.
Still… did the dirt have to be in his mouth?
Ew.