Archive of Our Own

Blaze sighed, letting the fabric of the last dress fall from her hands. Tonight was the Last Masquerade, a traditional Sol Kingdom ball that would mark Blaze’s final ball as Princess, and first as Queen— and she had been putting it off for months. And yet, no matter how much she pushed it back, there was only so much she could do before the day finally came. And now, she had only a few hours to prepare before the celebration began and she’d present herself to her friends, subjects, and representatives across the Sol dimension.

There were a few gowns set aside that matched the traditional style, and Blaze had spent the last hour bouncing back and forth between them. They were all fine garments, each more elegant than the last, but all of them left a bad taste in her mouth. Frustrated, she finally attempted Gardon’s recommendation. She’d saved it for last.

Perhaps this one would finally satisfy her. A proper ball gown with a silvery-white sheen and sleeves that fell from the shoulder like waves, adorned with indigo satin, beads, and pearls along the skirts. It was beautiful, except for the fact that Blaze was wearing it. Something was still not right. She tried different jewelry, then a drape around her shoulders, then satin gloves. In a final effort, Blaze unclasped her ruby hairpiece and let her hair down. 

It fell, bringing with it a rush of discomfort. Oh, that was a mistake. She quickly gathered it back up, scowling at the internal grimace she was experiencing. It wasn’t that she thought she looked bad. She certainly didn’t think she was unattractive. In fact, this was the most promising option so far, and yet something just didn’t sit right. She just felt… strange. Wrong. Wrong in a way that was demanding her attention more than ever before. That was enough. She had to get outside. With a sigh, she changed back into her casual attire, and had just pulled on her gloves when a knock at the door made her jump.

“Come in,” she said, stepping out from behind the divider.

The door opened timidly and Silver poked his head inside. “Hey there, Blaze, I— Woah!” He cut himself off, mouth agape, when he saw the dress that hung on the divider. “That’s beautiful! Is that what you’re wearing tonight?”

Blaze’s tail twitched involuntarily. “Oh, this? It’s nice, but… No. I’m afraid I haven’t been able to make up my mind yet.”

Silver entered, eyes glued to the gown. “If the rest of your wardrobe is as wonderful as this, I can see why!”

Blaze chuckled. If only that were the case, she’d have found a solution already. “I do have quite a collection. Did you need something?”

Silver stared at the dress for another beat before snapping out of it. “Oh! Yes, it’s actually kinda on topic. I realized after I’d gotten here that I didn’t actually have anything to wear… and one of the attendants suggested I talk to you about it? I wasn’t sure you’d have anything for me, but everyone insisted, so…” The hedgehog looked down, fiddling with his glove.

Blaze tapped her chin. She was more than willing to help, but needed to clear her head first. And Silver’s sudden appearance had startled her. “Hmm… I may have something suitable for you, though I fear most of what’s in this room is rather feminine. I’m in need of a little fresh air, I’d be happy to offer some suggestions when I return. Feel free to look around in the meantime.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks,” Silver said as Blaze left for the nearest balcony.

It wasn’t far. The cool ocean breeze brought some relief as Blaze stepped outside into a totally serene, unbothered afternoon. Drops of sunlight danced across the water to the rhythm of distant music that always seemed to linger within earshot of the palace. Blaze imagined she could join them, skipping light and ethereal, nothing but a formless mote of joy and energy. She closed her eyes and lifted her nose to smell the salty air, savoring the way the wind caressed her fur. 

“Oh, there she is!” A voice from behind made her jump for the second time today. It belonged to Amy Rose, who was half-dragging Sonic by the arm onto the balcony. He gave an awkward two-finger wave as they approached. The pair were already dressed for the evening, Amy wearing a particularly frilly teal dress and Sonic dark suit embroidered with gold. The clothes were so fitting for them that it seemed to Blaze that they glowed. “Hi, Blaze!” Amy said. “We’ve been looking all over for you! In between sight-seeing, of course.”

“Amy, Sonic! It’s a pleasure to see you both. I’m glad you made it here safely.”

“It was a short trip,” Sonic shrugged. “Not much can go wrong with the way you set it up. So how’s it hangin’?”

“It’s hanging just fine,” Blaze replied, smiling fondly at his nonchalance. “You both look wonderful, by the way.” 

“Why thank you, Your Highness!” Amy giggled and curtseyed.

“I’m surprised you two are dressed already. The ball won’t formally begin for another few hours.”

“Ohh, I just couldn’t wait! It was the very first thing I had to do!”

“And I didn’t have much choice in the matter,” said Sonic.

Amy ignored him. “When I heard you’d be providing us with outfits it was all I could think about for days. And you really came through! See?” Amy detached herself from Sonic’s arm to twirl, showing off her impressive skirts, which were sizable even by Blaze’s standards. As they fluttered to stillness, Amy let out a dreamy sigh and said, “I really feel like a princess! And there’ll be mingling and ballroom dancing… This night is going to be everything I’ve ever dreamed of. Maybe someone will even sweep me off my feet!” 

Sonic leaned against the railing and tilted his head back. “As long as there’s good food, I’ll be happy. I could go for a chili dog right about now.”

“Oh, come on, is that all you think about?” Amy huffed.

“What can I say? I’m a simple guy with simple needs!”

Blaze chuckled. “I certainly hope it will live up to both your standards.”

“Oh my gosh! Blaze!” Amy was suddenly much closer to Blaze than before, her teal skirts all but filling Blaze’s vision. “I have to see what you’re wearing! Let’s go right now! Or wait, is it a surprise?”

Anxiety ignited in Blaze’s stomach. “Oh! Um… I haven’t decided on one yet, actually.”

Rather than deflect, this seemed to encourage Amy. She took Blaze’s wrist in both her hands. “You haven’t?! Oh, this is perfect, can I help? Please? I may feel like a princess, but you are one, so you’re going to look stunning and I have to be there!”

Too much. Blaze gently pulled her wrist free and took a step away. “I— uh— I’m afraid I don’t have the time right now, sorry. There’s a lot of preparation to be done and I’ve been away long enough as it is. I’ll see you both tonight!” And without waiting for a response, Blaze retreated back inside, down the hall she’d come from. 

Not her most graceful exit. There was, of course, preparation to be done, but she was to have very little hand in it. What was with her today? Was she really this worked up over wearing a gown? This is supposed to be fun, she thought. You’re relaxing. You’re enjoying yourself. You’re to spend time with your friends, celebrate, and partake in your traditions. 

“So why does this feel like just an obligation?” Blaze mumbled to herself.

Rounding the corner, Blaze found herself approaching her closet. Oh no. How long had it been since she’d abandoned Silver there? She briskly closed the remaining distance and knocked.

“Silver? May I come in?”

A moment passed, then another. No response. Blaze frowned and cautiously opened the door. “Silver?”

Silver was standing in front of the divider, holding the gown that she’d left out in both hands, staring at it. 

Carefully, Blaze moved into his periphery, yet despite her efforts he still jumped when he noticed her, levitating instinctually. “Blaze!” he yelped.

“Are you alright?” Blaze tilted her head in concern.

Silver realized he was floating and hastily touched down. “Oh, you’re back already!” He threw the dress back over the divider, smoothing the skirts out.

Blaze frowned. Had he been standing here the whole time? Looking around, it was clear the room was empty. “Where are the attendants? Did you not… Oh dear, I forgot to show you how to call them, didn’t I?” She had left in such a rush, she’d left her poor friend totally unprepared. “I apologize,” Blaze said, bowing her head, “I’ve been completely forgetting my manners today. Please forgive me.”

Silver raised his hands. “Th-that’s okay. I’m sorry for looking through your wardrobe unattended. I—” 

“Oh no, that’s perfectly alright! I did leave you here, after all. Though, I expected someone else to have been here to help. Please, don’t bother yourself about it.” 

“Thanks. I- I do really like how that gown feels, though. Do you think you might have a… suit that’s similar?”

Blaze examined the dress, holding her chin. It occurred to her that this dress was still her favorite of the ones she had selected. And yet , she mentally interrogated it, why won’t it work? Silver fidgeted in her periphery. “It’s not a traditional material for a suit, but we can check.”

“Okay! That makes sense,” Silver said, looking a bit crestfallen. “There’s always such a difference between suits and dresses… It’s like a different world.”

“Oh, certainly. There’s elements of both I quite enjoy.” Just not today, for some reason. “Come, the other closet is just across the hall.”

~~~

Blaze pushed the closet doors open to reveal a massive array of suits covering the walls. “Here we are. When you find something you like we can have it altered easily.” She smiled, and left him to it. 

This room was a mirror of the other closet. The sun, having begun its journey towards the edge of the ocean afar, cast a beam of light in a strong line through the window behind the velvet couch in the center of the room. Blaze took a seat and fixed her eyes on the ornately decorated walls. The golden patterns trailed upwards in natural curves, resembling both greenery and fire. Above her, specks of dust drifted through the air, catching the light. They were like cousins of the reflections on the sea, softer, lighter, calmer. Blaze sighed, closed her eyes, and listened to the sounds of Silver rummaging through suits. Things would be so much easier if only she could wear one too, but tradition demanded a specific style of gown for Her Royal Highness. Not only that, but she alone would be unmasked, to symbolize her visibility and presence as a ruler. A pang of discomfort flashed in Blaze’s chest. Was that what she wanted? To hide? To be, in even the slightest of ways, unseen? She glanced wistfully at her closet, which Silver was still rifling through. 

Silver. He seemed so nervous. It must be disorienting, trying to navigate such an etiquette-rich environment when this was the last thing he was used to. Hopefully her assistance would ease some of that. If she could help him find a suit he liked, seeing him might give her the strength of will she needed to make it through the night. Blaze remembered Amy and Sonic, and how at home they looked in their attire. Yes, she would make sure Silver was glowing the same way.

As soon as he picked something out.

Just as Blaze felt a hint of impatience begin to twitch her tail, a soft, pained groan wobbled from the closet. That didn’t bode well.

“Silver?” Blaze called. She could almost hear him tense up from behind the divider. 

“Uh… yeah?”

“Is something wrong?”

A beat of silence, just a little too long, followed by a meek, “Maybe.”

Mentally preparing herself for whatever problem might await her, Blaze made her way to the divider and poked her head around it. “Are you finding anything to your liking?”

“O-oh!” Silver wheeled around, holding a suit (brown, understated) by the hanger as if it were an afterthought. Even though he was taller than her, he looked small. Fidgeting, walled in on all sides, it struck Blaze that she’d never seen him look more out of his depth. A flash of sympathy made her tail droop. Flustered, Silver looked around at the myriad of clothes, then down at the one in his hands. He held it up and said, “I-I think this is the one. I’m all sorted!”

Blaze stepped out from behind the divider and crossed her arms. This wouldn’t do. Something was clearly wrong, and she wouldn’t stand for it. “Are you sure?” she offered. Best to get it into the open. “You seem… troubled.”

Silver avoided her gaze, picking at the rough shoulder of the suit jacket. “It’s just… I’m a little worried about tonight. A-about the dance! I haven’t practiced at all.”

Of course. There’s no way he’d know anything about ballroom dancing. And yet, was that really all? Blaze made a mental note and uncrossed her arms. “Ah, an understandable thing to be concerned about. I’d better give you a lesson then.” She gestured for him to follow her into the open room. 

“Here, stand like this,” she said, turning to face him. She stood up straight and examined Silver’s posture, squaring his shoulders gently. “In ballroom dancing there is a lead and a follower. Er, traditionally , you would be the lead.” Traditionally, as in ‘ men lead, women follow.’ Blaze cringed a little as the thought crossed her mind. Really, they were just roles. The lead was simply the one that guided the dance. An experienced follower could even “lead” if they were good enough.

The mention of leading, however, seemed to make Silver withdraw even more. “Do you know how to lead?” he asked, meeting her eye only briefly.

Blaze was relieved to answer, “Yes. Perhaps I should, to start.” She held out her left hand and offered a smile. “Shall we?”

Silver returned it weakly and took her hand. 

“Place your other hand on my shoulder, like this. And mine…” Blaze hovered by his waist. “May I?”

“Right. O-of course.”

“Now, the first thing to know is…”

Blaze began her lesson by showing Silver a simple waltz step and leading him in one place so he could get used to it. He was stiff, and though he followed her instructions he seemed detached. Counting in threes, Blaze led them around the room, wracking her head about what to do about her own predicament as their shadows grew stark upon the wall, the ever-moving sun an hourglass counting down to the evening that neither Blaze herself, nor apparently Silver, were ready for at all. 

One, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three , Blaze lost herself in the count like a mantra, her mind drifting to masks and crowds, the gown hanging inescapably in the other room, the word Princess spoken from a thousand lips—

Without thinking, Blaze tried to spin her partner, who was entirely unprepared. Their hands broke apart as Silver instinctually resisted her leading arm and found himself facing the wrong direction, stumbling into the couch.

Immediately, he rushed to correct it. “My gosh, I am so sorry! I don’t know what happened, I-”

“No, no!” Blaze cut in. “That was my fault, I should have given you more warning. We can try again—”

“No.” The interruption made her blink. “I don’t know if I can do it.” Silver’s demeanor had changed completely. Instead of tense, he looked utterly defeated, like he was wilting. 

“Oh, nonsense,” said Blaze, trying to sound encouraging. “It just takes a little practice. You’ll get it in no time.”

Silver sat down on the arm of the couch and held his arms. “It’s not just the dance. I- I mean. The ball tonight. I don’t know if I can go.”

“What? Whatever makes you say that?” 

“I don’t know if you could tell, but… I’ve really been struggling with what to wear. I know I need to pick out a suit, but I just can’t bear the thought of wearing any of them.” That would explain why he’d taken so long in the closet. No one would have purposefully chosen that brown suit for a ball, even someone with particularly bad taste. (Come to think of it, Blaze wasn’t sure why she even had it to begin with.) But then… did he actually feel the same way she did? “I don’t know why, I just-” Silver cut himself off with a glance at Blaze, and she caught a hint of shame. “You probably think there’s something wrong with me, huh.”

“Something wrong with you?” Empathy burned in Blaze’s chest, the kind fueled by protective anger. She leaned against the couch beside him. “Oh, Silver, of course not. In fact— and please don’t mistake my meaning— I’m actually relieved to hear that. You see… I’ve been feeling a bit similarly.”

“You… have…?” Finally, Silver looked at Blaze fully, his eyes lighting up, but it was her turn to shy away.

“Um… yes,” she mumbled. “Not about suits, though.”

“Really? Have you been struggling to pick out a dress?”

“I have.” Her own willingness to open up surprised her. Usually her instincts told her to keep it hidden, to not give others something to worry about. But Silver, whose troubles were so strikingly similar to her own, felt different. Like he was the only person who could understand. “Though, I haven’t been able to figure out why either. I haven’t had a problem with it in the past. But something about tonight feels different, like it’s wrong. Like… I’m wrong.” Saying it out loud made her tuck her ears back.

Silver jumped to his feet. “Blaze, you’re not wrong!” he cried. “Every time I see you, you’re like… a pillar of strength. I look up to you so much. To be honest, I thought you had tonight all figured out. I was kinda scared of admitting to you how worried I’ve been.” At this he wrung his hands. “So if you’re wrong, I’m… a complete mess. But you’re Blaze the Cat!” he added. “You have nothing to be worried about.”

He gave her a reassuring smile, the glimmer returning to his eyes. Blaze felt her ears grow warm at the compliment. “That’s very kind of you, Silver. But…” She smiled sadly. Something still rang hollow. The princess walked around the arm of the couch and sat, wrapping her tail around her ankles. “Maybe I don’t want to be a pillar.”

Without a word, Silver sat down next to her.

“Everyone is looking to me,” she said. “Everyone is expecting me to be Princess Blaze, Ruler of the Sol Kingdom, but for one night, I’d rather just be, well… Blaze the Cat, as you said.” 

But no! That couldn’t be right! She didn’t want to relinquish her duty. She held nothing but love and commitment for her kingdom, her people. She’d worked so hard to protect it. I would never dream of deserting my role, she thought. So what is it then? What is wrong with me?! She demanded an answer from herself, in vain, before remembering that she was talking to someone. “Listen to me ramble on!” she laughed nervously, trying to correct herself. “To even consider it is to shirk my responsibility. Please, forget I said anything.”  

Silver clasped his hands, playing with his glove. “Oh… I had no idea. But…” He faced her, pulling one knee onto the couch. “I can’t just forget about it. You’re always so kind and helpful to me, I have to return the favor! I just have one question… Is this why you’ve been struggling to pick out a dress?”

“I… I think so. It seems to be tied up in all that. But as for why it’s surfacing now…” Blaze, at a loss, shook the thought away. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll be alright, in the end.” She turned to face him too. “But I want to make sure that you’re as comfortable tonight as anyone. You deserve it.”

Silver relaxed, slumping into the couch. “Thanks… I just… I can’t stop thinking about the dress. No matter how hard I try to focus on a suit, or anything else… That's all I can see. But that’s okay. I’m sure I’ll find something here.”

“The dress…? Hmm… Wait right here.” 

~~~

Blaze returned with the white and indigo ball gown, which seemed to glow in the light of the setting sun. “This is the one you were looking at, right?”

 Silver’s eyes went wide. “Y-yeah!” he said, standing a little shakily, looking at the garment cradled in her hands like it was some precious treasure. He reached out, tentative but apprehensive, as if he wasn’t sure what he was doing was allowed. The way he hesitated like a child made her wonder if she’d been too forward, if she’d overwhelmed him. “Are you… sure?” His eyes flicked up to her own as if for approval, hand hovering over the gown, like he was afraid to touch it. Blaze watched his face.

“Are you?” 

Silver met her gaze. In the sea of uncertainty in his eyes, she saw a flicker of resolve as he scooped the gown from her arms. It was in his hands now; it was up to him to choose what to do with it. 

Rubbing a bit of fabric between his fingers, Silver turned away from Blaze and exhaled, deep. He looked about as hypnotized by it as he had when Blaze had interrupted him earlier. Almost too quietly to be heard, Silver said, “I know this is right, but… I can’t help worrying about what everyone else will think when they see me.”

“You have nothing to worry about,” said Blaze, placing a hand on his shoulder. “And besides, they might not even be able to tell it’s you.”

“You… think? I don’t think it’ll make me look that different.”

Blaze cocked her head. “You’ll be wearing a mask, won’t you?” She handed him the mask of woven silver filigree and sapphires that matched the gown. Silver looked down at the mask, and then back at her. A tear welled in his eye.

“Thank you.”

~~~

Dusk fell shortly. The sun disappeared beyond the horizon without so much as a goodbye, and Blaze was all alone. She had seen Silver off, promising to wait until the ball to see him, and stolen away to a corner of the palace far from closets and revelry. Outside, some procession of lights were marching along the line of the ocean, bobbing towards the palace. The Last Masquerade. Her last ball as Princess, beginning now. This was the first time she had ever been anything less than punctual. How shameful. She hardly deserved the chair she sat on, sequestered away in the corner of this solitary drawing room due to a creaky spring and scuffed feet. Uncomfortable, an ill sight. Broken.

She was already behind schedule— there was no changing that— but she wouldn’t be expected to make her appearance until some time after the ball was underway. That gave her a little time… time to get ready. Or… to do something a little self-indulgent. If she could get away with it.

It took barely any time at all to decide on a suitable disguise. A velvet coat tailed suit, maroon with a lavender iridescence and silver embellishments. Subtle decorations, but not so much as to be understated. A simple mask to match. Her hair was too recognizable, so she tied it low, hiding it beneath a dark hooded half cape. Finished, Blaze assessed her getup in the mirror.

She looked completely unlike herself, yet she felt more at ease than she had all day. She didn’t even care that her tail poked out— she was hardly the only cat in the Sol Kingdom, after all. 

Ten minutes.

Ten minutes, and then she would be satisfied, and she’d return to the ball as herself with a clear mind, and all of this could become nothing more than a single, selfish secret.

~~~

Gardon had really outdone himself this time. 

The walls of the ballroom were decorated in exquisitely woven curtains of lilac and fiery gold. The room was lit mostly by traditional lamplight, creating an embracing haze of shadow that made every movement blend together, like the edge of a dream. The floor was packed; guests from every reach of the Sol Kingdom and its neighbors came flaunting garments of every style, each getup complete with a mask that provided varying levels of cover, from full faces to accessories that could hardly be considered masks at all. At one end of the ballroom was a pair of sweeping staircases, and it occurred to Blaze that she had never been on the floor before the curtains at the landing had been drawn. It was strange to see them closed, to be prohibited from something she was normally (and exclusively) privy to. 

As nonchalantly as she could, Blaze entered the crowd. It was disorienting at first. Glittering masks and flashing eyes were waiting for her everywhere she turned. There were a few people she thought she recognized, but couldn’t be sure— a certain nobility? Or was that a friend from another time? Others she recognized instantly, namely those that didn’t care much about anonymity anyway— including Sonic and his unmistakable blue quills. Blaze was able to pick out Amy not far off, but only because she had seen her dress that afternoon; she fit in with the masses seamlessly. Tails was sure to be around; he blended easily with the crowd, but he wouldn’t be hard to spot on account of his namesake. That just left Team Dark, who Blaze was sure she’d recognize… except for Rouge, who had the best chance of going unnoticed if she wanted to. Thank goodness everyone else from Sonic’s world was so remarkable; they’d be that much easier to avoid.

Positioning herself as relatively far from her friends as she could, Blaze found a comfortable spot out of the way to stand. She’d always been a bit of a wallflower at heart; at least now it suited the occasion. She could observe here for a few minutes, and then leave just as quietly as she’d come. She exhaled. Tension evaporated from her shoulders despite the precariousness of the situation. She basked in the anonymity— the masculinity— of this alter-ego of hers and all that came with it. It was sleek. It was exciting. It was… right.

Still, there was one person she wanted to find, of course. The room was a cacophony of colors and glitter. As her eyes skimmed the crowd for that silver dress, she noticed a nearby hare in yellow whispering to a mouse from behind a fan. As soon as she looked at them, their eyes darted away, and they began to move along. Had they been staring at her? Blaze’s tail twitched. She decided to move as well. 

The more people she passed, the more it seemed like everyone was staring, whispering. Had she done something to give herself away? Was it obvious? Perhaps she had better escape while she still could; her time was nearly up anyway. The thought was an ache in her heart. She wanted to risk it, just to feel this way a little longer. First she would find Silver, and then she would go.

Abruptly, she found someone else. Amy and her teal dress appeared out of nowhere, directly in Blaze’s path. They bumped into each other. Panicking, Blaze apologized and veered away, trying to put as much distance between them as possible, but as she wove through the crowd, she realized that Amy was following her. Had she caught on? Before Blaze could plan her escape, she felt a hand on her arm.

“Wait! You’re not avoiding me are you?” Amy teased. “Don’t you know the point of a masquerade is to talk to strangers?”

Blaze’s heartbeat skyrocketed. She turned her face as far as possible from Amy’s gaze as she tried to think of a way out. Amy shuffled around Blaze, trying to look her in the eye.

“I don’t remember seeing you come in,” she giggled. “You must be extra mysterious to slip into a masquerade unnoticed. So, what brings you here tonight? Are you excited to see Princess Blaze?”

Blaze stifled a cough. In as quiet a voice she could muster, muffled behind her hand, she said, “I’m… looking for someone.”

“What’s that? Looking for someone..?” Amy lit up like Blaze had just offered her a kingdom of her own. “How romantic! Reuniting with someone at a ball! Maybe I can help you find them!”

“No, thank you,” Blaze muttered. “That won’t be necessary.” She tried to walk away, but Amy somehow managed to be in front of her no matter which way she turned.

“Oh, but it’ll be so hard to find one person out there on your own, especially with everyone dressed up!” she insisted. “So who are you looking for? A long lost sibling? A lover? Or maybe… it’s someone you haven’t met yet.”

Wrong, wrong, and definitely wrong. Regardless, Blaze didn’t like where this was headed. “It’s, um, my sister.” Frantically, she glanced around for some kind of way out and locked eyes with a hedgehog leaning cross-armed against a wall nearby. Wonderful, more people staring. But wait, the distinctive red patterns on his quills, and the golden rings around his wrists… There was no doubt that it was Shadow. If Blaze thought her disguise was suave, it was nothing compared to how sharp Shadow looked in satin red highlights. Something like envy sprouted in her chest. 

He must have seen a call for help in her eyes, because it didn’t take more than a beat for him to push off the wall and stride towards them. Shoot. The last thing Blaze needed right now was for people that knew her to start converging. 

“I said, what does she look like?” Amy was saying.

“Oh, um, I–”

“Amy?” Shadow had arrived. “That’s you under there, isn’t it?”

“Shadow!” Amy hissed. “Don’t give me away!”

“Sorry. I had something I wanted to ask you about. Do you have a moment?” He put a hand on her shoulder to guide her away from Blaze. “Excuse us,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at her. In that look, there was… understanding. Acknowledgement. Then Shadow looked pointedly past her at something above them. The balcony, which looked rather dark and much emptier than the floor. When Blaze looked back, Shadow and Amy were already gone. She took the chance he’d given her without hesitation and made her way to the balcony.

Up here, everything finally slowed down. The cacophony of the guests below blurred together, an amplified form of the murmured conversations taking place on this level. Blaze sighed and put a hand on the railing, looking out at the sparkling scene. Even with this new vantage point, she couldn’t pick Silver out of the crowd, if he was even there at all. “What am I doing..?” she whispered to herself.

In her periphery, someone else leaned on the railing. It was Sonic, close enough to be within earshot but far enough that she could ignore him if she wished. An invitation. At first she declined, adjusting her mask a little closer and avoiding looking his way. He followed suit, but didn’t move. The invitation remained open.

Could she talk to him? If anyone was capable of keeping her secret, it would be him. He obviously wanted something— otherwise he wouldn’t still be standing there. But whether it was something to ask or to offer, she couldn’t tell. Blaze took a peek at him from behind her hood. He looked sharp as ever, wearing a wing-shaped mask that glittered with the same blue-black of his suit. His gaze drifted to meet hers, and Blaze held it. 

“Having fun?” he said with a smile.

Blaze looked down. Was she? She had definitely felt excited, but mostly she just felt nervous, and alone. 

Sonic leaned his back on the railing, suit embellishments and quills glinting in the low light. He looked calm, cool even, and Blaze couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly himself he was. In her eyes, Sonic had never once had to think about who he was or what he wanted; he just knew. And he followed that instinct without question. 

“I get it,” he said. “It’s all pretty overwhelming, isn’t it? Especially when everyone’s talking about you.” Blaze felt her skin go cold. So it wasn’t her imagination. “I’ll admit, I was curious too when I first saw you. But now I can see you’re just nervous.”

To put it lightly.

“Hey, whatever it is you’re worrying about, it’s probably not as bad as you think. Look out there.” He gestured to the sea of people below. “There’s a whole world of people waiting to meet you. You don’t have to get to know them all at once, but whatever it is you’re waiting for—” their eyes met once more— “there’s no better night than tonight to take a leap of faith.” 

A leap of faith… 

Quietly, so as to mask her voice, Blaze said, “You’re Sonic the Hedgehog, right?”

Sonic chuckled. “What gave it away? Guess it’s not taboo if it’s obvious, huh.”

“Tell me… has there ever been a moment when you weren’t sure what you wanted? Where you had to ask yourself, ‘who am I?’”

The hedgehog blinked. “Wow. That's... deep. You kinda remind me of someone, you know that?” He flashed her a smile, then crossed his arms and thought for a moment. Then he shrugged. “Never really had to give it much thought, I guess. Whenever there’s a real choice to make, I always seem to have a ready answer. And sure, that answer might change as time goes on, but that doesn’t make it any less true in the moment. I just try to live every day like it’s my best, and everything else follows.” Sonic turned towards her fully. “So what’s stopping you from doing that too?”

Yes, what was it? Embarrassment? Acceptance from others? Sure, there was a little of that, but Blaze had no reason to believe that the people in her life would be anything less than supportive. Uncertainty? That was definitely part of it. Whatever her heart was trying to tell her was so nebulous, so impossible to pin down that trying to define it only made things more confusing. Her gloved hands, the sleeves of her suit jacket against the banister, those things were solid at least. They anchored her. But there was something that she didn’t… that she… She.  

It was like lightning struck her. That was where her discomfort lay! It wasn’t nerves, or responsibilities, or even the dress, it was… being treated like a girl. That’s why “Blaze the Cat” was better than “Princess Blaze.” All at once, Blaze saw a long line of memories, like dominoes, tracing back years, and for the first time in as long felt clarity.

But just as she turned back to Sonic, a rush of wind from beyond the balcony startled her. Tails, dressed in a green suit and matching mask, hovered there with a smile of determination.

Sonic was surprised too. “Hey there, Tails— er, buddy. What’s the rush?”

“Amy— (shoot) I mean, our friend— thinks she found who you’re looking for!” That last part was addressed to Blaze, whose mouth dropped open. Whoever they’d found, the “sister” she’d mentioned didn’t exist. But if she denied it now, it would raise more pressing questions. She had no choice but to play along. 

“Come on!” said Tails, landing on the balcony. “They’re going to be waiting for us below those staircases.”

Blaze hesitated, looking from Tails to the staircases to Sonic.

“Lookin’ for someone, huh? Well, let’s not keep ‘em waiting!” Blaze nodded and together they followed Tails back onto the main floor.

By hovering above the crowd, the little fox was able to clear a path for Sonic and Blaze, and they reached the staircases much quicker than they would have trying to wade through the crowd on their own. As they approached, Blaze could make out Amy and her teal dress, and beside her, another hedgehog wearing a white gown—

The gown she’d given Silver! There he was!

He was breathtaking. 

Quills smoothed down, the delicate mask perched on his muzzle… the ball gown looked like it had been made for him. Blaze had to keep herself from shouting his name in pride. 

Tails touched down. “Amy! We found them!”

Amy spun at the sound of her name and balled her fists. “Tails! Don’t just shout my name like that!”

“Sorry!” he squeaked, straightening out his suit.

Sonic stepped forward. “So, this is the long-lost sister?” He motioned to Silver. “Nice to see you again.”

Silver waved, ever bashful. “H-hi, again,” he laughed, then looked to Blaze. Their eyes met, and a pit of guilt opened in her stomach. Did he have any idea who she was? The rest of them certainly didn’t. 

“H-hey.” Silver, greeting her, snapped her back to the moment. Now was not the time to ruminate— she had to let him know it was her somehow.

Amy looked expectantly between the two of them. “So? Is this who you’re looking for?” She, Sonic, and Tails all stared at them with anticipation.

Silver opened his mouth, but before he could say anything Blaze cut him off.

“Yes. You look beautiful,” she said to him. “I’m glad you decided to come after all.” Then she winked, hoping that no one else would notice it behind her hood and mask.

Understanding dawned on Silver’s face, and he broke into a smile. “Well it is all thanks to you,” he said, grabbing his skirts as if to present them.

Amy leaned towards them, her dress an ever-demanding presence. “What?! You almost didn’t come? Why not?”

“I’ve never dressed like this before… Uh- this fancy. I was intimidated. But he—” Silver faltered, glancing at Blaze, “they gave me the confidence I needed to be here.”

“Your knight in shining armor! And we reunited you…” Amy clasped her hands and squealed. “I’m so happy we could play a role in your story!”

“So, you gonna introduce us?” Sonic said, nudging Silver.

Silver glanced at Blaze with a flicker of uncertainty, but she had it covered. “Have you already forgotten the first rule of a masquerade?” she chuckled.

Silver immediately picked up what she put down. “I think they forgot as soon as they walked in,” he joked, garnering guilty laughs from Sonic and Tails.

“Hey!” Amy protested. “Just ‘cause Tails shouted out my name!”

“Didn’t you literally ask our ‘long-lost sister’ here for hers?” said Sonic.

“Well, she told me.”

Perfect. She’d gotten them talking and avoided having to introduce herself. Now Blaze just had to exit the conversation, hopefully with Silver in tow. But as she was formulating an excuse, Gardon appeared at Sonic’s side.

The koala was fussing and fidgeting as he tapped Sonic on the shoulder. “Er, excuse me, Sonic, sir, but, have you by any chance seen the Princess around? She’s, ah… missing.”

Sonic’s eyes grew wide. “Blaze is missing…?”

“BLAZE IS MISSING!?” Amy cried.

Blaze, not missing a beat, grabbed Silver’s wrist and disappeared behind the curtain that hung along the bottom of the stairs. The thick velvet muffled the sounds and lights of the party, as if they’d become a world away. Blaze pulled the curtain back with a claw to steal a peek at their friends, who hadn’t noticed that the two of them had vanished, before dropping the curtain again.

“You’re missing!?” Silver hissed.

Blaze slumped, pulling the mask away. She turned to Silver with a little fire in her palm. “Oh, Silver, I didn’t mean to stay away this long! How am I going to explain this?”

Silver’s shock melted into concern. “Well… what is the reason?”

Blaze looked down, holding the mask to her chest. “It’s… completely selfish.” 

“But you still did it. And the Blaze I know wouldn’t do anything without a good reason. So…”

“I… After we spoke, I just couldn’t bring myself to put on another dress. So I did the only thing I could think of and indulged myself, hoping that it would sate whatever was keeping me from doing my duty. I only meant to try it for a few minutes.” Blaze flattened her ears beneath the hood. “But it seems to have backfired. Even while trying to keep my identity a secret, this… is the most at ease I’ve felt with myself in a long, long time.”

The truth. It came so easily, like an exhale. She contemplated the mask held to her chest, how she clutched it for safety. Silver pulled her into a hug.

“Blaze… you have nothing to be worried about. I’m so glad you found yourself. This dress… I mean, look at me.” Silver pulled away and gestured to his smoothed down quills. “I feel comfortable right now. I feel so much more like… me.” He smiled wide, and Blaze couldn’t help but smile too. “So what if you need to hide your face? You shouldn’t let that take this feeling away from you.”

“But I can’t hide away forever.” Blaze shrank away, hugging the mask. “They’re already looking for me— for Princess Blaze. The whole ball is dedicated to me becoming something I’m not.” 

Silver grabbed her arms. “Then tell them you’re not. Otherwise, they’ll keep looking. Sonic, and Tails, and Amy, out there… they don’t know who you are. Who either of us are. And they like the people they’ve met today. If we- you , just tell them the truth about who you are— who you really are — then everything will work out. Trust me. The future doesn’t change unless you make it.”

Blaze finally looked him in the eye. He was determined, confident, absolutely sure of himself. That was the Silver she knew, who always believed so strongly, and he was believing in her.

She took a deep breath. “Alright. But… I don’t know if I can do it alone, Silver.”

“Okay.” Silver said. He went to take her hands, saw the fire in her palm, and encased it in a psychokinetic bubble. It floated away, glowing green, shedding a stronger light over them both. “I’ll start. It’s Silvie. I think.”

“Silvie... That's a nice name.”

It was hard to tell in the dim light, but Silvie seemed to blush. “Thanks. I kinda came up with it on the spot, but… I like it.”

Blaze smiled and slipped her mask back on, taking Silvie’s hands. “Before we go out there, I want to say… Thank you. For your encouragement, and your understanding, and just… for being you. You were right before, you know, about this dress. I was supposed to wear it tonight. But seeing you in it instead, happier than I ever could be… it’s giving me strength.”

Silvie let out a long, deep sigh. “I’m glad. And it really is making me the happiest I’ve ever been.” She— Silvie— looked down fondly at the gown. “But… I do still feel like there’s something. Not wrong , just… not right. Almost like the dress doesn’t fit quite right. But that’s okay. I guess I’ll just have to grow into it.”

Silvie let go of one of Blaze’s hands, leading them back to the curtain. She looked back. “They’re waiting for us.”

“Are you ready?” Blaze whispered.

“Are you?”

Blaze touched the mask, then her heart. “I believe I am.” 

Pushing past that velvet curtain was like entering the world of sound again. While the guests seemed none the wiser, staff were buzzing in and out frantically along the outskirts of the room. Blaze turned away from it all and focused on her feet as Silvie led them up the staircase. Reaching the landing, she took center, looking over the room as if she stood there for the first time.

Blaze reached out with both hands. One by one, the lamps lighting the ballroom went out, starting at the back and leading up towards the staircase. A sustained gasp from the crowd drew the entire room into a worried chatter. Blaze left the nearest lamps aflame and stood to her full height as she addressed the room.

“Attention, esteemed guests of the Last Masquerade!” she cried, letting her voice carry to each corner. “I have an announcement to make.” The crowd went silent, staff whispering amongst themselves in confusion. “As you all know, tonight marks Princess Blaze’s last ball as Princess. But I’m afraid you will not be seeing her tonight.” In spite of the panicked whispers of the crowd, Blaze smiled to herself… themself. “…Because it is my last ball as Princess, and my first as Prince!” With as much drama as they could muster, Blaze whipped off her cloak and mask, casting both aside in a flurry of fire. All of the lamps burned to life as the room was filled with light, erupting into cheering and applause. At once, Gardon was at Blaze’s side, hugging and fussing over them, and apologizing for a hundred things and asking a hundred questions more. 

“Princess— Prince Blaze,” Gardon said, “you’re not becoming Queen, of course… but why not become King? Is this not the Last Masquerade?”

“It is,” Blaze answered. “It’s my last as Princess, still. I need to spend a bit of time as Prince first, before I move on. But don’t worry, Gardon, when it’s time to make that shift I won’t be putting it off.”

“That’s a relief,” Gardon sighed.

Blaze laughed and looked out at the sea of people celebrating her— celebrating them, with such enthusiasm and joy, and wondered how they could have ever been worried. 

“Come, Prince Blaze!” Gardon said, trying to lead them to the crowd. “You’ve delayed celebrating long enough!”

“Of course. But first, I have to thank—”

But there was no one else on the landing. It was disbelief that let Gardon have his way, and Blaze found themself swept up in that sea of guests before they could so much as protest.

The ballroom floor was a mess of emotion, vulnerability and jubilance and confusion. A thousand congratulations and compliments and good-humored comments were showered onto Blaze as they were passed from one corner to the next, every guest smiling, be it in excitement, or pride, or even in a knowing sense. Blaze wanted to enjoy it, but they couldn’t, not fully anyway. They should be sharing this. Once again, they found themself scanning the crowd for Silvie. But as each minute passed, they realized there was only one place she could be. 

Apologetically but firmly, Blaze detached herself from the masses and slipped by every attempt to draw her back in, making for the stairs. She pretended not to hear every voice… except one.

“Blaze!” Amy called, and Blaze turned to meet her. Amy drew them into a quick hug. “Blaze, I’m so glad you’re okay! I was worried, but it seems like it was all part of your plan, huh?”

“Well, not exactly… But I’m glad it worked out. I’m sorry to have worried you.” They meant it.

“Don’t be,” Amy waved it away. “After everything we’ve seen, this little scare was nothing. Plus, that reveal was incredible!”

“What’s a party without a bit of dramatic flare, hmm?”

Amy laughed. “You know… I feel like I came on a little strong in some ways today. If I had known how you were feeling- and who you actually were, too- I would have acted differently… I’m sorry if I pushed you at all.”

“Oh, Amy, don’t apologize for that. You had no way of knowing. And besides, you were just being you: passionate, romantic, and… believing in happy endings. I can’t fault you for that.”

Amy smiled like she’d start crying any second and swept Blaze up in another hug, squeezing hard. Blaze hugged her back with as much force. As they separated, Blaze heard someone else call their name.

“Yo, Blaze!” Sonic jumped to their side from somewhere. Not far behind, Tails and Rouge flew down to meet them, too. 

“Blaze!” Tails said. “We’re gathering the others to come see you!”

“You’ve made quite the splash, darling,” said Rouge. “Shadow and Omega are on the way.”

“The Chaotix, too,” Tails added. “Hey, has anyone seen Silver?”

“Yes,” said Blaze. “In fact… would all of you wait here a moment?”

~~~

Blaze pulled back the velvet curtain, palm fire lighting the way once more. They were right; Silvie was standing in the dark. She glanced over her shoulder when Blaze entered.

“Silvie! Are you okay?” Blaze let the curtain fall behind them. “What happened to doing this together?”

Silvie glanced back again, the light from Blaze's fire illuminating her face for just a second, but it was enough to see that she looked apologetic and miserable, like she'd been crying. “I- I know," she stammered. "I’m sorry. I saw the crowd out there, and… I wasn’t ready. It wasn’t right. Please forgive me…” Silvie’s voice cracked a little.

Blaze sighed. They put a hand on Silvie’s shoulder, and when she turned, pulled her into a hug. The fire went out. Silvie buried her face in Blaze’s chest, and their heart sank when Silvie began to cry, sobs cascading onto their jacket. Blaze hugged her tighter.

“I shouldn’t have left you…” Silvie sniffed. “I promised I’d be there for you. But… I think. I think I’m ready now. Just… not like this.”

“It’s okay. You already gave me the strength I needed before we got up there.” Blaze gently broke them apart. “Now please… tell me what you need.”

~~~

They slipped out from behind the curtain, darting through the crowd onto the dance floor. A song was already well underway, so Silvie followed Blaze’s lead as they slipped among the ranks of the dancers, gliding quietly over the floor. One, two, three, one, two, three, they drifted for a while, making their way towards the center, while the encircling dancers could do no more than glance their way with interest. When it was time, Silvie gave Blaze a nod. Blaze nodded back.

They spun Silvie, and in the moment the two of them stood apart, hands joined, Blaze snapped their fingers and the bottom of the indigo skirts ignited with a trail of sparks. They came back together, continuing to dance, Blaze’s brow furrowed in concentration as they both led Silvie and trained the swirling fire over her delicate skirts. Silently, Blaze thanked the ball gown as it slowly burned away, until it reached just above the knee. Then, Silvie took over, and the flames were frozen in green energy that cast its light over all that were near. Blaze relaxed as Silvie gently peeled the fire off the skirt, sending it to whirl into the air around them. They almost didn’t notice as their feet left the ground as well. 

Silvie had lifted them both into the air, skating just over the heads of the other dancers. It only threw Blaze off for a second; it was impossible not to focus on the second transformation her friend had undergone. The remaining skirts of the ball gown were short, with smoky trails twining between the indigo and silver where the tongues of fire had traced. Silvie looked down at them and smiled, then broke into a laugh. It was infectious. Laughing too, with a flick of their wrist, Blaze burned away the final piece, and Silvie’s mask disintegrated into a forgotten cloud of ash. Blaze twirled her again. The two of them danced, surrounded by wisps of green fire, music, and laughter until the very end of the Last Masquerade.