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Chapter Text

The moon had abandoned the sky that stormy night.

Queen Ysoria was losing her life as she tried to give birth to her firstborn son.

The king, terrified of losing his child Arthur, broke his most sacred law.

He brought into his chambers a powerful witch who could save his baby.

The king promised to let her live in peace if the prince survived.

The witch succeeded, and Arthur was born. However, the queen died.
The king, who had no intention of keeping his promise, had the witch arrested.
The woman, furious at the betrayal, cursed the young prince…

“And from my womb shall come a furious beast, a vengeful shadow,
destined to turn your people to ashes and rip the heart
from Prince Arthur, for they shall both live and die for one another…
so it shall be.”

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Sonic had woken up early, as was his habit. His father never allowed him to leave the castle without escorts, so for years his routine had been to sneak out at dawn, wander the town like a common citizen, play the anonymous hero if someone needed him, and then return; at least that kept him sane in a life so rigidly bound to the codes of his father.

“Sonic, I don’t think you should be going out these days. You’re supposed to be preparing to choose your royal guard once you turn twenty, and that’s only a few days away,” Tails had reminded him sharply, his lifelong companion since they were children.

“I know, I know! The whole nonsense about choosing the knight who will bear the title of ‘Sentinel of Dawn,’ the one who’s supposed to help me save the kingdom from a witch’s curse and blah blah blah, I’ve heard that tale a thousand times, Tails.” Sonic fastened his cloak with irritation, covering part of his face and body.

“What I mean is,” the boy tried to keep pace with Sonic around the room, though it hardly made him listen, “you’re supposed to meet the candidates for the knight’s title, and decide how you’ll choose the winner.”

“It’s a waste of time, ridiculous even. I can protect myself. They call me Sonic because I can anticipate attacks by the sonic vibrations of an enemy’s blade, for God’s sake! Why would I need a protector? I’m not a princess.”

Tails rolled his eyes, tired of having to reason with him. “You need it because a supernatural enemy will come for your head. If I were you, I’d accept all the help I could get.”

“I can fight my own battles. Besides,” Sonic finished fastening a few supplies and small weapons to his belt, “it’s cruel to choose someone just to give them the job of dying for me. I don’t want to take someone’s life like that.”

Sonic didn’t want to keep seeing Tails’s mix of worry and exasperation. He loved him like a younger brother, but he didn’t enjoy arguments, especially the ones that never went anywhere. So, as always, he escaped through the balcony before Tails could keep pressing him.

“We’ll talk later, bro! I’m late!” Sonic shouted as he leapt off the balcony.

“Run all you want, but we’ll have to settle this soon!”

Camelot was a flourishing, green, majestic kingdom. The houses near the castle were large, decorated with abundant rose bushes and windows adorned with wrought iron in careful designs. This empire was his father’s pride and his mother’s legacy. Yet, it wasn’t free of economic and social inequality, the farther from the castle, the harsher life became. It wasn’t that the far-off villages were complete misery, but they certainly could have been better, and the fact that his father kept the royal guard concentrated only in the luxurious districts didn’t help.

That was why Sonic preferred to spend time in the farther areas of the kingdom. Security was weaker, and the people needed him more. He wasn’t some mighty avenger, but in a way, he was like a friendly vigilante trying to do what his father’s administration didn’t care about. And being so skilled with a sword, he had never lost a fight.

He always passed by a certain old but pretentious inn whenever he went to town. The place was run by one of his closest friends, Rouge. The bat who tended the main bar was beautiful, her clothes always tight against her figure, showing an undeniably charming silhouette. Customers always hoped to be served by her, though if anyone got too bold, they risked losing a finger, Rouge was not only beautiful but dangerous.

Sonic entered calmly, his hood covering his head and body, making him irrelevant to the eyes of the other patrons. It wasn’t difficult for him to blend in, people farther from the castle had little knowledge or interest in the royal family’s faces. Ever since his mother, a beloved queen, had died, the prince and king had become nothing more than pretentious, bothersome figures in their eyes.

“How’s my favorite girl doing?” Sonic said, taking Rouge’s hand to kiss it in greeting.

“Beautiful, but only for your eyes, darling.” Rouge smiled, offering her hand with satisfaction.

Rouge and Sonic had been friends for many years; she had been the first and only one to know that he was Prince Arthur. At first, she had blackmailed him with his identity for favors or money, but with time they grew to care for each other, turning their bond into a solid platonic friendship.

Rouge wasn’t blind: Sonic had a charm and skill worthy of a prince. She enjoyed his chivalry and flirtations, not because she wanted romance, but because, unlike most men, with Sonic she could dress or speak however she pleased without him ever taking advantage of her or staining her reputation.

Not that Rouge hadn’t thought once or twice that Sonic would make a great lover, but soon enough they both discovered that he simply didn’t look at women the way he looked at men. She let go of the thought, though she still kept up their playful flirtation, it was her own pleasure to have a prince kiss her hand and stand ready to defend her. Her loyalty was to Sonic, and his to her.

“Would you like something special today, dear?”

“Just a juice, please,” Sonic lowered his hood halfway as he sat across from Rouge, “I have a feeling it’s going to be a long day.”

“I think so too” she set an empty glass in front of him while reaching for a pitcher “This morning a bunch of arrogant types came in, acting like they owned the place, just because they’re warriors here to compete for the honor of becoming your personal knight. I’m sure those idiots can’t even fill the armor down below.”

“Did they disrespect you in any way?” Sonic’s gaze grew serious. He could never stomach the thought of someone being crude or insolent to Rouge.

“No, but they’ve been loud and rude, making everyone uncomfortable. I don’t think I can handle that many armed men alone.”

“Want me to throw them out?”

“If you’d be so kind, my beloved knight in shining armor.” Rouge’s fingers brushed lightly against his gloved hand like a spoiled girl who knew she’d always get favors from him.

Sonic rose, pulling up his hood once again. Confident, he placed his hand on his sword hilt as a clear warning should anyone refuse his request.

“Gentlemen,” Sonic called out, and the three men turned at once. “I’ll have to ask you to leave. The lady bat has complained of your behavior. If you do it quickly and politely, I’m sure we won’t have a problem.”

“And you think you can take us on when we’re three against one?” they sneered, laughing and turning their backs on him.

“This isn’t up for discussion,” Sonic said with a dry smile.

“If that woman wants to say something, she should come herself. Maybe if she sways her hips enough, we’ll consider it.”

“That’s enough,” Sonic muttered.

He unsheathed his sword, slicing clean through the wooden bowl one of them was holding. They immediately drew steel, certain this fight would be over quickly.

But Sonic was fast, terrifyingly so. He dodged their first strikes with ease, hearing even the air part before blades could reach him. He was no killer; he only sought to disable. In moments, he had disarmed two of them, and was turning to the third when a chair slammed into his stomach, knocking the air from his lungs and sending him crashing backward into another man behind him.

Sonic lay across the stranger’s lap, struggling to breathe as he heard a sword rushing toward them. He could only hope it would miss.

It did.

Because the man beneath him had drawn his own blade, stopping the strike, not so much to protect himself, but to keep Sonic from literally losing his head.

“Hey, get off me. I look like your mother rocking you to sleep.” The man’s voice was strained with effort, yet still deep, rough, and steady, a voice you’d want to hear again.

Sonic turned his eyes to him and the sight nearly stole his breath as much as the chair had. Draped in a cloak as dark as wine, he was another young hedgehog, his black quills streaked with crimson lines down his back and framing his fierce gaze. His eyes rivaled the palace rubies. He was everything out of one of his mother’s romance novels or maybe it was just the adrenaline, but Sonic found him stunning and mysterious.

Recovering quickly, Sonic grabbed his sword from the floor, ramming its hilt into his attacker’s gut. The mysterious hedgehog rose to fight the last man, who bolted once he saw his companions lying unconscious.

“Tails was right. I really should start paying attention to these knight candidates… I don’t want a coward.” Sonic thought.

“Sonic! Are you alright, darling?!” Rouge rushed over, cupping his face, looking for wounds.

“I’m fine. Sore, but fine.”

“Boy, for a moment I thought I’d be widowed.” She exaggerated with drama.

“Don’t you think I deserve a thank you?” Sonic teased.

“Fine, fine, clever boy.” She kissed his cheek.

“And you,” she turned seductively to the dark-quilled stranger, “don’t you think you deserve a reward as well?”

“No, thank you.”

His response was dry and curt. Adjusting his hood, he turned to leave, clearly too irritated by the fight to linger.

“Wait,” Sonic caught his arm. “At least tell me your name. Let me thank you properly.”

“Lancelot,” he said shortly, pulling free. “And don’t thank me. Your display was far too pitiful to watch.”

“Excuse me? Fighting three men isn’t exactly easy. And your opponent ran away, so there’s no proof you’re better than me.”

“Now I understand why the prince here needs a personal knight.”

“Excuse me?” Sonic felt the point slipping away.

“You can’t take care of yourself. You’re reckless, you don’t avoid pointless fights… Your Highness.”

Sonic froze. A common traveler recognizing him so easily was unthinkable. Outside noble circles, he was almost never seen as the prince. Now he was in trouble.

“How did you…?” Rouge began.

“The sword. When you fell on me, I saw it. The royal crest, the design, it’s unique. No ordinary knight would wield such a blade.”

Lancelot was sharp, efficient and terrifyingly perceptive. Sonic was torn between fear and awe. Five minutes with this stranger, and he was already fascinating. What other secrets lay hidden in him?

“If you’ll excuse me,” Lancelot sighed, “I need to find lodging near the castle.”

“Let me come with you.” Sonic hurried after him, waving goodbye to Rouge.

“Send my regards to the red-haired cutie for me, love. Tell him to come see me soon, I don’t care if he’s a castle knight, he owes me.”

“Of course! I’ll tell Knuckles when I see him!”

“Oh boy, you’re completely lost,” Rouge thought, noticing the sparkle in Sonic’s eyes.

Lancelot left the inn without looking back. To him, the fight had already been nuisance enough, and now a scatterbrained prince was trailing him like a lost pup.

“Could you wait a second? I just want to talk.”

“I don’t want to talk. I already saved your life. Repay me by leaving me alone.”

“But I’d really like a companion like you. You’re good in a fight, and maybe… maybe you could help me around town. I’d pay you.” Sonic added quickly, hoping money might tempt him.

Lancelot halted, sighed, and finally looked at him.

“Listen. You should be grateful I’m not out there telling everyone you’re Arthur. I can be patient and keep my word, but babysitting your nonsense isn’t my job. Leave me alone.”

“Alright, alright! I’ll leave you be.” Though honestly, Sonic thought, Lancelot looked even more attractive when he was angry, like some teen in love, he couldn’t help himself.

Lancelot walked on, aware Sonic was still behind him. He decided to be patient, assuming the prince would eventually veer off.

But the footsteps didn’t stop.

“Hey, do you happen to have some water?”

That was it. Lancelot snapped, yanking Sonic’s hood.

“I told you to leave me alone! Stop following me!”

“I’m not following you, idiot! I live in the castle, remember? This is the road to my home!”

Lancelot froze, embarrassed. Sonic was right, they were both heading toward the castle.

“Then say so, so there are no misunderstandings!”

“And how am I supposed to do that without talking to you? Write you a poem?”

At that point, Lancelot had no more arguments. He let go, sighing in irritation, and kept walking, hoping his shame would fade with distance.

“Hey,” Sonic called from his side, “maybe I’m noisy, but that doesn’t mean we can’t share a good walk.”

“And what do you propose?”

“We talk. Not about private things, just… something pleasant for both of us.” (Like whether you have a boyfriend, Sonic thought.)

“I’ve got nothing to share. But if you want to ask something that’s not stupid, I suppose I can answer.”

Sonic felt him softening. Good. But he had to tread carefully not to push too far.

“Did you come to my kingdom for pleasure or business? Camelot’s pretty, but not really a vacation spot.”

“Business.”

“Will you be staying long?”

“I don’t know. Depends on the job.”

“And what’s your job?” Sonic asked carefully.

“To become your ‘Sentinel of Dawn.’”

Sonic froze mid-step. Of all the answers he’d expected, even assassin for hire, this was not it.

“You’re joking, right?”

“Believe me, I wish I were,” Lancelot muttered.

“Why? You can’t stand me for half an hour, and you’re saying you came here to swear loyalty and give me your life?”

“It’s not about liking you. It’s about family honor. I swore to take that title, and I intend to. My job is to keep you alive, not to be your friend.”

“But that’s not how it works.” Sonic shook his head. “The Sentinel is meant to be my closest companion, to know me as well as I know him, to live a life of service by my side. Binding yourself to me without respect or camaraderie would be torture.”

“Don’t tell me. Then I suppose the woman chosen as your wife since birth is the love of your life.”

“I love Ames,” Sonic answered without hesitation, “but not romantically. She doesn’t love me that way either, she loves someone else. We love each other like siblings. Neither of us wants to marry, but I’d rather be the one to protect her and her kingdom than let some old count sniff around her skirts. Still—” Sonic sighed, “we’re trying to find a way out of that engagement.”

Lancelot felt a pang of guilt for being so blunt. “See my point? We do our duties because we must, not because we want to.”

“Even so, I don’t want you bound to me just because someone made you swear it. I’d feel guilty forcing that on you. If your only reason is obligation, then go home, because I won’t choose you. I want someone happy to serve at my side.” Sonic picked up the pace, unwilling to feel like a burden. He wanted to rule better than his father, and forcing people was against his nature.

“Do you know why I saved you at the inn?” Lancelot asked behind him.

“To score points before applying for the knight’s post?”

“No. Because I took that responsibility years ago, to guard your throne. That wasn’t decided a few days ago, Your Majesty.” For the first time, Lancelot’s tone was solemn. “My purpose in this life is to serve under your rule. I swore it, and since I have no home to return to, you are my purpose, Arthur.”

Sonic turned, stunned. The Lancelot of five minutes ago and the one before him now felt like two entirely different men.

“You won’t find a knight on this earth who can protect you as I can. The moment I step into that castle, my life will belong wholly to you, Your Majesty. Do with it what you will. That is my word.”

Chapter Text

Sonic couldn’t stop tossing and turning in bed, trying to fall asleep. He was confused, overwhelmed, and maybe even a little excited. The morning walk to the castle with Lancelot kept replaying in his mind endlessly, not because of the fight with those guys, but because of Lance’s final words of loyalty.

If he thought about it rationally, Lancelot was simply a man committed to his principles, and it was only natural for him to dedicate himself completely to the role he sought. After all, one of the requirements to become the prince’s personal knight was to swear his very life to the heir of the throne. But if he looked at it romantically… then that had been a powerful declaration.

After hearing those words, Sonic didn’t know how to speak normally to Lancelot again, so he had accompanied him in silence until they found a modest inn near the castle. Lance didn’t seem to mind Sonic’s sudden quietness, maybe he even appreciated it, but all the noise Sonic usually spilled out loud was stuck inside his head. And now, awake in the middle of the night in his chamber, he kept thinking about things that maybe didn’t matter at all.

They weren’t exactly friends, so there was no reason to see each other again. Yet Sonic wanted to. He wanted to know more about him, his reasons, his ideals, and whether maybe he was truly the only ideal candidate to be his personal knight. Still, the thought felt cruel. He didn’t want a puppet willing to take blows for him. He wanted a companion who valued him and stood by him, without needing to throw his life away unless he truly chose to. And Sonic wasn’t sure if Lancelot would be able to keep his own life intact once he was sworn to him.

Even so, Lancelot was undeniably skilled, and he had chosen to keep Sonic’s identity a secret of his own free will. That alone gave him credit in Sonic’s eyes, and left open the possibility that if Lance agreed to help him protect the kingdom from the looming disaster, they might actually stand a chance.

Maybe, if Sonic could uncover the nature of the threat before the official knight’s selection, he could prove to his father that he was already a capable prince, ready to take the throne by making his own choices. Perhaps he could even annul his marriage to Amy, setting them both free.

But there were two problems: first, he had no idea how to convince Lancelot to help him before he was officially his knight. And second, all he knew of the curse was that a beast would come to tear out his heart and burn Camelot to ashes.

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Our prince woke early as usual the next day. It was obvious he hadn’t slept at all, but this time, he had a mission in mind: to speak with Lancelot.

He had thought of something that might convince Lance to help him. It wasn’t certain, but it was better than doing nothing. Besides, if he agreed, they could spend more time together and that was a very pleasant thought for Sonic.

“Still sneaking out in the mornings? You should be preparing for the important dates ahead,” Tails reminded him as he entered the chamber with a breakfast tray, pointless, since Sonic always ate in the village, leaving the little fox to finish whatever was on the tray.

“Good morning, buddy.” Sonic pulled on his exploration boots. “I promise this time, it’s really important that I sneak out of the castle for a few hours.”

“Tell me you’re not doing something stupid,” Tails pleaded.

“No. This time I’m making sure I protect the kingdom,” Sonic said solemnly. “And you’ll be glad to hear I think I’ve already found the perfect candidate to be the Sentinel of Dawn.”

“Oh no. Don’t tell me you found some weirdo in the woods and decided to pick him just because he’s nice,” Tails said, sitting on the edge of Sonic’s bed with the tray on his lap.

“Relax, buddy,” Sonic smiled. “He’s everything you always want me to be: disciplined, loyal, responsible, cautious. And if I can get him to help me, we’ll have the battle won.”

“That sounds way too perfect to be true, Sonic.” Tails gave him a worried look. “You have to be careful. Those are always the most dangerous ones.”

“Trust me. My heart’s never been wrong about anyone.”

Sonic pulled up his hood and disappeared out the balcony again, but his words only left Tails more worried. No one from outside the kingdom could truly be good, much less swear eternal loyalty to the prince in such little time. Sonic had always found it easy to win people’s affection, but he trusted too much in the goodwill of others, a dangerous trait for a future king. What worried Tails most was that Sonic would have to learn that lesson the hard way, sooner or later.

The place where Lancelot stayed was cozy and very close to the castle. However, these same features made it a bit pricey, so Sonic figured that if Lance could stay there, he must have brought a lot of money, raising a small question in Sonic’s mind about how his dark-spiked knight had been making a living before coming to the kingdom, but that was something for later.

A little nervous, making sure his blue quills weren’t messed up from running with the hood, Sonic stood in front of Lancelot’s door, mentally preparing to knock. He was a little worried that arriving early unannounced might annoy Lance, or maybe he wouldn’t even open the door. But he was there, and he needed to talk to him.

Calmly, Sonic knocked on the door and waited a few seconds.

Nothing.

He knocked again, a little louder this time; maybe Lancelot was a late sleeper.

Still nothing.

This time, Sonic gained some confidence, figuring no one would open the door, and spoke after knocking.

“Lance, it’s me, Sonic,” he knocked again. “If you’re there, could you open up? I need to talk to you.”

No response.

Sonic gave up, thinking he’d have to come back later, or so he thought until the door suddenly opened behind him.

“You’re like a thorn in my side, Your Majesty,” Lance appeared in the doorway, visibly annoyed. But what surprised Sonic wasn’t that, it was that he had seemingly interrupted the black-spiked knight mid-bath; there were traces of foam on his head and face, which Sonic found funny, until he noticed something… Lancelot was almost naked, if it weren’t for the towel clumsily wrapped around his hips, hiding most of him.

“Dear heavens,” Sonic thought, frozen.

“You coming in or not? My plums are freezing, idiot!”

Sonic had completely forgotten that Lancelot’s eyes weren’t downward, so he immediately looked at his face, feeling embarrassed and hoping Lance hadn’t noticed the small detail.

“Y-yeah!” Sonic stumbled in. “This is your fault, go find something to cover yourself!”

“You’re the one who barged in unannounced!” Lancelot slammed the door.

“Whatever, just keep your stuff covered and away from me!”

“As you command… Your Majesty,” Lance said sarcastically, heading back to the bathroom.

Lancelot took his time finishing his bath, leaving Sonic to wait in a comfortable leather chair by the door. The place was cozy, not too much to feel like home, but discreet and warm enough for a good rest. There was a fireplace at the front, a huge window letting sunlight in softly, a large chandelier overhead, a modest but well-equipped kitchen in the back, and beside Sonic another door he assumed led to Lancelot’s bedroom and maybe the bathroom.

A moment later, Lancelot came out fully dressed in casual clothes: a long-sleeved dark red shirt, half-buttoned to reveal the white fur on his chest, a white sash holding his pants at the waist, and black boots with delicate golden embroidery.

“So, what did you want to talk about?” Lancelot walked to the kitchen without looking at Sonic.

“I wanted to make you a proposal… or rather, an offer,” Sonic fidgeted with his fingers, trying to calm his nerves.

“I don’t know what nonsense you’re thinking, but I’m not interested in getting into trouble,” Lance said carefully, slicing bread and placing it on a plate.

“This isn’t nonsense, I swear. Listen, you know all this stuff about finding me a personal knight is because a witch cursed me at birth, and I’m practically going to die in a few days. My father doesn’t trust me to do anything on my own, but maybe if I find the supposed ‘beast’ that’ll destroy the kingdom before choosing my knight, I can prove I’m a worthy heir and undo all the wrongs he’s done… including my marriage to Princess Rose,” Sonic’s ears drooped with slight disappointment.

“Right, I’d forgotten you’re supposed to marry after the coronation,” Lancelot had forgotten Sonic was a committed man. “And how do you plan to find this ‘beast’?” he calmly asked, grabbing a couple of cups for a hot drink.

“Well… I don’t even know who or what this ‘beast’ is exactly.”

Lancelot stopped in his tracks, leaning against the kitchen counter. “And how do you plan to stop something you don’t even know how to look for, genius?”

“I’m not that stupid, you know? My plan is to find the midwife who helped my mother give birth that night. Hopefully, she knows more about the witch’s curse and might give us a clue on how to stop it.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to ask the king?”

“He’d never tell me. He’d think I’d do something reckless and wants to prevent me from killing myself before the curse does.”

“Your father has a point,” Lancelot searched a basket for utensils.

“This is my chance to show my father I can decide my own life, but I need your help,” Sonic pleaded. “With you, I could face any enemy and even gather information.”

“And why should I help you?” Lancelot still had his back to Sonic, focused on breakfast.

“Because if you do… I’ll give you the title of Sentinel of the Dawn.”

Lancelot’s ears perked up instantly at the offer.

“You have no way to guarantee that.”

“I’m the one who’ll decide how the winner is chosen, so I’ll set up an obstacle course with traps only you can evade. You’ll win, and no one will know the contest was rigged.”

“I wouldn’t be proud to win that way,” Lancelot finally turned from the kitchen.

“Come on, Lance! You know I only make that stupid contest to please my father, I already know I want you as my personal knight.”

Sonic’s words surprised them both. The prince felt a slight warmth in his cheeks; he didn’t want to be blatantly direct, while Lance froze for a couple of seconds by Sonic’s chair, out of place, but with an ambiguous expression.

Finally, Lancelot sat beside Sonic. “I didn’t know I was your favorite.” He handed Sonic a plate with breakfast and utensils.

“You made breakfast for me?” Sonic asked, surprised, noticing Lance had always prepared breakfast for both of them.

“I know you sneak out too early, so I guess you haven’t eaten yet,” Lance said, taking a slice of bread with some cheese. “Like I said before, I’ll be your knight, so I’m just doing my job taking care of you.”

“Thanks… Lance,” Sonic felt shy. For the first time, someone’s kindness made him stop talking. Lance had cared for Sonic since they met, and although Sonic was used to receiving special treatment as a prince, it always felt superficial, like people expected something in return. But Lance’s small gestures without showing off made him feel real, warm… special.

“You know, Lance, it would be a pleasure to have you as my personal knight, but I wouldn’t want you to die for me. You’re genuine, like few others.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re kind and noble, quietly. Sure, you’re gruff and harsh, but your heart acts without words. You notice small things, you help those around you, and I think that’s beautiful, something I don’t want to disappear easily.”

Now Lancelot was truly astonished… and a little… captivated.

The way Sonic made Lance feel special overwhelmed him. Usually, people weren’t interested in him because his words weren’t soft, causing fear. He couldn’t show he was naturally kind, but Sonic insisted, recognized his skills, and asked for his help.

Lance expected a typical haughty prince he’d be forced to serve, but Sonic was more human, more kind.

And somehow, he liked it but it also scared him.

“Hey, you’ve been staring at me for a while. I know I’m good-looking, but I’m getting uncomfortable,” Sonic snapped him out of his daydream, and Lance realized he had indeed been staring like a lovesick fool for the first time, and now had to deal with the embarrassment.

“Shut up, fool,” Lancelot bit the bread with more force than Sonic expected. “I’ll help you find that woman, but you better have a way to locate her, because I won’t waste time wandering the kingdom with you.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I actually have a lead.”

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Fortunately for Sonic, he had managed to get Knuckles into the castle’s record vaults to dig up information on everyone who had ever worked for the crown. Knuckles was a castle guard, so sneaking into almost any corner of the massive building and getting things for the prince wasn’t too hard.

The young guard had found the name and address of the midwife, but he warned Sonic that the information was twenty years old, and the woman might have moved—or even be dead.

Sonic didn’t let any piece of information, no matter how small, go to waste. So after making a quick stop by Rouge to hand her a necklace Knuckles had bought as an apology for his absence, they headed toward the outskirts of the castle, hoping to find the woman.

The areas surrounding the castle were the most beautiful and lively, thanks to the king’s generous budget for construction and maintenance. Tourists loved spending their gold at the local shops and markets. For Sonic, who had grown up with all the gold he could ever want, it was nothing special, but he knew Lancelot might enjoy it a little more. Being the grumpy black-spiked hedgehog that he was, Lance probably hadn’t had the chance to truly enjoy the kingdom.

“What are you doing?” Lancelot asked, watching Sonic cover half his face with a dark scarf and adjust the hood of his cloak.

“We’re in the wealthier part of the kingdom. People and the royal guards know me, and I don’t want anyone coming over or blowing our cover,” Sonic explained.

“Pfff,” Lancelot snorted with a hint of irony. “Your popularity problems must be unbearable, Your Highness.”

“It might sound funny, but I value my privacy,” Sonic said. “I don’t want a bunch of opportunistic people touching me while the royal guards panic trying to send me back to the castle because I had a panic attack.”

“Crowds scare you, huh? You, a prince?”

“They don’t scare me, but when I was a kid, at palace parties, my father used to present me like some kind of exotic pet looking for a mate. A lot of those nobles would touch me, pinch me, or smother me with kisses because I was like a ‘toy.’ I told him many times that I hated being touched without permission, but he never listened. Over time, being surrounded by people desperate to get close makes me nervous.”

“So how do you handle royal banquets and parties?”

“People behave more calmly at official gatherings inside the palace. Besides, I’m not a kid anymore, so I’ve lost that ‘childlike charm.’ Out here, though, any desperate person could try to get close like a crazed fan and that’s what I want to avoid.”

Lancelot kept walking, but this time he stayed at Sonic’s side, neither ahead trying to speed up, nor behind trying to avoid him.

“Anyway, how about we pop into a few shops?” Sonic suddenly grabbed Lance by the arm, pulling him into a clothing and fabric store. Just from the outside, you could tell anything inside would be ridiculously expensive.

“For what? We’re supposed to be looking for that woman,” Lancelot complained reluctantly.

“I know you’re too grumpy to enjoy the kingdom on your own, so I’m forcing you to relax a bit,” Sonic replied.

They wandered through the store among other customers, inspecting silk samples in various colors, shirts with delicate, shiny embroidery, and shelves full of gold and silver brooches. Sonic enjoyed looking at the variety, he usually had no one to browse with him like a normal person, since his father always filled his wardrobe without consulting him.

At the back, the prince stopped at a display of belts. Each one was uniquely crafted, handmade, with silver embroidery that never repeated, so Lancelot assumed they’d cost a fortune.

One belt immediately caught Sonic’s eye: a dark brown piece with tiny lavender flowers embroidered in the center, its rivets pure silver, making it truly exquisite.

“How many gold rings for this belt?” Sonic asked, running his hand delicately over it.

“That one costs forty gold rings,” the store clerk said with a smile.

Lancelot’s eyes widened. That was almost three months’ salary for a craftsman and even if he had the money, he wouldn’t waste it like that. Besides, a belt’s only purpose was to hold up your pants.

“I’ll take it,” Sonic said.

Makes sense, Lancelot thought, Sonic would wear something like that.

“But first, could you make sure it fits my knight?”

From startled to confused, Lancelot didn’t understand why Sonic wanted it tried on him.

“Of course,” the clerk replied. “I’ll make sure this gift fits your knight perfectly.”

She gestured for Lancelot to follow her to the back of the store to get the belt Sonic had chosen and try it on.

“But what are you… ?” Lancelot was practically forced into the back, guided by her grip on his arm.

In the back of the store, huge cabinets were filled with boxes of outfits, fabrics, jewelry, dresses, and other things that immediately caught Lancelot’s eye. While he was browsing some books with illustrations of tailors on a table, the woman approached him holding the belt.

“Your lord must be very wealthy. Few nobles give their knights such valuable belts; most choose the cheaper ones,” the woman said as she wrapped the new belt around Lancelot’s waist, removing the old one he was wearing.

“Is this… common?”

“Oh! I already suspected you were a foreigner, from the color of your quills,” she said, starting to fasten the new belt while Lancelot watched. “In this kingdom, it’s customary to give belts to knights. It symbolizes protection and affection from the one giving it.”

“Excuse me?” Lancelot felt himself getting a little embarrassed; this was becoming personal.

“Yes. Most knights wear them in battles or tournaments, either to show the status of the noble they serve or that they have a fiancée or wife waiting for them. Although,” she gave a slight smile, “nowadays noble ladies also make the knights they date wear the belts so other women know they’re not single.”

“I think that’s a little ridiculous,” Lancelot said, feeling his cheeks heat up. For some strange reason, he was more aware of the belt snug around his waist. It gave him a tingling sensation, as if it meant something… and yet nothing at all.

“All done!” the woman said with a smile. “It fits wonderfully. Now I can go show it to your lord.”

Lancelot stepped out of the room, followed by the woman. He felt ridiculously shy, not even sure why. He was certain Sonic had given him the belt as a normal display of authority, nothing more, but for some reason, the words “protection” and “affection” rang loudly in his head, and he was starting to resent it.

“I knew it would look amazing on you!” Sonic exclaimed, clearly excited to see Lancelot wearing the belt. He gently touched the embroidery. “And it’s unique, you’ll never find another like it in the world.”

They walked in silence for a few streets after leaving the store, until Lancelot finally mustered the courage to speak to Sonic. He didn’t like feeling this way, nervous, confused, but also something else, a feeling he had never experienced before. It started in his stomach and settled in his chest. It wasn’t bad, actually… it was pleasant.

And again, it scared him.

“Why did you buy this for me?”

“Think of it as a token of honor. Every knight who has sworn loyalty to a noble has one of these. It gives prestige and shows your worth to others. With this, I’m telling anyone who sees you with me that you work for me, so it’s proof I’ll keep my promise to make you the sentinel.”

“Hmmm.” Lance had his answer, it was what he expected. But why did he feel like he wanted more? What did he want? He now felt more like a fine dog on a leash than a man desired by someone.

“Also,” Sonic added, “I know you hate nosy people. With this, women will think you might be engaged, so they won’t bother you either.”

“I don’t mind if women think I’m single,” Lancelot said, teasing Sonic. It was the first time he had done this, but he wanted more, he felt that Sonic could say something else.

“Oh, really?” Sonic thought Lancelot might like women. A little pang of discomfort hit him. “Then you can take it off when we’re in town, wear it only for battles or tournaments.”

Sonic was implicitly expecting Lancelot to wear it in public as much as possible.

“You want me to take it off?”

“What kind of question is that?!”

“It’s just a question. You’re my lord, my prince. If you don’t want women getting too close, I’ll wear it all the time.”

“I already told you, I don’t want you to lose your freedom working for me. You’re free to have a partner if you want.”

That damn handkerchief covering Sonic’s face kept Lancelot from seeing his expression.

“I’m not asking you that. I’m asking what you want, and I’m not asking for a reason,” Lance added, making sure Sonic didn’t feel cornered into explaining. He knew the game could end there. “It’s a yes or no.”

“Don’t take it off when you’re not with me, it could give you advantages if you need to use my social status for something and I’m not around,” Sonic said, trying to hide his face even more with the scarf.

“Fine.” Lancelot didn’t get a clear answer, but he knew there was something more. “Besides, even if women came after me, I wouldn’t care, they don’t interest me.”

Sonic’s ears perked subtly beneath his hood. For some reason, hearing that Lancelot wasn’t interested in women was a relief. It didn’t mean Lancelot liked him, but at least, he might have a chance.

Some time passed as Sonic and Lancelot walked through the area. Sometimes Sonic would drag Lance into shops just to waste time; and while such behavior would normally annoy Lancelot, now he tolerated it a bit more. Maybe it was because it was something Sonic wanted to do, or maybe he’d just gotten used to it.

Lance wasn’t one to waste time visiting places or browsing stores. In fact, he rarely took the time to enjoy simple things. Besides, he didn’t have many friends or people encouraging him to do different activities. The fact that Sonic was dragging him along didn’t feel so bad. He figured that once he became Sonic’s royal knight, he’d need to get used to this sort of thing.

As they passed a bakery, something made Sonic stop dead in his tracks. He turned to the side and saw a little girl sitting on the edge of a step.

“Hello, princess,” the prince knelt down to meet the girl’s eye level. “You look a little scared. Are you okay?”

The little girl hesitated. Seeing Sonic with his face covered didn’t exactly put her at ease. “I lost sight of my dad, and I’m here because he told me if I ever get lost, I should stay put, because he’ll come back for me.”

“Your dad is right, you’re very smart. But you can’t just wait here alone, someone could hurt you. How about I sit with you until your dad comes back?”

“Y-yes,” the girl said, still unsure of Sonic, but relieved he wasn’t asking for anything strange.

“My name is Sonic, and the grumpy guy next to me is Lancelot,” Lance gave the girl a neutral look.

“My name’s Cream,” the little girl said, fidgeting with the fabric of her dress. “Why does your friend have red eyelids? Does he like to wear makeup?”

Sonic couldn’t help but laugh, while Lancelot just scowled.

“No, Lance’s quills and skin are just like that. Don’t you think he looks great?”

“He looks a little angry, but I guess that’s just his face.”

Sonic laughed even harder. “Cream, you really are an amazing kid.”

Just as Sonic was about to comment again on Lancelot’s permanently furrowed brow, something suddenly yanked his hood, sending him crashing into some wooden crates behind him.

He could feel one of the crates pressing uncomfortably into his back and knew he’d probably end up with a few small scratches.

“Stay away from the lady!” A deep, serious voice shouted as a burly man approached Sonic, the clank of his armor echoing. Sonic still hadn’t gotten up, but he knew he was about to get a beating.

Immediately, Lancelot drew his sword and stepped between Sonic and the man.

“Don’t you dare touch him again, or I’ll cut off your hand,” Shadow’s voice was clearly furious. Damn, he wanted to give Sonic something that would keep people from touching him.

“Lance, calm down! I’m fine, it was just a moderate hit,” Sonic said. The last thing he wanted was a curious crowd gathering around him.

The man who had knocked Sonic over noticed Lancelot’s embroidered belt. Even without armor, it meant he had struck a noble, and a wealthy one at that.

“My deepest apologies, sir,” the man said, stepping back. “I’m in charge of looking after this girl, and when I saw you with your face covered, I thought…”

“Relax. You were just protecting the girl, I get it, no problem.” Sonic sat on the ground while the man scooped up Cream in his arms.

“Goodbye, Mr. Sonic,” Cream waved a small hand as the man walked away.

“Goodbye, princess. Don’t wander off from your family again,” Sonic waved back.

There he was again, the silly blue guy, far too kind for his own good, a quality Lancelot was starting to appreciate.

Lance sheathed his sword and knelt beside Sonic, wanting to check that one of his hands wasn’t fractured or injured since he’d seen a crate fall on it. He immediately stopped, remembering that Sonic had mentioned he didn’t like being touched, especially with so many people around.

He was genuinely starting to dislike seeing Sonic handled roughly or invasively.

“Sonic… can I check your wrist?”

“Oh, sure. You don’t need to ask, just go ahead.”

“Sorry, I remembered you don’t like being touched casually.” Lancelot carefully pulled back the cloth covering Sonic’s wrist to check for any external injuries.

“Yes, but that doesn’t apply to you, dummy. You’re my knight. You have my permission to touch me anytime you want.”

Lancelot’s ears perked up in surprise, though he kept his eyes on Sonic’s wrist.

“What I mean,” Sonic said, sensing his own awkward nervousness spilling out, “is that I trust you. You can be that close to me without asking!”

Lance confirmed Sonic’s hand was fine. A small smile curved his mouth as he let go of Sonic’s hand and gently helped the prince to his feet, holding him by the arm.

“I know. I just wanted to make sure you felt safe with me by asking first.”

Now Sonic felt very shy, even more so with Lancelot lifting him and holding him for a few moments against his chest.

“I think it’s time we find that woman. The sooner we do, the less time you’ll be exposed to all these people.”

Lancelot was right. Sonic also couldn’t risk being too exposed with him. He worried that all of this might be too bothersome for his future knight, and that Lance might decide not to stay by his side or help him.

Chapter Text

After walking down a few more bustling streets, Sonic and Lancelot finally reached the house that matched the address Knuckles had given them.

The facade looked a little old; it had two floors, built from darkened wood with stone decorations on the walls that must have once been very colorful. As a personal touch, perhaps a hobby of the woman who lived there, a small path lined with tulips adorned the entrance.

Sonic really hoped the person living here was the woman they were looking for, because if not, they’d have to start their search all over again, and time was running out.

The prince approached with a friendly, radiant expression, he needed to make a good impression if he wanted her trust. Carefully, he knocked on the door, trying not to seem intrusive.

“Excuse me, we’re looking for Mrs. Leoric Devine. We’ve come on behalf of His Majesty the King,” Sonic said, though, in truth, it was only half the truth.

On the other side of the door, they heard slow footsteps approaching until finally it creaked open, revealing a rabbit woman who looked to be around forty-five, Sonic guessed. She had a kind gaze and seemed to have been preparing some vegetables in the kitchen.

“How may I be of service to the King?” she asked with a smile.

“Did you work at the castle some twenty years ago, as the queen’s midwife?”

“Oh, yes! I had the pleasure of serving Her Majesty, the late queen, when she was about to give birth to Prince Arthur.” The woman pressed her hands to her chest affectionately. “She was a beautiful and charming woman.”

“We’re here as representatives of the palace.” Sonic showed her the royal emblem engraved on his sword’s sheath. “We’re gathering information that may help us protect the prince’s safety. As you know, the coronation is near, but so is the infamous curse that threatens the kingdom.”

“Of course. Ask me whatever you wish.”

“How long did you work at the palace?” Sonic began with simple questions, not wanting her to sense anything unusual.

“Five months, when the queen’s pregnancy began to grow complicated.”

“And how much were you paid monthly for your services?”

“Fifty-five gold rings.”

“Do you remember the face of the witch who barged in during the queen’s labor that night?” Sonic pressed his lips together beneath the cloth covering his face, hoping she wouldn’t refuse to answer.

“Oh, the incident… that’s right.” Her expression turned sorrowful. “Do you need it as some kind of testimony?”

“Yes, ma’am. The King prefers everything important to be put in writing.”

“Well then…” She sighed. “It’s been years since that night. It was stormy, the candles were hard to keep lit, and we had spent hours trying to help the queen deliver. I was exhausted and anxious, so I didn’t pay much attention to the witch’s face when she appeared. The only thing I remember is her quills, it was red, like fire. You could immediately feel she carried a powerful presence.”

Lancelot cast the woman a look of intrigue.

“And do you remember the witch’s name?” Sonic asked.

“No. When the King entered with her, it was so sudden I didn’t even have time to think. She was going to deliver the baby, and I had to be ready to receive him.”

“Anything else you recall? The curse, for example.”

“I know what everyone knows, that prophecy about the prince losing his heart to a beast. But I don’t think that’s important.”

At that, Lancelot felt a pang of worry as he remembered that Sonic himself might soon be facing death.

“Any other detail or even a hunch could be useful to us, ma’am,” Sonic implored.

“Well…” She crossed her arms. “It was said the King had the witch executed that very night. However, a week after I left the castle, when my work was done, I believe I overheard some knights in the stables saying they had been searching for her for days. Apparently, she had escaped. That worried the King greatly, since he wanted no such threat to the kingdom alive under any circumstance.”

“So Father lied… She didn’t die that night, like Mother did,” Sonic murmured under his breath.

“But I can’t swear to you that it’s true. I’m old now, and I was under a lot of stress back then. Maybe I only imagined it.” She chuckled softly, as if dismissing the matter with ease.

“I think that’s all.” With a courteous gesture, Sonic bid the woman farewell. “Thank you very much for your time, and sorry for the trouble.”

“I wish you luck. May the gods protect our beloved prince.”

Lancelot merely gave the rabbit a nod in farewell and followed after Sonic.

They were only a few meters from the midwife’s house when Lancelot noticed that one of the cloth pouches tied to his belt was coming loose.

“Hey, Lance, since we’re here, there’s a fruit shop nearby. I want to buy something to eat on the way back to the kingdom.”

“Go ahead. I’ll catch up, I just need to fix something.”

Sonic had gone ahead a few minutes earlier while Lancelot was adjusting the small inconvenience with his clothes, when footsteps echoed behind him.

“Young man, wait a moment!” The woman they had just visited had caught up to Lancelot.

“Is something wrong?” Lance looked at her with a serious expression.

“I’d forgotten I had something important that might help you.” She extended her hand, offering him a silver earring with a green teardrop-shaped jewel at its center. “This fell from the witch during the struggle with the knights who dragged her from the room. I planned to give it to the king afterward, but he was so busy I forgot I still had it. By the time I realized, I was already home and never managed to hand it over. Perhaps it will be of some use.”

Lance’s eyes widened slightly, troubled. He ran his fingers delicately over the shimmering jewel. After a moment of contemplation, he regained his composure and slipped it into one of the pouches on his pants.

“Thank you. We’ll take care of it.”

Leaving the woman behind, Lancelot continued on to meet Sonic further ahead.

“What took you so long?” Sonic was waiting outside a small fruit shop for Lance.

“Nothing, I was just fixing something on my pants. Sorry.” Lance slipped his hand discreetly into his pocket, feeling the small earring through the fabric.

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That same evening at dinner, the prince was seated in the palace dining hall. It was a vast, elongated room, adorned with golden chandeliers that bathed the place in warm light. Still-life paintings of fruits, wines, and meats decorated the walls, images that mirrored the very dishes the servants carried in and at the center stood a long, refined wooden table, its edges trimmed with golden ornaments. It stretched far enough to seat twelve, and down its length the servants had laid out platters of meats, desserts, and fruits. Sonic had always thought it excessive; there was no way two people could consume such an abundance.

The king, a stocky hedgehog with paler blue quills than Sonic’s and a stern, authoritative bearing, sat at the head of the table, cutting pieces of meat from his plate when Sonic interrupted him from the far end.

“Father, I wanted to tell you that I’ve already decided what kind of competition I’ll use to choose my personal knight.”

“Good, Arthur. The day of the coronation is drawing near, and we must be prepared for anything that might arise,” the king said, taking a sip from his cup. “What sort of competition will it be?”

“An obstacle course.” Sonic lifted his gaze, waiting for his father’s reaction.

“Obstacles, hmm…” The man mused, twirling his food with his fork. “Do you truly think that’s the best way to measure a warrior’s skill?”

“I know you were expecting something more drastic, like combat in the arena. But an obstacle course will let me see how resourceful the knights are under pressure, whether they can match my speed, and their determination to reach a goal, in this case, the finish line. Sometimes winning doesn’t mean hitting harder, but thinking smarter. And as you’ve said yourself, there are battles won by cunning rather than strength.”

A pleased smile tugged at the king’s lips. “At least you show that sometimes you do listen to my advice.”

“I think I only listen to the parts I find useful,” Sonic replied with a playful grin.

“Very well.” The king straightened in his chair. “An obstacle course it shall be. The victor will become the Sentinel of Dawn. Tomorrow morning, I’ll have the proclamation spread throughout the kingdom and the nearby lands.”

At least one part of Sonic’s plan was falling neatly into place. Now all that remained was to meet with Lancelot and map out the strategy that would guarantee his victory. After all, Sonic himself would be designing the course, and he needed to shape it around Lance’s strengths.

Perhaps even add a few traps for the other competitors. Though Lancelot was already a formidable warrior in Sonic’s eyes, he figured a bit of precaution wouldn’t hurt.

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Within a couple of days, the entire arena along with the obstacles for the competition was complete. Sonic had been actively involved in designing the course, wanting to know every inch like the back of his hand so he could explain it to Lancelot later.

Finally, the night arrived when Sonic and Lancelot sneaked into the competition arena so that the dark-spiked knight could start training and memorize the terrain. The building was a huge circular arena, with seats all around for the audience to watch the competitors. In the center stretched two straight obstacle courses, one for the way there and one for the way back, featuring bridges, climbing walls, chain traps, ropes, nets, and other challenges to impede the competitors’ progress. Sonic had designed it based on his toughest experiences outside the kingdom, ensuring that not just anyone could pass.

“So, what do you think?” Sonic’s chest puffed with pride, awaiting Lancelot’s response.

“I’ve seen scarier things than this. I don’t even think I need to practice to win.”

“Oh, really?” Sonic felt offended, his pride wounded. “Well, if you think you’re so great for my competition, then prove it. Compete against me, ‘Sir Shadow the Grumpy.’”

“‘Shadow the Grumpy’?”

“Yes, you’re like negativity incarnate.”

“Fine.” Lancelot removed his hood so it wouldn’t get in the way and placed his sword on the ground. “Go ahead. I’ll make sure you eat all the dust on the floor.”

That electrified Sonic. He loved the way Lance’s eyes burned a bright red when he set his mind on something. but he wasn’t going to let him win so easily.

Lancelot and Sonic lined up at the start of the arena. Under the moonlight, both were ready. At the exact moment Sonic signaled, the two hedgehogs shot forward with incredible speed, facing every obstacle in their path.

Sonic managed to pull ahead for a few seconds over the walls, only to be caught again on the wobbly bridges. With a smug grin, Lance left Sonic behind for a moment while crossing some tall wooden bars, and just when he thought he could show off his legwork, Sonic was right beside him again, climbing an inclined ramp with the help of a rope.

“Hey, Lance!” Sonic shouted from the top of the ramp. “I think the only one eating dust here is you!”

Lance was about to fire back with a sarcastic remark when the rope Sonic was holding snapped, sending him tumbling from that great height.

But Lancelot was there. Always there.

The moment Sonic’s body fell toward Lancelot, he lunged to the side, catching the prince and shielding his head with one hand to protect him from hitting the ground, while the other held him securely by the waist.

They rolled violently all the way down until they hit the cold floor. Lancelot opened his eyes and ran his hands over Sonic’s head quills, while the prince buried his face in Lance’s neck, body curled against his chest.

“I don’t feel any blood,” Lancelot thought, until Sonic started trembling against his chest. “Sonic?”

A few minutes passed as Lance’s heart raced, worried that Sonic might be injured in a way he couldn’t see, until Sonic pushed off his chest with a burst of energy.

“That was fun!” Sonic laughed, the chuckle he’d been holding in since the fall finally spilling out. “I almost believed you could’ve won if that rope hadn’t broken.”

Sonic stayed on Lancelot’s chest, face lifted, waiting for him to say something, but there was nothing.

Lancelot was completely lost, staring at Sonic’s face as the moonlight illuminated him from behind; it was a sight Lance would never have been able to behold so intimately if it weren’t for the accident a few minutes ago.

He studied his green eyes that sparkled when something excited him, his friendly face for any traveler lucky enough to meet him, and his lips, the most irritating part of his face according to Lancelot, yet also the part he liked the most, because from them came the most honest and kind words anyone had ever said to him.

He wanted to touch him. And he did.

He placed one hand lightly against his cheek, and then a finger traced down to Sonic’s lips, pausing there for a moment.

Sonic didn’t even know what to say, or maybe he simply didn’t want to say anything, and just let Lancelot advance as far as he wanted. But in that moment, the dark knight’s expression shifted to something more subtle, a mix of concern and pain.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

“I… no. You were incredible. You didn’t let anything happen to me,” Sonic’s voice began to soften into a whisper.

“It’s just that I…” Lancelot trailed off, lost in Sonic’s gaze as if trying to find an answer there. “If I couldn’t… if I hurt you… if I were…”

Lancelot quickly withdrew his hand from Sonic’s cheek and slipped out of his embrace, standing up as if he had been about to achieve something but had lost it.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes… it’s just that maybe we should end the training for now. I’m a little tired, that’s all.” Lancelot turned his back to Sonic.

“Alright,” Sonic stood and brushed the dust off his clothes. He knew there was more going on, but he wasn’t going to press Lancelot right now. “Let’s get out of here then.”

The two hedgehogs walked a good stretch in silence, until Sonic spoke first, trying to distract Lancelot from whatever was running through his mind.

“Hey, Lance, can I ask you something?”

“Again with your questions?”

Sonic ignored the small gesture of irritation from Lance and continued. “I know you said you wanted to become my knight out of honor, but what’s your real reason? For starters, you’re not even from this kingdom, I don’t understand why you’d want to serve a foreigner.”

Lancelot sighed, his steps growing heavier. He had never been good at speaking honestly about himself, and even less about his family. To him, things like this were intimate because they hurt, yet he had that small desire to be heard, to let a little truth escape his lips to someone who might listen, even if he regretted it later.

“I do this for my mother,” he paused. “She always wanted me to somehow end up working at the palace, to have a job that gave me value as someone important, someone to respect.”

Lancelot’s steps slowed as memories surfaced, and Sonic matched his pace.

“We didn’t have much. It was just her and me, living in a small, old house a few miles from a village. Mom used to say we were outcasts and always would be, that the way monarchies worked wasn’t designed to be fair, but to benefit the powerful.”

Sonic felt a small twinge of… guilt?

“Mom would go down to the village to find any job that might earn a few coins so we could buy food, but she didn’t always have luck. Sometimes a slice of bread and a bit of salt was all we had for days.” Lance wrapped his arms around himself. “I know she was never happy when she was alive, and I don’t want to sound ungrateful saying this, but sometimes she…”

Sonic gently placed a hand on Lance’s shoulder, as if afraid he might break.

“She would hit me or burn me with the hot iron from the fireplace when her patience ran out and I kept crying because I was hungry or sick.” He breathed with some difficulty. “I completely understand how awful it must have felt for her, being a pregnant woman exiled from her own land. Maybe she didn’t even want to be my mother, and I don’t blame her, but sometimes I wanted so badly to be strong or mature enough to have helped her sooner, even if just a little.”

Sonic could feel Lancelot shrinking in on himself more and more. It was breaking his heart.

“That’s why she always hoped I could work for the palace. If I succeeded, we’d have a better life, respect… everything she may have lost because of me. So she made it my purpose, our salvation, to show that we were valuable too,” Lancelot’s voice began to sound more strained. “But one day, she never came back. I waited countless days outside the door, hoping to see my mother’s silhouette walking down the path, but it never happened. And hunger forced me to figure out how to survive.”

Sonic didn’t even know if he wanted to keep listening.

“I went down to the village and started taking simple jobs for food or a few rings. Sometimes I survived on my own, other times by the charity of strangers,” Lancelot tried to sit up but it was difficult. “At first, I thought Mom had grown tired of taking care of me and abandoned me, and I wouldn’t have blamed her. But then I found out she had been intercepted by a group of men on the road and killed… it wasn’t a robbery, Sonic. We had nothing, just our lives… and that was all they wanted to take from her.”

A growing pain in Sonic’s throat threatened to break free, but he forced himself to hold it back.

“You asked me what my reason was for wanting to be your personal knight,” Lance tried to regain his composure. “It’s this. I want to achieve the life my mother wanted for me, even if she maybe didn’t love me. Even if people and the system taught me how little I’m worth in the eyes of the nobles… I want to accomplish something that is entirely mine and that they can never take from me, the glory and honor of showing that we are more than they ever thought.”

Lancelot couldn’t, didn’t want Sonic to see his face, his anger, his loneliness… his fear. But Sonic felt that now he owed him everything, the entire world. Countless nights of solitude in the castle chambers couldn’t compare to living the way Lance had. For Sonic, it was a privilege to hear the sad story of his life, to feel pity for a while, and then return to the castle to enjoy all the things his position provided. But Lancelot couldn’t escape those sad stories, they were his reality, what he had been forced to live with.

“Lance…” Sonic said gently.

“Leave it, I’m fine like this,” Lance refused to look at Sonic.

“Lancelot.”

“No.”

“Lancelot, turn your face toward your lord. That’s an order.”

“I said no!”

Lancelot’s outburst of fury made him glance at Sonic unconsciously, and that was the moment Sonic seized to pull Lance into a tight embrace.

“Breathe. Let it all out. I’ve got you, I won’t let you fall.”

Lance was ready to push Sonic away, but the moment the prince began to stroke the quills along his back, he felt his whole body surrender to Sonic’s warmth.

And Lancelot cried.

He cried in a way that was monstrous, guttural, as if a sword had pierced his chest in the most excruciating way possible.

His screams of pain echoed clearly in the middle of the night. He could feel the pain becoming physical, real, suffocating him, causing spasms in his body; he felt he could die there and wouldn’t care. He was as wounded and alone as all the dark nights he had spent as an orphaned, hungry child.

He wrapped his arms around himself until he remembered something… Sonic was holding him against his body.

Lancelot clung desperately to the prince as if his life depended on it, burying his face into Sonic’s neck and crying even harder, but this time, it was different.

Finally, the heavens had grown tired of hearing his pleas and had sent someone to hold him, to cradle him as he collapsed miserably into his wounds; and he felt such relief that his legs gave way, causing them both to fall to their knees on the ground. But Sonic kept him held tight, and he knew that if it weren’t for the prince, his prince, he would be lying on the floor with no will to even kneel.

Sonic let Lancelot release everything into his embrace until there was nothing left. He probably had never been able to cry alongside someone, because since he was a child he had had to pick up each of his own broken pieces. And the prince could only think that if by some strange coincidence he had met Lancelot, he would never have left him alone, not even for a second. He would have reminded him of how much he mattered, but he hadn’t been there, and that hurt.

When Lance’s breathing finally calmed and his sobs stopped, Sonic gently pulled away to inspect his face. It was no surprise that he looked tired, sore, and defeated.

“Hey, you know something?” Sonic gave his companion a warm smile. “You got what you wanted, you’re here, with the prince. I recognize your worth and how important you are to me. And not only that, in a few days, you’ll live with me in the castle, and food will never be missing from your plate again. There will always be a roof over your head, and until you get tired of me, I’ll always be just a door away. Because with me, you’ll have everything.”

With certainty, Sonic took Lance’s hands and pressed them to his chest, physically showing him that he was there, that he wouldn’t leave, that Sonic was entirely his.

It was the first time Lancelot had ever experienced something like this in his life. On one hand, it was one of the qualities he had learned to appreciate about Sonic, his honesty, his nobility, his warmth, and the more time he spent with him, the more he wanted to stay by his side.

He remembered the belt around his waist and felt a sense of belonging he had longed for; he didn’t want anyone to hurt Sonic, he didn’t want anyone who didn’t love him to marry him. If he could find a way to tell the world that the prince was his home, his heart, that he belonged to him, he would.

But it was that same devotion that terrified him to his core, because it meant that now his heart and peace depended on someone else.

What if he wasn’t able to protect Sonic? What if Sonic stopped needing him? What if Sonic realized he was nothing special, that he had more flaws than virtues, and replaced him with someone better? If his own mother barely wanted him around… why would Sonic want him?

“Thank you,” Lancelot said, wiping the tears from his face with the back of his shirt as he stood up from the ground. “I’m sorry for all of this.”

“Don’t apologize,” Sonic replied, still smiling gently as he got to his feet as well. “Why don’t you stay in my room tonight? I don’t want you to spend the night alone.”

Lancelot considered the idea. His will was weak that night, and all he wanted was to curl up with Sonic and, for the first time, feel that his bed wasn’t too big.

But he couldn’t allow himself to.

For one, Sonic was a prince, and in a few days, his boss. He couldn’t abuse his kindness like that. And secondly, if he got used to being that close to Sonic, it would hurt when the day came that Sonic became a king who reserved such care only for his wife, and he no longer had a place there.

“Don’t worry. Actually, I just want to rest in my room without anyone bothering me. I need to be alone after all this,” he said, even though he didn’t really want to be alone.

“Are you sure? I can stay by your side,” Lancelot was pushing him away. Maybe he’d made him too uncomfortable and was starting to get tired.

“Yes, I’m sure,” he thought, hoping Sonic would ask just one more time.

“All right, you deserve your space,” Lancelot had pushed him away.

Sonic made a worried face at Lancelot’s answer but didn’t want to bother him further.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness,” Lancelot added, realizing Sonic was too kind to not feel guilty if he was upset. “You can come visit me early tomorrow to make sure I’m all right, okay?”

Sonic smiled. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted, but it was better than nothing. “All right, I’ll visit you tomorrow then.”

Chapter Text

"Well, I guess I’d better get going." Sonic adjusted the scarf around his face, pulling it up as he stepped out of the inn where Lancelot was staying.

"All right, let me know if you need anything."

"I doubt it, buddy. I promised Knuckles that in exchange for getting me the address I needed, I’d help him organize the palace records hall today. After his search, the whole place was left in chaos."

"That hall must be huge," Lance remarked, leaning against the doorframe.

"It is," Sonic crossed his arms with a hint of annoyance. "All the information from years of work and historical records is stored in there, so Knuckles and I have quite the task ahead of us."

Lancelot’s gaze drifted to the side, lost in thought, before turning back to Sonic. "I’m sorry for you two, I suppose."

"Thanks. I’ll see you later, maybe to go over the last few details about the knights’ competition. I still need you to be absolutely certain you’re going to win."

"Don’t worry, I will."

Once Sonic set off back toward the palace, Lancelot closed the door behind him. The prince’s final words had planted a small but dangerous thought in his mind, one he couldn’t shake off.

What he was considering was reckless, and it could certainly bring him trouble if he failed. But on the other hand, if it worked out the way he hoped, he might uncover more than he imagined that night. And above all, Sonic could never find out.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆☾ ⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

The moon was bright that night, the sky completely clear; the cold air slipped through the windows of the vast palace, and most of the servants were asleep, except for the knights who were on night watch.

On the lower levels of the castle were the work areas for the staff, the stables, and other less important places. The middle floors held spaces meant for social gatherings, such as the great dining hall, the ballroom, the strategy office, and the king’s private chamber. At the very top of the building were the places most carefully guarded, such as the royal family’s quarters, the library, the armory and treasure hall, and of course, the vault of the royal records.

The very place Lancelot intended to steal from.

To be more specific, Lance actually wanted to look for more useful information about the prince’s curse and everything available about the witch. He knew the king was probably hiding information from Sonic, and if he wanted to do his job properly, he had to do it himself, since he did not trust much in the ability of a simple knight who would also be on the king’s side and could easily lie to Sonic.

The black-spiked knight trusted greatly in his stealth and speed, bordering on arrogance, so he believed he needed no one else to slip like a shadow into the castle, search through the archives, and find something more important than what Sonic ever could. After all, he was just one man searching for what a thief would not normally steal: information.

He knew that most of the guards would be concentrated in the treasure hall and the royal family’s chambers, so there would probably be no more than two knights guarding the records. As long as he remained stealthy, everything should turn out fine.

Lance had chosen a dark outfit that covered him completely, along with a hood that helped him blend into the darkness, so he decided to avoid areas that had any kind of light, just to make sure he would not be seen.

The hall where the records were kept was enormous, with a wide decorated window that allowed the moonlight to filter into the place, and it was the perfect entrance for Lancelot. It did not matter if the window was sealed; he was prepared to open it.

Once he managed to slide down from the tower roof to the window, using the wild vines that had grown along the outer walls of the castle, he approached with a small blade, with which he set about loosening a piece of glass large enough for him to slip through without much effort. Once the pane gave way, he removed it and let it fall onto the rose bushes below, which would soften the sound so he could climb inside.

When he was finally in, with spectacular precision and silence, he began to investigate the hall, which was wonderfully vast and complete; Sonic had not been exaggerating when he said it was a big place.

Rows of shelves stretched along the hall with scrolls, papers, books, and chests filled with more papers and letters, some stained yellow by the time they had been stored. Anything that had happened since the very first stone was laid to build the castle would be recorded there.

Now, the problem was not whether he would find important information, but knowing where to look for what he needed. In such an enormous hall, cloaked in darkness, where most of the shelves were left unsorted, the task became much more difficult.

Lance began to walk through each aisle, searching for a clue, a sign, or something that looked valuable where the information he sought might be hidden. He found old portraits of deceased lords, maps of invasions and conquests, reports on the royal family’s assets, and even letters exchanged between kings, but nothing close to what he was looking for.

Maybe Sonic was right; there wasn’t much to work with beyond what Knuckles had already found.

Lancelot was ready to leave the castle when a small beam of moonlight guided him toward a large painting hanging in the far corner of the hall. It was covered with a dark cloth, and beneath it stood a massive chest of fine wood adorned with small golden details.

He approached, expecting once again to find nothing important. Out of curiosity, he pulled away the cloth and revealed the portrait of a young woman, perhaps around seventeen years old, with long, loose quills of a beautiful turquoise hue, her green eyes radiating sweetness and kindness, the same sweetness and kindness as Sonic, because it was his mother.

If that was a portrait of Sonic’s mother in her youth, then the chest beneath it must have belonged to the queen’s keepsakes, and with luck, to the very day Sonic was born. Though the chest was locked, it was no obstacle for Lancelot’s skills; he quickly forced the lock open.

Inside, he inspected several items: letters, books, hair ribbons and ornaments, dried flowers, old notes, and little else of real value.

Until he came across a small red velvet book with a golden clasp at its side.

Lancelot hadn’t thought much of it at first, until he realized it was a diary, not the queen’s, but her lady-in-waiting’s.

There was no one in the world who knew the queen better than her companion, which meant this woman had been there when she gave birth. Lance began leafing through the diary; by calculating Sonic’s age, he searched for the dates around his birth, until he reached the night of the curse.

The story began much as Sonic had told him. But there was something Sonic did not know, the exact words of the witch’s curse, recorded with the sharp memory of the queen’s attendant. Lancelot read every line with cold precision until the final verses etched themselves into his mind, sinking like a heavy darkness into his chest, slow and agonizing:

"And from my womb shall come forth a furious beast, a vengeful shadow,
destined to turn your people into ashes and tear the heart
from Prince Arthur, for they shall live and die for each other"

But Lancelot had little time to dwell on the woman’s words. By removing the cloth that covered the queen’s portrait, he had loosened the rusted nail that held it in place. Minutes later, the painting crashed down onto the chest. In the vast and empty hall, the echo of its fall was impossible to conceal.

“Something’s happening inside!” Lancelot heard the guards on duty outside the door snap to attention after the noise he had caused.

The knights burst into the hall with weapons drawn. Lancelot, however, knew it was not worth fighting them; reinforcements would come soon after. Instead, he hid behind the shelves, slipping silently through the shadows as the guards moved deeper into the room.

Everything seemed to indicate Lance might get away with it; he was only a few steps from the door, the knights were at the far end of the hall, and all he had to do was make sure he slipped out quickly and quietly.

He took a few more steps.

“Just have to be careful,” he thought.

The door was right there. He was going to make it.

He checked that the woman’s diary was tucked securely in his pocket. He was ready to leave.

One more step.

“That’s it,” he sighed with relief.

Unfortunately, as though fate were never on his side, his hood caught on the corner of a low bookshelf. The entire row came crashing down with him, the clamor immediately drawing the knights toward the door.

“Damn it!” Lance cursed with a low growl.

“A thief has entered the castle!”

Lancelot dashed through the doorway as fast as lightning. Now that he had been seen, the only thing left was to hide or find a way out of the castle as quickly as possible.

The knights followed him closely through the long corridors. It wouldn’t be long before they alerted others along the way, and when Lance realized it, at least five guards were already chasing him, making his escape harder with every step.

Desperate, Lance began tossing anything he could find to block their path, buying himself only a few minutes of advantage. Finally, at the end of the corridor, he spotted an open window that could lead him outside.

He sprinted straight ahead as fast as he could, and just when he thought he would make it, an arrow shot from his right grazed his leg. It didn’t pierce through, but the pain and the impact knocked him to his left side, sending him rolling down the steps until he landed in another hallway of the castle.

The guards rang the bells, alerting everyone of his intrusion, and it seemed the archers on the walls had already spotted him. Running through exposed corridors with open views outside had been a mistake, and now he was in serious trouble.

Things worsened when he noticed his limbs going numb, his head spinning, and sweat dripping down his forehead. He realized the arrows had been coated with poison meant to keep intruders from escaping. He was lucky it hadn’t struck him directly, but if he didn’t find a safe place soon, he wouldn’t be able to move at all.

In the hallway where he had fallen, there were only two doors far apart, followed by a crossing into another path at the far end. But he could hear the guards closing in on him. His only choice was to hide behind one of those doors and pray for a miracle.

His arms and legs began trembling, his heart racing faster than normal, his vision fading to black. A panic attack took over, though he couldn’t tell if it was from the poison or from his own fear.

He was terrified, nearly paralyzed… and alone.

He dragged himself toward the first door, hoping it would be open. His heart pounded so violently he feared he might die right there of a heart attack.

Using the weight of his body, he pushed against the door, lacking the strength or coordination to open it properly.

It gave way with ease.

Even with his blurred vision, what he saw felt like the light of safety a child might cling to in the dark.

It was Sonic’s room.

The prince was standing by the window, looking outside, until he turned to face Lancelot.

“Sonic…” Lance barely managed to whisper before his knees gave out. He would have collapsed face-first onto the floor if Sonic hadn’t rushed forward to catch him.

Sonic lifted him into his arms, supporting his weight against his chest, and set him down on the chair by his wardrobe.

“So it was you…?!” Sonic froze when he heard a group of knights approaching his door. Quickly, he pushed it half-closed until only his face was visible.

“Your Highness!” one of the knights called out in concern. “Are you safe? A thief has broken into the castle and is roaming these halls. Have you seen anything?”

“No,” Sonic replied quickly, his tone firm. “But I don’t want to risk anything happening to me. I’m ordering that no one enter my chambers until the intruder is caught.”

“As you command, Your Majesty!” the knights hurried down the hall in search of the intruder.

Sonic shut the door, locking it from the inside before returning to Lancelot.

“What are you doing here?! What happened to you?” Sonic could see Lance writhing in pain, his body twitching with spasms. But not knowing the cause, he just hovered his hands helplessly, unsure of where to even start checking him.

“Arrow… my leg…” Lance barely managed to utter the words, but they were enough for Sonic to understand.

“I see. Hold on.” Sonic rushed to one of his drawers, pulling out a small glass vial filled with thick green liquid. “You need to drink this.”

Lancelot was on the verge of losing consciousness, so he offered no resistance as Sonic helped him swallow the potion. Once Sonic was sure he’d drunk it, he slid Lance’s arm over his shoulder, wrapped an arm around his waist, and carried him almost entirely by force toward the bed. He laid him down gently on the sheets, then began unfastening his belt, only to stop when Lance let out a faint groan of pain.

“Hey, I need to take off your pants to treat the arrow wound,” Lance was starting to become a bit more conscious but not enough to move fully. “Besides, the poison from the arrows won’t wear off for several hours. I know because I’ve played around with the weapons in the armory many times, and more than once I shot myself.” A faint, teasing smile appeared on Sonic’s lips. “So you won’t be able to heal yourself.”

“Hmmmm,” was all Lance said. Not a very enthusiastic response, but at the moment, too many other parts of his body hurt, and too many things seemed to be spinning around him for him to feel embarrassed about being undressed by Sonic… a prince.

Sonic began removing Lance’s shoes carefully, trying not to move him too much. He knew his muscles would feel completely trashed, and the last thing he wanted was to make it unnecessarily painful. Once the shoes were off, he unfastened Lance’s pants and slid them down, keeping the hedgehog’s legs straight. Then he did the same with the hood to make him more comfortable. Carefully, he placed a pillow under Lance’s legs, giving him a better view of the arrow wound.

Once the wound was exposed, the prince grabbed the water jug he kept in his room, fetched some clean cloths, and an ointment from a small bronze box. Sonic sat next to Lance and, with utmost care, began cleaning the wound with the wet cloth, trying not to cause more pain.

“Ugh!” Lance flinched slightly at Sonic’s touch.

“You know? For a lone stranger, you’re very whiny,” Sonic said as he finished cleaning the wound, then began applying the ointment in subtle movements, careful not to disturb the coagulating blood. “The cut from the arrow isn’t too serious, but the poison my father uses on his weapons is strong. It ensures that his enemies can’t escape, even if he doesn’t hit them directly.” His expression twisted with disgust at the thought. “Luckily, you dodged the arrow a bit, so the poisoning isn’t complete and you’re still conscious.” He grabbed another clean cloth and wrapped the wound, covering Lance’s leg entirely.

“Sometimes you’re more annoying than usual.”

“So now you can throw a tantrum? Then the antidote is working well.” Sonic gave him a small smile as he stood to return the ointment to its place.

“I guess, but my muscles still hurt a lot, and I don’t think I can get up. My eyelids feel heavy,” Lance replied, irritation clear in his voice.

“Don’t worry, Lance. You wouldn’t be leaving here anyway until you told me why the hell you broke into my house to steal,” Sonic said, crossing his arms and staring at Lancelot expectantly. “If you wanted something here, you could’ve just asked. Hell… I might’ve let you in more discreetly than all the chaos you caused!”

“Can we talk about this later? I’m really tired, Your Highness.”

“No! You’ll tell me now. I just saved your ass from the castle knights, they could’ve killed you, idiot!” The prince approached, exasperation in his voice, sitting beside Lancelot on the bed.

“Fiiine…” Lance dragged the word out almost like a low growl. “I infiltrated the royal records area because I wanted to investigate on my own. I didn’t trust that Knuckles would do a good job.”

“Oh yeah?” There was a hint of sarcasm in Sonic’s tone. “And tell me, did you discover the secrets of the universe on your little secret expedition?”

Lancelot stayed silent for a moment, then answered. “No, I didn’t find anything else.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Sonic sighed in frustration. “Lance, you can’t do things like this on your own. You need to inform me first.”

“If you want to control someone, get a wife. But I don’t owe you any explanations.”

Sonic froze for a moment, then his expression shifted from surprise to anger. “Oh, you definitely do! You are my personal knight, I am your lord, you serve me. And if you want to keep that title, you must inform me of all your actions beforehand.”

“Don’t tell me.” Lance rolled his eyes. “Weren’t you the one who said you didn’t want to force anyone to do things they didn’t want to?”

“This is different.”

“How is it different? That I’m not obligated to marry you?”

“No, listen,” Sonic’s frustration was clear. “You and I are a team, one unit. You will spend the rest of your life serving me. I will trust you with my life, and you must trust me with yours. Wherever I go, you go. Wherever I am welcomed, you must be welcomed. My battles are yours. You are no longer a lone individual, Lance, you are my partner, and you must trust me.”

“If I do something that only affects me, I don’t need to tell you.” Lance closed his eyes, tired of arguing.

“Yes, you must tell me, because I care about you!” Sonic’s voice was desperate now. “I get that you’ve been alone all your life and believe people give things out of charity or convenience, but even if you do something that only affects you, I need to know because I care about your well-being. If you take care of me even when it’s not your problem, then I must take care of you too… that’s how it works.”

“Well, unlike you, I never had a family, or friends, or a home. I was never important to anyone. Don’t expect me to feel like the center of the universe just because I’m not a stupid prince like you, who’s been made to believe he’s important!”

Lancelot glared furiously into Sonic’s eyes, until he realized what he’d just said, mainly because the prince’s expression had turned into a grimace of disappointment.

“Am I important to you, Lance? Or are you only doing this out of obligation?”

“Sonic, I… I don’t…”

“I was very clear with you from the start. If you don’t want to stand by my side willingly in this work, I won’t choose you as my knight. I don’t want someone who can’t bear being with me. And if you only see yourself as someone insignificant, even after I’ve shown you otherwise many times, and if all you do is lash out whenever closeness makes you feel threatened instead of talking to me… then you’re free to quit. You can return my belt and be free from my control.”

“You can’t demand that I behave the way you want!” Lance grabbed Sonic’s hand, partly afraid he’d snatch the belt he’d placed beside the bed. “My job is to take care of you, and that’s what I do. What happens to me… what does it matter? Isn’t that what kings expect? That people give them everything they want without having to worry about anything else?”

By now, Sonic didn’t know if he felt hurt or profoundly disappointed.

“Lancelot, don’t you understand?”

“Understand what, Sonic?!” He waved his hands in the air, his body screaming for sleep, making it impossible to fully grasp what Sonic was trying to show him, which only made him more desperate.

“The same way you feel satisfaction fulfilling your duties to me and protecting me, I feel useful when I can take care of you. I need to feel that we are partners, that you trust me, not just someone you look after, but someone you see as your equal. What kind of king would I be to you if I can’t protect you?” Sonic sighed, feeling the weight of emotional exhaustion as a physical burden. “You forget something. As your future king, I work for you and for my people. My duty is to take care of all of you, and that includes you.”

“You can’t force me to accept all of this at once. It’s unnatural for me to depend on you. I am your servant, not the other way around.”

“I didn’t tell you this as your knight. I told you as my… friend.” Sonic’s gaze drifted to one of the candles in his room, lingering on it. “But you’re right, I can’t force you to trust me, to see me as your equal, or to accept my affection and loyalty if you don’t feel comfortable with me.” Sonic felt the sting of rejection.

“What do you mean by that?” A sharp, pang-like pain began to form in Lancelot’s chest. It wasn’t the poison this time; it was his own feelings hurting him.

“It’s clear that you don’t trust me, and I don’t even know what kind of prince you think I am. But despite my father’s wishes, I do want a knight who is my companion, my ally, not just another servant. And for that, the one who becomes the Sentinel of Dawn must be able to feel completely safe being vulnerable with me because I will be vulnerable with them. You… you’re not capable of that. It scares you and I don’t know if it’s about you… or if deep down you believe I could hurt you.”

“Sonic…” He stopped abruptly, finally beginning to notice what Sonic had probably seen from the start… he was afraid. But afraid of what? Sonic had proven himself to be an honorable, noble, honest, fun, warm prince. He was a good person, though imperfect, nothing intolerable.

Or was he afraid of himself? He was everything Sonic was not: solitary, bitter, marginalized, cold, only important when useful, replaceable. He was at a painful, confusing point where he couldn’t tell who posed the threat, and all he knew was his instinct to flee. He didn’t want to let go of Sonic, but holding on was terrifying. What the hell did he want? He was sure the prince expected more from him, but he had no idea what.

“I…” The prince let out a long sigh. “I relieve you of the title of personal knight. Starting tomorrow, you are free to leave the kingdom and continue your path. You are not obliged to follow any of my orders if you feel your integrity is compromised or you are not comfortable carrying out this duty.”

A knot formed in Lance’s throat. He knew that eventually, he would grow so attached to the prince that the thought of losing him would terrify him, because he didn’t want to feel the same pain he did when his mother died. That alone could destroy him. But now, the idea of not having Sonic anymore, of no longer feeling that he belonged to him in any way, was killing him. He had never been important or cherished by anyone, so he had built his life on extreme independence. That had always worked, until now, when he had Sonic: a willing, sincere hedgehog. His fear kept the prince from feeling that Lance wanted him in his life. And while he could retreat to his comfort zone again, he would end up completely alone… again.

“You can’t make those decisions on your own.” Lance looked at Sonic, perplexed and worried.

“Yes, I can.” Sonic began tucking Lance under the blankets while preparing another set of pillows for himself on the other side. “If I believe something is too much for you, it is my duty to stop it.”

“You know this has been the purpose of my life,” Lance tried to meet Sonic’s gaze, but the prince kept busy with other things. “You can’t take it from me.”

“Lance…” With a sigh, the prince leaned back beside Lancelot. “Have you ever wondered what it is you want?”

“I never thought that mattered.”

“Good. Then I have even more reason to relieve you of your post.”

“If it’s so important to you, fine, then I want whatever is convenient, as long as you let me stay!” His eyes pleaded desperately with Sonic, but he still didn’t look at him.

“You need a purpose, Lance. I can’t give it to you, your mother couldn’t give it to you either, and if you’re not sure of what you want or expect from being with me, it will only make you emotionally weak. That means if you carry all that inside while working for me, your weaknesses become mine, and we’ll both be at risk.”

“So… you’re firing me because I’m not strong enough for you? Is that it?”

“Again, you’re not listening to me.”

“No, you’re not listening to me! You want to call yourself a ‘better king,’ yet you ignore your closest servant?!” Lance no longer knew what he was feeling.

“Maybe we should just sleep,” Sonic turned his back to Lancelot. “You should too. You probably would keep saying things you’ll regret later,” he buried his face in the pillow, “or maybe things that could hurt me more.” He said the last part almost as a whisper to himself.

Lancelot had never felt worse in so many years, literally; his body was shattered, his pride too. He’d argued with Sonic, likely wouldn’t remember half of what he said, and had lost everything he had strived for since he could remember. It was his fault, wasn’t it? He hadn’t been enough for this… or maybe Sonic was just a selfish idiot who enjoyed using Lance and now that he was no longer useful, he had to get rid of him.

No… Sonic wasn’t like that. It was just his pain talking.

He was there, in the prince’s chambers, yet simultaneously so far away. Life had always been cruelly ironic with him; it was no surprise he had reached a point where he began to believe he deserved this.

Lance barely moved in bed. Though the pain had eased, he felt that peculiar discomfort in his bones that usually comes with a fever, but he had no fever, just pain. He could only sleep in brief bursts before waking again; if it wasn’t his body bothering him, it was his mind replaying what he had said over and over. At least Sonic’s sheets were soft enough to rest on.

“Sheets…” he thought.
He turned toward Sonic and noticed he wasn’t covered by anything. Surely it wasn’t because the palace lacked sheets, but because Sonic knew if he went to get more, he’d leave Lance alone and a servant might find him. So he chose to endure the cold, and now that Lance observed him closely, he shivered slightly, hugging himself unconsciously for warmth.

“You’re an idiot,” Lance whispered.

With the little strength his body had regained, Lance tried to pull Sonic close without waking him. For a moment, Sonic let out a small groan, as if about to wake, but he didn’t. After a pause, Lance continued moving the blue hedgehog carefully, yet with effort, until he had him beside him. He covered him with the sheet and held him from behind, trying to share his warmth.

And what a wonderful feeling it was.

He thanked the heavens that Sonic was asleep, because Sonic probably wouldn’t have allowed him to make that “effort,” since Lance was supposed to be cared for. He hated that Sonic thought he was weak. But feeling his scent, his warmth… his presence… Lancelot felt calm, accompanied, certain that things would be okay, even if it was only an illusion, because he had his prince close. And at the same time, having the hedgehog in his arms was a kind of reassurance that Sonic was well, there where he could feel him.

He deeply regretted not being there the night Sonic offered him his company.

And it was the prince that he needed most to finally fall asleep.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆☾ ⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

The songs of the early-rising birds were the first thing Lance heard upon waking. The sun hadn’t yet appeared, but morning was clearly present through the window.

Once he was a little more conscious, he reached out for Sonic, but no one was there.

Apparently, the prince had made sure to leave even earlier to avoid seeing Lance, and that hurt him deeply. Had everything he said yesterday made Sonic hate him?

He looked to the right side of the bed and saw a set of clean clothes, a hood, and a tray with breakfast. Surely, Sonic had gone without eating again, leaving the tray so Lance could have something to eat, but with the emotional pain he carried now, his appetite was completely gone.

Lance picked up the clothes, one of the few simple pleasures life would still grant him, since they were Sonic’s. They smelled like him, and a small butterfly fluttered in his stomach knowing he was wearing the prince’s garments. Then he paused at the belt, the gift he had given him, the most beautiful, most valuable piece he had ever imagined using. But now, he felt unworthy of putting it on; Sonic had been clear: he no longer belonged to him. He was free.

“I should leave it here,” Lance muttered to himself.

But on the other hand, he felt that leaving the belt behind meant leaving Sonic. Both of them knew the gift’s meaning: love and protection. Lance didn’t know what kind of love Sonic had for him, and he didn’t want to find out, not yet. A small, selfish part of him wanted to keep the item, no matter if Prince Arthur denied it even with the belt on, because it no longer symbolized Sonic’s protection and affection. Now it carried a new meaning: even if the prince rejected him, Lance would remain loyal to the crown, with or without a title. His will was with Sonic until his last day.

He wished he could have given Sonic something like that, the illusion that the prince might symbolically show that Lance protected him… or loved him.

Now it didn’t matter, because Sonic wouldn’t wear it anyway, and soon someone else would give him a jewel, one he would certainly use.

Lance finished adjusting his hood, took one last look around the room, trying to imprint a memory of being in Sonic’s chambers, his scent, his sheets, his belongings, everything he was, before slipping away through the balcony like a vile creature.

A creature that had probably held something incredibly important in its hands and lost it.

Chapter Text

Tails walked along the endless halls of the castle with eagle-like vision, trying to find Sonic. The place didn’t make the search easy: huge flower vases, curtains of fine fabric, busy servants rushing to finish their tasks, and closed doors he had to open one by one just to see if anyone was inside.

The fox knew Sonic had the habit of eating outside the castle, since he always said it was the only way he could choose the food he wanted, so he hadn’t even considered looking for him in the royal dining room. But he told himself he had nothing to lose if he checked there anyway.

To his surprise, there was the blue hedgehog, alone, in the middle of the enormous dining hall that looked almost intimidating for a single individual, giving the comical or tragic impression that the place could swallow Sonic whole at any moment.

“Your Highness? I’ve been looking for you all day, even His Majesty the King asked about your absence at lunch.” Tails started off sounding like a scolding, but as soon as he saw Sonic’s downcast expression, he softened his tone.

“Let me guess, he didn’t ask because he was worried, but because he was furious I’m a ‘negligent’ who spends too much time outside without supervision?” Sonic fiddled half-heartedly with one of the grapes on his plate.

“Well… yes, he was upset,” Tails admitted with some discomfort, rubbing his left arm. “But it’s just that you always have lunch and dinner with him, unlike breakfast, so this time he really noticed your absence.”

“Doesn’t matter. If I had eaten with him in my current mood, he’d probably be furious because I’m being ‘disrespectful’ to the king.” With obvious annoyance, Sonic leaned back in his chair, giving up on finishing the small plate of fruit in front of him.

“Do you want to talk about what’s going on?” Tails pulled a chair over and sat down. Normally, a servant shouldn’t even dream of sitting in the royal family’s dining space, but it was mid-afternoon, so no one else would be coming in at that hour. And if another servant did see, one glance at Sonic would be enough to know the prince had given permission.

“Don’t take it the wrong way, kiddo. I adore you, and you know you’re my best friend. But I think my problem is a bit sentimental this time, and maybe Amy would be a better help with this.”

“And I don’t deny it, Princess Amy is very good at dealing with people’s hearts. She’s helped me too,” Tails smiled fondly, remembering Amy. “But the princess is far away right now, and she won’t be back until the day of the competition to make her engagement to you official. So for now, I’m all you’ve got.”

“Fine.” With laziness and a hint of distrust, Sonic turned his gaze to Tails. “But promise me you’ll listen until the end without interrupting. Once I’m done, hit me if you want.”

“We’re already off to a bad start,” Tails sighed in mild annoyance. “But fine, I’ll listen. Go on.”

“It’s about the guy I met outside the palace, the one I said would be excellent as my right hand for all this curse business, and maybe even had the potential to become my personal knight.” Sonic stayed leaning back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. “Well… he and I had some sort of argument last night.”

“Last night? The night an intruder tried to…?”

Sonic looked at Tails with resignation, trying to tell him indirectly that the culprit of the commotion had been Lancelot.

“Oh, I see where this is going.” Tails wasn’t disappointed, he already knew Sonic had a bad habit of hanging around with somewhat questionable people. So he just resigned himself to listening, letting the prince continue his story.

“We fought because he came into the castle without telling me first. My issue wasn’t that he wanted to be here, but that he didn’t trust me enough to tell me what he needed to do.” Sonic rubbed at his furrowed brow with frustration. “I told him that we’re supposed to be a team, that just as I entrust him with my plans, he has to do the same, or else our relationship won’t work.”

“You mean a working relationship, or another kind of relationship?”

“Ugh! I don’t know,” Sonic groaned, frustrated by his own confusion. “Either way, there’s not much difference between the loyalty and closeness of a knight and that of a… ‘companion’ in a relationship. But what hurts me most is that he thinks I’m capable of hurting him. I’ve seen it, I know deep down he doesn’t trust me.”

“Well, maybe it’s just a matter of him getting to know you a little more. Either way, he does want that job, doesn’t he?”

“That’s another problem.” Sonic’s expression shifted to sadness. “He’s not doing this because he cares for me as a friend, or as his future king. He’s doing it as some kind of tribute to his mother’s memory, but a tribute built out of frustration, anger, and loneliness. And I don’t want the person destined to guard me my whole life to do it because he’s trying to prove something, or out of interest or apathy. I want him to do it from a genuine feeling of enjoying that role.” He leaned forward again, fixing his eyes back on the plate in front of him. “My father doesn’t care if the people who serve him truly want to, or if they’re happy, or if they sacrifice parts of their lives just out of ‘respect for the crown.’ But I do. I want those around me to stay because they want to, even if it’s just a few.”

"And you wish him to want to stay with you out of respect for who you are, not just for what the job itself means."

"I know how deeply he’s been scarred by the political system that keeps this place running. I hate it too, and I swear I’ll rebuild everything from the ground up. But that resentment eats away at him, it pushes him away from the people or situations that could actually help him. And even if it bothers me that he doesn’t trust me, when I’ve never given him a reason not to, I’m also frustrated with myself… for not being able to do more." Exhausted, he covered his face with his hands. "Maybe I’m not as good a prince as I thought."

"I know how much you love helping everyone, Sonic, even those outside your kingdom." With gentleness, Tails rested a hand on Sonic’s shoulder. "But the way he sees you as a threat, the way he’s probably terrified of being vulnerable… that isn’t your fault. That comes from something much deeper within him. You can reach his heart, as I know you can, but it’s up to him to decide if the risk is worth it. Because even though you’re the most incredible person I know, nothing in the world guarantees to him that you won’t turn out just like your father, that you won’t hurt him."

"Then what else am I supposed to do?!" His frustration was clear now.

"Nothing," Tails said with a reassuring smile. "Just make sure he knows you’ll always be where he can find you. Be clear with your intentions. Only he can decide if you’re worth the risk. Because while you’ve also laid yourself bare to him, and yes, he’s hurt you, he has just as much to lose if this goes wrong. The difference is, you’ve learned to survive hard times with the love of your friends. You know we’ll always be here to hold you up if things fall apart. But if things fall apart for him… he won’t have anywhere safe to turn to."

"Now I don’t know if I should hug him or punch him."

"Let him mull it over for a while, just like you’re doing. When the time is right, he’ll come back."

"And if he never does, because of me?"

"Then go to him for one last talk, once enough time has passed." The fox rested his head on Sonic’s shoulder. "But don’t forget to take care of your own feelings too. You’re too noble sometimes, and you forget about yourself."

Sonic knew Tails was right. Even with all the goodwill in the world, it would be Lancelot who had to make the choice, to trust him, or not.

Still, a part of Sonic remained hurt. Even if he tried not to take it personally, the idea that Lance believed he, an anonymous hero, could harm or betray him sparked resentment. And though Sonic knew that mistrust came from Lance’s troubled past, he longed to prove to him that he was safe with him, that if he could, he would lay his heart bare on a silver platter, vulnerable and unguarded, just to show his sincerity.

But wounded people don’t think that way. And Sonic’s feelings alone wouldn’t be enough to change who Lancelot was, what he feared, or what truly gave meaning to his life. For that to happen, Lancelot had to choose it.

Maybe that was Sonic’s real problem, he always went out of his way to solve everyone else’s troubles, so sure of his own skills that he forgot some problems weren’t his to fix. Pride had made him believe he could overcome any challenge life threw at him, that he could change anyone, even the selfish, the distrustful, the liars. All it took, he thought, was giving them "a chance." That if he set a good example, they’d follow.

But for the first time, he had to accept that maybe… he couldn’t change everything he set his heart on. Not everything revolved around his abilities as a good prince.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆☾ ⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

Darkness had settled quietly over the starry sky that night. Sonic was only just returning to his chambers after a busy day he had forced upon himself to avoid thinking about Lancelot.

He hated feeling sad, drained, and powerless. Even though he had finished every task his father expected of him, the ones he usually ignored, the ache in his chest lingered. It sat there, stubborn, pounding against his soul, reminding him that there would be no peace tonight. No matter what he did, things with Lance weren’t right. They wouldn’t work together again, and someday he’d have to accept it. But tonight wasn’t that day.

Sonic hadn’t eaten dinner. Despite his father’s request to join him, he lied, said he’d worked too hard and was too tired, and that he would retire to bed. The king hadn’t pressed the matter and simply let him go.

The prince wasn’t usually one to sit and dwell on his thoughts, but tonight he needed some kind of stillness in his pain. He walked out onto the balcony to look at the sky. Somehow, through all the years of confinement and loneliness, the moon had been his truest companion, his confidant. It had watched him laugh and cry, always shining down, letting him believe that no matter what, there would always be a light quietly keeping him company.

The silence was soothing, a little cold, but comforting nonetheless. Until, within that calm, Sonic heard something rustling in the bushes beneath his balcony. At first he thought it might be some animal nosing through the roses. But then, under the glow of the moon, an unmistakable color came into view.

"Your Highness…" Lancelot breathed, barely more than a whisper, his eyes lifting timidly toward Sonic.

"Lance…" Sonic feared his sadness was starting to play tricks on him.

Lancelot’s eyes shone with desperate pleading among the red roses of the gardens, as if he were silently waiting for Sonic’s permission to speak, because deep down, he was terrified Sonic might leave him standing there, or worse, ask him to go.

"Your Highness, I…"

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Sonic whispered as harshly as he could, loud enough for Lance to hear, but low enough that no other knight would notice the scene unfolding on the balcony.

Lance’s tail tucked between his legs as his courage faltered; maybe coming to the castle had been a terrible idea. "Forgive me for coming back when you don’t want me around anymore, but please, just give me a moment to speak…"

"What? No! That’s not it," Sonic’s tone turned nervous. "I never said I didn’t want to see you again. I’m just worried someone might spot you and we’ll end up in the same mess as last time…"

A flicker of hope returned to Lance’s eyes at not being outright rejected. "Then come down and meet me. Somewhere private, where we can talk properly."

"I don’t know. I don’t want us to take that risk. They’re still on edge after your last intrusion…"

"I swear we’ll be quiet. I just want us out of here. This time I’m not here to steal anything… I swear it."

The prince hesitated at the threshold of the balcony, his nerves pulling at him too. Which was stupid—he’d known Lance for a while now, so why was he tense? Maybe this time, it was Sonic who was afraid, afraid of hearing whatever it was the dark-spiked knight had to say.

"Your Highness…" Lance pleaded softly. "Arthur…"

Lance had never called Sonic by his real name before. Whenever others did, it was always paired with his title, spoken with formality and respect. To say it so plainly was daring, even for Lancelot. Yet Sonic didn’t dislike it. In fact, a spark ran through him at the sound. They both knew the boldness of it, but the way Lance said it, so submissively, made it feel almost intimate.

Sonic froze for a heartbeat, unsure whether to keep scolding Lance or just say to hell with it and leap into his arms.

"I…" His breathing grew heavy. "All right." It was all Sonic managed to say.

The prince vaulted from the balcony, landing in the roses as Lance extended a hand to pull him up.

"Come with me. We’ll ride my steed."

"You brought your own horse?"

"Well, I figured you’d be angry if I stole one from your stables just to sneak you out."

Sonic allowed himself a small smile. It amused him that Lance had avoided touching anything from the castle just to keep him happy.

Once they cleared the castle walls, a striking black mare awaited them on the other side. Her coat gleamed, her eyes were sharp, and her elegance matched Lancelot perfectly.

"She’s beautiful," Sonic admired, running his hand along the animal’s neck. "What’s her name?"

"Esmeralda." Lance offered his hand to help Sonic mount. "She’s fast too."

"Well, the horses at the castle are also pretty…" Sonic didn’t even get to finish before the mare reared with a sharp neigh and burst into a fierce gallop.

Startled by the sudden speed, Sonic clung tightly to Lance’s waist, wrapping his arms completely around him. The knight tensed at first but soon eased into the embrace, secretly relishing the closeness.

After a quiet but oddly comfortable ride, they reached the place where Lance had been staying. They settled Esmeralda in the stable and slipped inside with careful steps, leaving no trace behind as they made their way to the right door.

Sonic crossed the threshold, Lance close behind. At first, he noticed only a few warm lights he assumed were candles to guide them. But when he looked closer, he found a sight he hadn’t expected.

"What is this?" Sonic stared in bewilderment. In the center of the dining room sat a carefully prepared, homely tea party. A white tablecloth draped the table, a small red-berry cake with cream sat at its center, and a vase of daisies added a splash of color. Two cups of steaming tea waited for them, bathed in candlelight.

"I know tomorrow is finally your birthday," Lance said, feeling a little nervous about the gift he had prepared for Sonic. "I would have liked to spend it with you, but I know that as a prince, that will be impossible. So I prepared this little celebration, so that when midnight comes, I’ll be the first to wish you well."

Sonic approached the table carefully. His mind had been so clouded with problems that he had completely forgotten his birthday. The few people who genuinely remembered the date were Rouge, Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, but they were always the last to see him because his father held extravagant parties in advance, forcing him to be surrounded by opportunistic aristocrats who showered him with empty gifts in exchange for favors from him or his father. It was an event he had hated for so many years because no one ever asked what he wanted, or even remembered that the whole purpose of those grand celebrations was for him.

But this… this was intimate, honest, homemade… something created with heart to show affection, not to demand anything in return.

"I know your favorite dessert is blueberry cake because it’s the one your mother always requested for her birthdays. I didn’t have time to get blueberries, so I had to buy red ones. I’m sorry."

"How did you know that?" Sonic asked in surprise, turning to look at Lance.

"Rouge told me," Lance said timidly, fidgeting with his fingers. "I asked if there was anything I could give you, and she mentioned the cake. Though, if I’m honest, I only bought the ingredients. She baked it."

"It doesn’t matter," Sonic said, looking at the scene with tenderness. "This is the sweetest gesture anyone could have ever done for me."

They both sat at opposite ends of the table. Lance cut a slice for Sonic and one for himself, placing them on their plates while the prince poured the tea. Eating was quiet, but never uncomfortable, with Lance, nothing ever felt awkward.

"So…" Sonic finally broke the silence after a while. "Was this what you wanted to talk to me about?"

"No," Lance said, finishing a sip of tea. "Actually, I did want to talk to you… about what happened last time."

Sonic’s quills bristled, memories of everything they had said rushing back. The weight and guilt slowly returned to the air.

"Lance, I know…"

"Wait, me first," he interrupted confidently. "I know you said you wouldn’t give me the title of Sentinel of the Dawn because my purpose for being by your side wasn’t genuine. And to be honest, you’re right, my reasons weren’t justifiable for wanting to be with you."

A small pang of worry spread through Sonic’s chest.

"But on the other hand," Lance sighed, "you matter to me, Sonic, not just because you’re a prince, an extraordinary one at that, but because you’re you. Because I believe in your cause. Because I believe in your cause. Because I rejoice when you achieve something you want. Because your commitment to your people moves me. But above all… because I want to protect you from anyone who would harm you. Because if anything happened to you, it would be as if it happened to me."

Sonic had expected anything but this.

"You said your loyalty to me was so strong that wherever you are welcomed, I would be too, and that your battles would be ours. So I think I’m being as honest as possible when I say that if one day you suffer, your suffering would be mine. That’s why I want to offer my life in your service."

The prince was frozen and at the same time moved. Though it wasn’t the first time Lance had a moment of sincerity, this was the first one Sonic felt so directly.

"Lance, it’s not that I don’t want to accept your offer, but I still think you should explore a little more of your life out there, meet people, have experiences without the weight of a promise. Only then can you decide if you truly want to give your whole life in my service."

"Do you feel selfish for accepting someone who was raised solely to be a servant?"

"Exactly. It wouldn’t be fair to take advantage of the way you were raised and impose a purpose on you."

"Then… will you continue denying me the title of your personal knight?"

"Temporarily, yes," Sonic replied firmly.

"It doesn’t matter, " Lance said calmly. "Because, as I said, what matters is keeping you safe for who you are to me. I will stay by your side to face the curse, and I will still enter the competition to claim the role of your personal knight."

"Lance…"

"You said you wouldn’t give me the title, but not that I couldn’t participate in the competition. Either way, I don’t care about winning. I care about keeping you safe, and until I’m sure you’ll be alright, I’ll do everything to stay by your side. You placed an intangible symbol around my waist that marks me as yours, so I plan to continue being faithful to you, with or without a title. I do this for you, for us, so I think that makes my purpose clear." Lance sighed. "It’s true that I may have lost part of my life trying to fill a void and drown my resentment. Maybe in a few years I’ll want to leave and see the world, or maybe not, I don’t know, but I know what I want to do right now. And what I want is right in front of me. Once I make sure you’re safe and sound, I’ll leave, as is your will, and live my life apart from yours."

This was something new. Sonic was aware of how closed-off Lancelot could be when things got difficult or escaped his emotional control, but this time he had accepted and respected Sonic’s terms while also imposing his own. He knew the title of personal knight had been denied, but he was determined to prove that he was the ideal candidate, and above all, that he would keep Sonic safe until the curse that weighed on the kingdom was lifted.

After a long silence, Sonic finally dared to respond.

"Go ahead. You’re free to enter the contest."

"Really?" Lance asked, a little suspicious. "You’re not going to give me one of your moral speeches about why what you think is best for me is better than my own decisions?"

"No. This time, I think you’re doing this to help a friend, not just out of honor or blind obedience," Sonic said, his resignation clear in his expression. "But as you said, even if you win, I won’t choose you as my knight. Is that clear?"

"Fine by me," Lance crossed his arms. "Besides, I’m sure that once you see I’m the only one capable and efficient enough to protect you, you’ll have no choice but to grant me that title."

"Hmp… don’t get too confident, dark knight," Sonic said with a teasing smile directed at Lancelot.

"Well… I also brought you something else," Lance said, scratching the back of his neck with slight shyness, unsure if he should continue with what he had planned.

"What do you mean?"

"Well… I…" Lance let out a deep sigh, as if the task he was about to undertake was incredibly difficult. "I have a gift for you."

Sonic’s eyes widened in surprise. He never would have believed that Lance was the kind of person to buy gifts for others, especially since he himself rarely accepted them.

"Alright. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d give me anything," Sonic said, smiling with mild astonishment.

"Listen, I know it’s not the kind of expensive gift you probably expect to receive just for being a prince," Lance began, already feeling embarrassed. "But I wanted to give you something symbolic, too."

Timidly, Lancelot extended a hand to Sonic, offering a small cloth pouch he had taken from his shirt. Carefully, the prince untied the ribbon keeping the pouch closed and, with utmost care, placed its contents in his hand.

Sonic looked at the gift with surprise and emotion.

Inside was a delicate gold chain with a small green gemstone shaped like a rose at its center. The gem didn’t seem authentic, it was probably glass, but the chain was real gold, so Sonic assumed Lance must have pawned something to get it.

"At first, I didn’t know what to give you," Lance admitted. "But when I saw this little green pendant shaped like a rose, it reminded me of your eyes… but also of the rose bushes under your balcony."

Sonic’s face began to warm slightly. The fact that Lance remembered the color of his eyes with such fondness felt like the most wonderful thing anyone had ever said to him.

"I…" Lance continued, finding it harder than he expected. "I wanted to give you something symbolic, like the belt you gave me. I wanted something that implicitly shows I’m with you, that I’ll always protect you. But I guess the necklace won’t tell anyone else that." In a resigned manner, he looked at Sonic expectantly.

"It’s perfect."

"Really?"

"Yes, because at least when I feel its weight around my neck, I know you’re with me wherever I go. I’ll never be alone." The prince looked at the gift with genuine love and gratitude.

Lance felt that little fluttering butterfly in his stomach again. It was wonderful, but still terrifying.

"Could you… put it on me, please?"

"What?!" Sonic’s voice snapped Lance out of his reverie.

"Could you place it around my neck, please?"

"Y-yes, right away." Lance stood, stumbling slightly, while Sonic rose gracefully and calmly.

Both of them stood by the table, Sonic with his back turned, pushing his quills aside with his hands to give Lancelot direct access to his neck. Meanwhile, the dark knight struggled to fasten the necklace correctly, trying not to touch Sonic’s neck, but the nerves of having him so close in such a tempting way were tearing him apart from the inside.

Once the task was done, the prince turned to face Lance, illuminated by the candlelight.

"Thank you. I’ll never take it off," Sonic said, his intense green eyes piercing Lancelot in a way that was both delicious and painful.

"It was my pleasure, I suppose," Lance replied, unsure how to continue the conversation. Sonic was so close that he felt an urge to flee, yet at the same time, he wanted to move even closer.

They stood there, staring at each other for a long while, as if waiting for the other to make a move, something neither of them could define.

Then, soft music filled the room.

"What’s that?" Sonic asked.

"Oh, it’s the tavern nearby. Sometimes musicians play there for the night guests," Lance explained.

"I see."

After what seemed like an eternity, Sonic realized that if he didn’t act soon, Lance probably wouldn’t either. That man could be so stubborn, and just as foolish as he was handsome.

"Shall we dance?" Sonic asked.

"What?"

"Let’s dance. The music outside is beautiful, and since it’s my birthday, what’s a party without music?" That warm smile, always characteristic of Sonic, appeared on his face, leaving Lancelot unable to refuse.

Lance’s palms trembled, and his hands began to sweat from nervousness. He felt ridiculous—after all this time together, he still felt like an inexperienced teenager when it came to touching someone.

As always, Sonic was bold, placing both hands around Lance’s neck, while Lance subtly rested his own hands on Sonic’s waist, feeling them draw closer… dangerously close.

Sonic set the pace, guided by the soft, sweet melody outside.

At first, the prince could feel Lance’s body tense under his touch, reluctant to get too close to Sonic’s face. So he moved slowly, ensuring that his companion felt the proximity as natural, pleasant, and harmless.

After a while, Lance adjusted under Sonic’s arms, getting closer and finding rhythm in the prince’s subtle sway. It wasn’t a complex dance; it was simply Sonic swaying side to side while keeping Lance gently embraced, letting him feel his presence, scent, and warmth in a delicate, slow manner. For Sonic, it was absolute bliss, he wanted to savor every part of Lance, because if he could, he would melt into that firm yet charming hold on his waist from his precious knight.

Sonic did not want to frighten Lance or trigger his flight instincts, but having him so close was suffocating. His mind and heart screamed for him to move closer, craving a small taste of what a sweet kiss might feel like.

Second by second, the prince’s heartbeat raced. He was going to do it, he would kiss Lance and accept whatever response came, whether it was a punch, an insult, a rejection, or even being thrown out. He was willing to take the risk. Slowly and methodically, Sonic began to close his eyes and lean in, bringing his lips toward Lance, making sure his arms drew him gently against his body, hoping Lance would understand the atmosphere and anticipate his next move.

Unexpectedly, Lance didn’t pull away. His body tensed slightly at first, but he didn’t try to escape; instead, he began holding Sonic’s waist tighter, letting himself be guided. Though uncertain about whether to go through with it, his attraction to Sonic overpowered his fear. Heaven knew he wanted this more than anything.

Their lips were about to meet; finally, he would experience the thing he couldn’t quite define but knew could only be found on Sonic’s body.

However, just as Lance believed nothing could take his prince away again, his hand inadvertently slid to Sonic’s hip, brushing against the sword attached to his side… and nothing could have prepared him for what came next.

The instant Lancelot felt the cold metal of the sword, a jolt ran through his body, and a fleeting, blurred image of a silhouette flashed in his mind. His hand hurt, his head ached, and he instinctively released Sonic, stumbling backward, utterly confused.

"Lance!" Sonic was startled by the knight’s pained expression. "What’s happening?! Are you all right?!"

Sonic reached out with his hands, trying to steady Lancelot in case he collapsed.

“Lancelot…” A deep, dark female voice began to echo inside Lance’s head.

“Lancelot, my dear, come closer to me.” His head wouldn’t stop pounding. He was suffocating, and he needed something to pull him out of this confusing trance. The only thing he could think of was splashing his face with cold water.

“I’m just a little dizzy. Let me wash my face, maybe then I’ll feel better.” Lance tried not to scare Sonic, pressing one hand to his temple as he hurried off to the bathroom, desperate for cold water to wash away these “hallucinations.”

In his panic, he slammed the door shut behind him and rushed for water. He grabbed one of the buckets he used to wash in the mornings and plunged his face into it completely, hoping this would somehow drive the pain away and prove that the voices were nothing more than mental exhaustion.

But they weren’t.

When he lifted his head from the water, that voice returned.

“My precious little cub, why do you run from my voice?”

That voice, so familiar and bittersweet. It stirred something inside him, torn between fear and longing.

A sharp image struck his mind. Closing his eyes, he saw her clearly, vividly, as though she were standing right in front of him, speaking to him like in any normal conversation.

His mother was talking to him.

“N-no… that’s not possible…” Lance froze with terror at the sight before him. “You can’t be my mother… she… she’s already…”

The woman, with her crimson quills and piercing, icy gaze, stepped closer with unsettling tenderness. “But I am your mother, my sweet boy.” She took Lance’s hands in hers. “We’re inside your mind right now, that’s why you can see me and hear me.”

Lance’s breathing grew heavy and uneven. He wanted to run, to cry out for Sonic like a frightened child, but his body refused to move.

With infinite calm, his mother caressed his cheek gently. “It’s been so long, my beautiful baby. You’ve become such a formidable knight! And not only that, you’ve won the prince’s heart,” her smile turned chilling “as it was always meant to be.”

Lance managed to force out a few words, trembling. “W-what do you mean by that?”

“Oh, my beloved shadow, do you still not sense what all this is about?”

Lance shook his head, his face frozen in sheer terror.

“You’re right. You were still so small when they took me from your side.” Her smile turned bitter. “My dear son, I am the witch who brought Prince Arthur into this world. Which means… you are the beast destined to rip the heart from the future king.”

Lancelot went utterly rigid.

“This is just a hallucination… I’m just exhausted, and I’m imagining things.” He let out a dry, nervous laugh. “That’s what this is, right? Right?”

His mother’s eyes softened with a false compassion as she caressed his cheek again. “No, my baby. It’s the truth. You were born with the task of killing the prince when he comes of age to claim the throne.”

Hot, heavy tears began to well in Lance’s eyes. Terror and disbelief gave way to anguish, rage, and the crushing weight of losing someone he loved all over again.

“Don’t do this to me, Mother,” Lance whispered in a desperate plea, clutching her hands. “You can’t be that woman… you’d never force me to kill anyone… you… you…”

“Lance, darling,” her tone shifted to one of pitiful manipulation, “the king promised me a life of honor and freedom if I helped his wife give birth. But it was all a lie. That bastard only used me for the purposes of his crown. Once the deed was done, he tried to dispose of me.” Her voice curdled into bitter fury. “I escaped into the forest and I swore my firstborn would be the one to end the life of his firstborn, as vengeance for his betrayal. That’s why we lived in hiding, treated like a plague, because he was always hunting us… until he finally found me.”

Her words pierced Lance’s chest with unbearable pain. He didn’t want to remember the suffering that came with losing her, the days of hunger, sickness, and loneliness.

“But the king wanted you dead as well,” his mother’s eyes hardened. “He knew it would be the beast born of me that would bring ruin to the kingdom. But thankfully… he never found you.”

“Beast?”

“Yes, you are the beast.”

“I’m not a beast, I’m your son, Mother.” There it was again, that side of her that always made Lance believe she had never really loved him, that she saw him as many things, but never as a cherished child.

“Lance,” his mother sighed with feigned compassion, “you are not an ordinary hedgehog. You weren’t conceived from the fruit of intimacy, you were implanted into my womb through my magic. You are a blend of my own genetics and those of the sacred shadow beasts, who allowed me to bring into this world my avenger. I didn’t give birth because I wanted a baby, but because I needed a warrior.”

This time, Lance felt more wounded and miserable than he ever had in his entire life. It was one thing to imagine that his mother didn’t love him, but a small part of him had always hoped, hoped that the rare gestures of kindness she showed meant that, in some distant way, she did love him. Even if she hit him sometimes, abandoned him, screamed at him… he wanted to believe she loved him, even fleetingly.

But this, the cold and cynical confirmation from her own mouth that Lancelot was never anything more than a tool, tolerated only because he was useful… No, not even a tool. Tools were crafted, valued, cared for. He was merely a beast.

“Mother, tell me it isn’t true.” Lance’s hands trembled as his throat closed up. “Please tell me I was ever your son, that you once valued my company… that you’re only angry because your life was taken… tell me I’m not the thing everyone fears, the thing Sonic wishes to kill.”

His mother looked at him with pity and resignation. “My little vengeful shadow, that isn’t something to fear. You have more strength and skill than you realize, and when the day of the prophecy comes, you will be unstoppable. Everything that once exiled us will be yours.”

Lance collapsed to his knees, still clinging to his mother’s hands as though holding on to her could somehow make the pain hurt less.

“Listen, I know this must be emotionally overwhelming, and I’m sorry. But when I created you, I wanted to strip away every trace of sentimental humanity. Unfortunately, that part of me carried over in my blood. Still, once you accept this, you’ll see it differently… and you’ll be able to kill the prince.”

Lancelot stiffened instantly. The thought of killing Sonic reignited a spark of strength in his body, and he snapped his gaze toward his mother. “No. I will not kill Sonic. I swore I’d protect him with my life, and that’s what I’ll do. For once I finally have a purpose, a good one, one that doesn’t make me unwanted.”

“This isn’t about what you want, Lance. It’s about what you must do. You don’t have the right to choose.” The woman dropped to her knees so she was at his level. “That’s how curses work, they vanish only when fulfilled. And if you think I don’t have the power to force you…” Her hand clamped his jaw, claws digging into his cheeks. “I do. If you refuse to pierce the prince’s heart with his own sword, I will possess your body and do it myself.”

“You can’t…”

Her gaze hardened. “I brought you into this world, Lancelot, and I have the power to do anything I wish with you. Even kill you.”

“Then take me. Kill me. Do it! I’d rather die than lay a finger on Sonic!” Tears burned down his cheeks in furious streams.

“Oh, my dear, don’t you see? Dying would mean nothing, because I could still take over your body and kill him.”

Lancelot closed his eyes in weary anguish. He was so tired of being powerless when it came to protecting the ones he loved.

“Then I’ll do what you ask, whatever it is. Just… leave the prince alive…” His lips trembled, unable to hold back the sobs. “Mommy, please…” He was left with nothing but the desperate pleas of a child begging for mercy.

The woman regarded him with irritation, hesitating whether to act, then finally relaxed her shoulders and released his face. “Fine. I suppose the king loves his kingdom more than his son anyway, so I’ll let you spare the prince’s life. But in exchange, you’ll take Camelot entirely, and you’ll leave it at my mercy.”

“And how do you expect me to do that?” Lance’s voice grew hoarse under the strain in his throat.

“Arthur trusts you with that foolish knightly tournament. What I need is for you to take his sword: Excalibur. That sword was blessed with the magic of the gods. Whoever wields it will always claim victory, no matter the battle or the wielder. With it, any warrior is indestructible, and fortune will always favor them.” Her eyes gleamed with greedy delight. “So tell Arthur to place the sword at the finish line as a symbol of triumph. The knight who raises it will be the victor. And since you will win, once the sword is in your hands, the curse will be unleashed upon the kingdom, and no one will be able to stop you.”

“And why would you even want to rule a kingdom if you don’t even have a body to do it?”

“Because I’ll possess yours.” Her smile was simple, cruel. “You don’t want me to kill the prince, so since my original plan to destroy Camelot and slaughter the royal family must change, I’ll settle for something equally satisfying, ruling the kingdom and casting the king and his son into misery, just as they did to me.”

"And what will happen to me once you possess my body?"

"Nothing. You’ll just watch as a spectator everything I do. Your consciousness will be trapped inside mine forever." She caressed Lancelot’s cheek. "But don’t worry, I promise you’ll always have the best view, as my beautiful and obedient shadow."

"When I started gathering clues about the witch who cursed the prince, I had this feeling of familiarity. The way people described your presence, the earring you lost, even the curse itself. I wanted to believe it wasn’t you… I wanted to believe that above all else, my mother had been good." Lance’s ears drooped, his gaze turning melancholic and disappointed.

"Do you want me to give you some advice the way a mother would?" The woman straightened. "I could have been a good witch, a good woman, but I became what they made of me. Out there, there are plenty of people who will take advantage of you, turning your desires and needs into their profit. Why spare their lives if they never spared mine?" Her eyes locked onto Lance. "I don’t care about forgiveness or guilt. That won’t give me back what was stolen from me, nor will it erase my rage. I’m here to claim what I’m owed." Lance’s mother began to feel nauseous as she recalled every detail of that night. "And if you think that prince of yours won’t drive his sword through your chest the moment he learns you’ll be the cause of his death, along with the suffering of everything he loves, then you’re a fool… because if he is a true hero, he will always choose the safety of his people over danger and you are that danger."

Lance’s eyes widened in horror for the first time, because deep down she was right. Sonic was like that. He would give his life for others, protect the ones he loved. Which meant that Lancelot himself was a danger, not only to the prince, but to his home, his friends, his family.

Sonic would not hesitate to kill him when the moment came. And not because he was cruel, but because he loved those who were his home so much that he would do it without a second thought, because it was necessary.

Once again, Lancelot didn’t matter to anyone. He was worth nothing. But worse than that, now he was a danger. His very existence was proof of hatred and resentment, of selfishness, violence, and inequality, of all the dark things harbored in the hearts of others. He had been born from the shadow of vengeance, but even worse, he would betray Sonic and destroy everything he loved. He was nothing but a miserable, despicable form of life.

He wished the king had killed him when he had the chance.

Lancelot came out of the bath sometime later. He didn’t know how long he had been in there, and he didn’t care to find out.

Sonic immediately rose from the chair and held Lance by the arms, worry etched into his face. He looked terrible, his expression and posture betrayed how much the dark knight was suffering.

"Lance, are you okay?" Sonic’s voice was gentle and soft, though his expression betrayed his concern. "You were in there for a long time. Are you hurt?"

This would be the end of Lance. Now he felt unworthy and miserable that someone as good as Sonic would hold him by the arms and worry about him. He knew the prince, and he knew Sonic would want to take care of him.

"I’m fine. It’s just… I didn’t eat all day, and the cake wasn’t a good idea." Lancelot pulled away from Sonic’s grip with disdain, but not disdain for Sonic, disdain for himself. He didn’t deserve that kind of care.

Sonic felt a sting of pain at being pushed away again. Something was happening with Lancelot, and once more he was shutting him out.

"I’m staying here tonight to take care of you," Sonic ordered.

"No, you won’t." Lance’s tone turned rough and harsh.

"That wasn’t a question."

"This is my house. If I say I’ll be fine and that you should leave, you’ll leave." Lance expected this to turn into a fight so Sonic would leave. He didn’t want the prince staying, he was terrified at the thought of his mother possessing his body during the night and harming Sonic.

"You’re pushing me away again, but I’m not leaving. Whether you want it or not, I’ll stay, because it’s my duty to protect you… I’m not going to abandon you." Sonic’s face was a mix of fury and determination.

"Could you, for once in your damn life, just listen to me, Arthur?!" Now all Lance could do was shout. "Get out of my house right now, I need to be alone!" He turned his back on Sonic, fists clenched tightly at his sides.

"Stop pushing me away already!" Sonic was desperate. "You never talk to me, you never let me help you, and I’m so frustrated because I’m scared something will happen to you and I won’t be here to help!" Sonic strode over, grabbed Lance, and forced him to face him. "At least look at me when I…"

His voice broke. Sonic fell silent as he saw Lance’s face streaming with endless rivers of tears.

"Go… please, Arthur… I’m begging you." Lance’s voice was a trembling whisper.

Sonic had never felt such pain before. For the first time, he realized he had hurt Lance in a way he couldn’t comprehend; he was no longer a hero, a savior, or a friend, he was an abusive prince who had terrified and wounded Lance. Because maybe, if he hadn’t pushed his knight so far to these emotional limits, Lance wouldn’t be crying, begging Sonic to leave him alone.

He was hurting Lancelot.

"I-I understand," Sonic’s voice was barely audible. "I’ll leave you to rest. If you need anything, you know how to enter the palace. I’ll see you the day before the tournament."

With that, Sonic left, closing the door gently behind him. Fortunately, he didn’t see how, right after that, Lance collapsed to the floor, drowning in tears, suffocated by his own pain. This time, he would never have truly wanted Sonic to leave. He was scared, alone, and disturbed, but he knew he could be dangerous if the prince stayed.

"I’m so sorry, Sonic," Lance’s voice broke between sobs. "I love you so much it hurts." Another strangled cry cut his voice. "Stay, please… stay," he whispered, hugging himself in the darkness.

And in fact, Sonic did stay.

On the other side of the door was the prince, lying on the floor, listening to every word Lance said.

"I told you I wouldn’t go anywhere, and I meant it," the prince whispered through the wall, with no intention of letting Lancelot hear.

That night, Sonic spent the whole time awake outside Lance’s room, like a silent guard watching over him. If he heard anything dangerous, he would rush in without hesitation. But apparently, Lance fell asleep from the exhaustion of crying all night.

When the first rays of morning light brushed Sonic’s face, he stood up and made his way back to the castle. Maybe he hadn’t been able to comfort Lance the way he wanted to, but he had protected him all night and that left him just a little more at peace.

Chapter Text

The sun rose brightly over the fresh morning inside the royal palace. It was finally Prince Arthur’s twentieth birthday, and the entire kingdom was celebrating. Servants had been awake since dawn, decorating the halls with the finest flowers and fabrics, while the castle guard prepared to receive foreign visitors. Meanwhile, the people of Camelot eagerly awaited the official announcement of the tournament for the title of “The Sentinel of Dawn.”

It seemed as though the entire world had stopped just to honor Sonic.

Everyone but Sonic himself.

In the deepest corner of the royal garden, surrounded by the lively red roses that made the castle a place of beauty, Sonic sat lost in thought, more confused than ever, and sleepless from the night before.

It wasn’t the first time the prince had endured a miserable birthday without anyone noticing. For as long as he could remember, his birthday had always been more about political spectacle than a celebration born of love and joy. Normally, he tolerated these grand events better. But this time, his heart ached too much for him to care how much gold poured through the palace gates as tribute for his birth. What he truly wanted was to be with Lancelot.

Last night they had nearly kissed. They had laughed together, Lance had sought him out, prepared a beautiful party just for the two of them, even given him a necklace with a green rose. So how had everything fallen apart again?

It seemed the closer he got to Lance, the further Lance pulled away, and Sonic no longer knew if this was intentional. Was Lancelot playing with his feelings? Maybe he simply didn’t know what he wanted. Or perhaps Lance was kind to him, but the love he felt for Sonic wasn’t romantic love.

Or maybe Sonic was forcing Lance to care for him, simply because Lance hoped to earn the title of personal knight. And if that was the case, then Sonic was nothing more than a terrible prince.

All Sonic knew for certain was that he truly knew nothing about Lancelot. And the more he felt the need to draw closer, the worse things turned out. He wasn’t even sure if Lance would come for one last look at the tournament grounds.

Tails had told him to give Lance space to think, but how could he, when inevitably they ended up seeking each other out? Sonic was ready to approach Lancelot without fear, to be transparent, to openly show his interest. But Lance wasn’t. It was as though he were fighting a war within himself, whether being with Sonic was terrifying or wonderful… and it was destroying them both.

"Maybe the best thing would be to deny him the right to compete in the tournament altogether," Sonic muttered to himself as he sat in a small gazebo, staring at the roses climbing along the wooden beams and spreading across the ground.

Without warning, a pair of gentle, warm hands slipped around his waist from behind, pulling him into a sudden but familiar embrace.

"You look awfully pensive today!" Amy exclaimed cheerfully behind him.

"Ames?!" Sonic immediately turned to see the princess, radiant and beautiful as always.

Amy wore a pale pink dress with golden embroidery along the neckline and sleeves. A heart-shaped locket hung around her neck, and her quills fell gracefully down, adorned with tiny floral clips delicately placed in her hair.

Sonic’s heart skipped a sweet beat at the sight of one of his dearest friends. Overcome with joy, he spun around and lifted Amy by the waist, twirling her through the air.

"Amy, you’re here!" he said with genuine delight.

"I wanted to be the first to wish you a happy birthday!" Amy laughed, letting Sonic set her gently back on the ground before hugging him tightly again.

"I thought you’d be arriving later. I didn’t even hear them announce your arrival," Sonic said curiously.

"Oh, come on. I’ve been coming to this palace since I was a baby. It’s like my second home, I don’t need formal introductions," she replied, brushing it off.

"I really wanted to see you. It’s been so long since we spent time together."

"I know. I was worried about you too. I know you hate your birthdays, and with all this chaos about the curse, I was scared something might happen to you."

"In truth, my birthday and that curse are the least of my concerns right now." With a heavy sigh, Sonic plucked a rose from the bush and gazed at it with visible sadness.

"Then what’s wrong?" Amy’s protective instinct pulled her closer, her hand brushing along Sonic’s arm in a tender gesture.

"I think my day has finally come, Ames," Sonic said with a dry laugh. "I’m suffering over a rather complicated love."

“Oh! Should I be worried you’re cheating on me?” Amy teased with a playful tone, trying to lighten the sadness in Sonic’s expression.

“Look who’s talking. If that’s the case, I could claim the same about you being with Blaze. And she’s a princess on top of that! I’m pretty sure that counts as treason against my kingdom’s crown.” Grateful for Amy’s sweet gesture, Sonic tried to keep the joke going.

“Speaking of my princess, Blaze said she won’t be coming to your birthday, and she’s very sorry.”

“Why won’t she come? I thought you two would use this as an excuse to spend some time together.”

“You know how strict she is with her work.” Amy shrugged. “Besides, she said it’s your birthday, and I should spend all my time with you. And she’s right, it’s been a long while since we did things together.”

“I’m sorry, Ames. I didn’t mean to stop contacting you,” Sonic admitted, guilt tugging at him for leaving Amy aside for so long. “It’s just… with the whole coronation thing, the curse” he sighed in frustration before adding, “Even our engagement!”

“I told you not to worry about that. I can find a way to avoid our wedding.” Holding Sonic’s arm tightly, Amy tried to offer comfort.

“No. I promised I’d fix this myself, that I’d annul our marriage. And I will.”

“Arthur…”

Amy’s gaze settled on Sonic, a subtle warning, but born of love and concern.

“I…” Sonic’s eyes softened as he understood the unspoken message behind her look. “I know. I shouldn’t assume I can solve everything on my own. I’m sorry.”

“Good.” With a sigh, Amy braced herself for whatever Sonic had to say next. “Now tell me, what troubles you the most?”

“Lancelot.” Sonic spoke his name with a mixture of longing and pain. “That’s the knight I had chosen as my favorite to become the Sentinel of Dawn. But these past days it feels like we don’t understand each other. Sometimes we fight, then we make up, then we work well as a team, and when I think we’re growing closer… it’s like he runs from me, as if I caused him a pain I can’t see.”

“And do you think you’ve done something wrong to him?”

“I don’t know.” Sonic covered his face in visible frustration. “I think he’s afraid of intimacy, of trusting others. It’s as if he’s waiting for me to hurt him at any moment. I can’t make him trust me.” A knot formed in his throat. “But other times he pushes me away so violently, as if I really do hurt him… and it scares me that maybe I am someone harmful to him. Maybe I’m forcing him to be with me.”

“Has he ever told you he’s unhappy in your company?” Amy’s eyes rested on Sonic with both tenderness and attention.

“No, never. But last night… last night he begged me to leave him alone. I try not to take it personally, but it hurt.”

“Did he say why?”

“No. And that’s the worst part! He asked me to leave right after organizing a surprise party for me and giving me this necklace.” Sonic pulled from under his collar the rose-shaped pendant.

Amy paused, observing the necklace for a moment. After some thought, she spoke to Sonic in a calm but firm tone: “Tell me one thing, are you truly in love with him?”

“I think so.” He weighed his words carefully.

“Why are you in love with Lancelot?”

“I don’t know.” Sonic stared intently at the necklace, lost in thought. “I guess because he’s honest. He always pays attention to details, especially if they involve me.” A faint smile touched his lips. “He worries if I’ve eaten well, remembers the little things I say, goes with me wherever I go, tries to get to know me better. He never expects anything in return, and sometimes he even refuses to accept things from me.” That last part drew a weak laugh from him. “I know he’s stubborn, solitary, sometimes disrespectful of my position as prince, and clumsy with his feelings, which can really frustrate me. But… it’s the first time a guy has ever been genuine with me. I’d even say part of his nobility makes him try to hide that, deep down, he’s actually kind. But above all else, he always stays true to his word. That makes me feel safe.”

“Then he’s in love with you too.” Amy’s expression softened with tenderness.

“How could you possibly know that?” Sonic looked at her with a smile full of disbelief.

“Sonic, no one who isn’t interested in you would do all those things.” She regarded the prince as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “If your love weren’t mutual, Lancelot wouldn’t let you know him so well, he wouldn’t even care to know you. And you can always tell when love isn’t mutual. But the way you speak about him, and the way he shows his love for you in ways that feel like he’s always taking care of you… that’s not what an ordinary knight does, Sonic. That’s what someone who loves you does.”

“Do you think that…?”

“Well, there’s always the chance he’s just a wonderful friend. But I’m certain he loves you too. He even put a jewel around your neck, something for everyone to see.”

“Then why does he always push me away? Isn’t the whole point of loving someone wanting to keep them as close as possible?”

“It’s not always that simple.” Amy lifted her eyes to the sky, lost in her own memories. “When I realized I was in love with Blaze, part of me was terrified that she wouldn’t feel the same, especially since she’s such a reserved and proper person. I knew she was used to being alone, she inherited the crown at just fifteen, after her parents died. She refused to let anyone into her life.”

“And how did you manage to get your feelings across to her?”

“I was direct and honest.” Amy clasped her hands together, as if she could reach back to that moment. “I told her everything I felt, everything I could offer her, even my fears, but also what I hoped for from her.” She turned her gaze to Sonic. “Blaze was terrified. She feared that one day I’d leave her just like her parents had, that she wouldn’t have the strength to protect me, even from people who would frown upon our relationship, especially since we could never guarantee an heir to the throne.” Sonic winced at that reminder. “So I asked her one important question.”

Sonic leaned closer, watching Amy expectantly.

“My question was: Blaze, do you not want to be with me because you’re afraid, or because you don’t love me? Because if it’s fear holding you back, you don’t need to be scared. Love never hurts. Love protects and lifts you up. So if we love each other, we’ll always be safe… the heart always finds a way.”

“And… is that true?”

“What is?”

“That the heart always finds a way to keep us safe?”

“Of course. It always protects those we love, and they protect us in return.” Amy caressed Sonic’s cheek with tenderness. “Didn’t your mother give her life to bring you into the world? Doesn’t Tails make sure every day that you’re fed, clothed, and never alone? Didn’t Rouge protect you from the outside world when you first left the castle? Or have you forgotten all the times I wiped away your tears and comforted your heart, making sure you never felt unworthy of love? The hearts of all who love you, and whom you love in return, watch over you. They keep you safe and grant you happiness in ways you don’t even see. That’s why, when you’re in trouble or scared, you turn to your loved ones. Because love keeps you safe. It always finds a way to protect you. And in return, you give that same love back.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen it that way before.”

“Sometimes you move too fast, Sonic. That’s why you miss some things.” A sweet laugh escaped Amy’s lips.

“Princess Amy!” A young, excited voice called out from behind them.

“Tails!” Amy opened her arms with joy, catching him in a strong embrace. “My clever little fox, how are you? It’s been so long since I last saw you.”

“I missed you so much! You have no idea how terrible it is trying to keep Sonic in check.”

“I know, it must be awful.”

“Hey! You two, I’m right here, you know I can hear you!” Sonic protested, making both Amy and Tails laugh in unison.

“I came because the king requests your presence. First, he’ll announce the tournament for the knight’s title, then Sonic’s birthday celebration, and finally the formalization of your engagement. He needs you both to get ready and go over some final details.”

“Figures we couldn’t be happy forever,” Sonic groaned, grimacing at Amy.

“Tell me about it. I feel awful getting engaged to you when I secretly have a girlfriend.” Amy’s expression turned into pure discomfort.

“At least Blaze knows about it. Otherwise I’m sure she’d come here and set me on fire.” A shiver ran through Sonic at the thought of how terrifying Princess Blaze could be.

Much to Sonic’s dismay, and Amy’s discomfort, all the royal events planned for his birthday went off with extreme precision. The knight’s tournament was officially announced, inviting every warrior within and beyond the kingdom, followed by the birthday celebration in the royal hall, where Sonic had to receive hundreds of aristocrats bearing ridiculously expensive gifts and desperately trying to win his favor. At the end of the day came the most complicated task on the agenda: the formal announcement of the royal engagement that would take place after the coronation, uniting the Kingdom of Camelot and the Kingdom of Roses, just as the prince’s and princess’s parents had always wanted.

It had been exhausting, leaving Sonic more irritated than usual. On top of that, he had noticed how much tighter castle security had become, there seemed to be a knight in nearly every hallway as part of the royal council’s security plan. Since no one knew what the cursed beast looked like or when it might appear, they were taking drastic measures from the start. And that only made Sonic feel even more stressed than usual.

But there was one old tradition on his birthday that always cheered him up, the small gathering he had with Tails, Knuckles, and Rouge at the inn just outside the kingdom.

Castle security was certainly tighter than usual, but that didn’t stop Tails and Sonic from sneaking away to meet Rouge. Once they arrived, she welcomed them with a table overflowing with all their favorite dishes: fruits, meats, desserts, and a variety of drinks stretched across the table while hundreds of candles lit the room, making the place feel homely, cozy, and safe, a place where Sonic truly felt happy.

The night went wonderfully, filled with laughter, games, and silly conversations. Sonic and his friends enjoyed a pleasant evening. Every now and then, Rouge would make rather suggestive remarks to Knuckles, leaving the echidna speechless, which amused Sonic greatly and left Tails not always catching the context of the conversation.

As time passed, they decided to bring the evening to a close. Sonic let Knuckles take Tails back to the castle while he stayed behind to share one last drink with Rouge before leaving.

“You’ll be meeting him at midnight, won’t you?” Rouge asked as she finished her last sip of wine.

“I hope he shows up. At the very least, I just want to make sure he’s okay. I didn’t even see him in the crowd when we opened the tournament,” Sonic said, staring into his empty cup with sadness.

“It’s like you two are emotionally constipated,” Rouge teased, laughing softly at her own joke.

“I swear it’s not me. Usually, it’s Lance who pushes me away.”

“But you know,” Rouge leaned forward on her elbows, her tone more serious, “I agree with what the princess told you. Something’s going on with Lance. When he came to me asking for help with your gift, he looked truly invested, even a little nervous. He really wanted to impress you. And in my opinion, that’s not what someone looks like when they’re not in love.”

A subtle flush crept across Sonic's cheeks; the mere thought of Lance growing nervous over him stirred a mix of anxiety and tenderness, leaving him quietly moved by the lengths the knight would go to simply to impress him.

“Oh! You liked picturing your knight nervous over you, didn’t you, darling?” Rouge teased mischievously.

“Rouge!” Sonic covered his face with his hands. “Cut it out, I’m embarrassed now.”

“Oh, come on!” Rouge gently pulled his hands away, a little embarrassed herself for teasing him that way. “It’s fine. It’s normal to feel that way when you’re in love. Don’t be ashamed of it.”

“I just wish I knew what Lance was really thinking.” Sonic’s sad expression shifted the mood entirely.

“Maybe he’ll finally tell you something tonight,” Rouge said with a soft sweetness, trying to lift his spirits. “Besides, the tournament’s right around the corner. If he really wants to protect you like he says, then he needs to stay close to you and start communicating properly.”

“I hope so.” Sonic’s resigned gaze lingered on Rouge, seeking comfort.

Deciding it was time to leave, Sonic reached for the hood he had left on the table, pulling it over himself. He fastened the sword at his belt and double-checked his clothes to make sure everything was in order before heading out.

“See you, Rouge. Thanks for tonight.” Sonic delicately took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“For my boy, I’d do anything.” Rouge cupped his face in her hand and placed a sweet kiss on his cheek as a parting gesture.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆☾ ⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

As always, the moon shone down on Sonic from above, bathing the night in silver. It was a beautiful, cold, clear night. No sounds carried for miles around, save the distant chirping of crickets and the occasional call of an owl. Nights like this gave the prince a rare sense of peace. Even as he waited for Lance’s arrival, he was grateful for the quiet solitude of the shadowed forest.

Sitting on an old fallen log just outside the arena, Sonic caught the faintest sound a few meters away. His sharp hearing told him someone was approaching, even if the bushes themselves never stirred.

And there he was, Lancelot, emerging from the darkness of the woods.

The dark knight looked as mysterious and cautious as ever. His deep-red hood, his form-fitting suit highlighting his athletic figure, and his piercing, voracious gaze all exuded intensity. Yet something about his posture had changed; he seemed unsure, almost melancholic, as if he wasn’t certain he belonged there.

Sonic’s chest suddenly felt heavy. He had an urgent need to run to Lance and make sure he was okay, but he knew there was no way he could do that, not now, not when the knight seemed to retreat the closer Sonic approached.

“H-h-hello,” Sonic stammered, tripping over his words. “I thought… I thought you wouldn’t come.” He tried to smile to ease the tension, but instead, his grin came across as awkward.

“I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have thrown you out of my house like that,” Lance lowered his gaze slightly, apparently not planning to offer any further explanation, as usual.

“You… are you okay?” Sonic took a slow step closer.

“I… uh…” The proximity made Lance tense, yet he didn’t move. He didn’t like this uncomfortable distance between them either.

Gently, Sonic took Lance’s hands in his own. “Come, sit with me. Let’s talk a little.”

He guided Lance to the same spot where he had waited before, holding his hands the whole time, knowing that letting go even for a moment might make Lancelot run away.

“Shouldn’t we go inside to check the arena?” Lance tried to divert Sonic’s attention.

“You already know that arena well. With your skills, nothing in there could surprise you,” Sonic said with a smile, offering Lance a compliment. He knew checking the arena was just an excuse at this point. “Actually, I want us to talk.”

Lancelot tensed under Sonic’s honest gaze. It felt like he was under controlled scrutiny, unsure whether it was good or bad.

“Before you get scared, I’m not here to interrogate you about last night. Even if I think it’s unfair that you never give me explanations, I’ll respect your stance,” Sonic tried to ease Lance’s instinct to flee. “I’m here because I need to be honest, with you and with myself.”

“About what?”

“My feelings.” Sonic could feel Lance freeze at his words. “When I met you, you seemed like an exceptional warrior,” Sonic’s voice grew nervous as he continued, “and I won’t lie… I also found you attractive.”

Lance’s eyes widened in surprise. He had never considered himself “attractive,” and hearing it from Sonic caught him completely off guard.

“But as time went on, it wasn’t just your dedication and commitment that drew me in, it was also your kindness and attentiveness. You’ve been there every time I needed you. You cared for my well-being even when I forgot to care for myself. You remembered the small things because you paid attention. And even though part of your initial loyalty started as mere duty, I know you stay by my side because your affection makes you want to take care of me. And thanks to you, it’s the first time I’ve never felt alone.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Lancelot asked, nervous. He knew where Sonic was going with this, but he desperately hoped it was a mistake. Sonic’s full devotion could put him in danger.

“What I’m trying to say…” Sonic paused, taking a deep breath. “…is that I’m in love with you, Lancelot.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“What?” Sonic was more confused than ever.

“Why would you fall in love with someone like me?” Lancelot laughed dryly, ironically. “You’re confusing things. You think you’re in love with me because I do my job well, protect you, follow you, obey your orders, but that isn’t love, Sonic.” He locked eyes with the prince, trying to convince him otherwise, though a part of Lancelot really wanted to believe and accept that someone finally cared for him. “I have flaws, failings, unpleasant things you don’t know about me. If you ever truly knew me, you’d hate me. Why do you think I’ve been alone all these years? Nobody can stand being by my side. And if you got to know me, you’d want me gone too. You deserve someone better, someone kind, warm, and sincere like you. Someone who’s light for the kingdom, not a heavy, miserable shadow like me.”

“I know your flaws, Lance.”

“And you’re still saying you want to be with me?”

“Of course. Love means accepting someone’s virtues and their flaws,” Sonic explained as if it were the most logical thing in the world. “It’s not about finding someone ‘perfect’, because perfect people don’t exist. It’s about finding someone so unique and special to you that their flaws seem small. If I love you, I will love all those things, even the ones you hate about yourself. They make you who you are. It would be foolish to love you only for the things that benefit me. A relationship wouldn’t work that way.”

Lance was stunned for a moment. He had expected Sonic to overlook all the things he hated about himself and to offer an empty speech of love, which would have made it easier to keep his distance. But now, the prince had not only shown he knew everything about him but accepted his very nature completely. It made Lancelot not want to let Sonic go.

“Sonic, you…” Lance tried to maintain his composure. “You’re a prince, a prince who will become king! You can’t fall in love with a lowly, marginalized commoner! Have you thought about what your father will say? What the kingdom will think of you? The Rose family will be furious! You’re losing your mind over a passing fling.”

“Lancelot, answer me one question,” Sonic’s gaze became serious and direct. “Don’t you want to be with me?”

“W-what…?!” The question had come so suddenly that Lance didn’t know how to respond.

“Please, answer me honestly. I’ve offered you my heart on a silver platter, it’s yours. Do with it what you will, but at least give me a truthful answer.”

Lance’s chest rose and fell with rapid, hidden breaths. Sonic demanded answers he wasn’t ready to give… or perhaps he was. Deep down, he already knew the answer, but now things had changed. He couldn’t be honest. He couldn’t be a coward who said he loved him, who desired Sonic only to betray him later, not when his beloved prince was so vulnerable. Lance didn’t deserve that love. He didn’t deserve Sonic.

Yet he also didn’t want to lie. Sonic deserved the truth.

“I…” His struggle to breathe was visible. “Of course I want to be with you. I’m happy by your side. Never in my life have I had a place where I belong, someone I could call mine. I love it when you laugh, when you say silly, meaningless things, when you expect the best of others even if they don’t deserve it. You’re so honest that it frightens me to let my guard down with you… and I’m also terrified that I won’t have the strength to protect you.”

“Then why do you run?” Sonic squeezed Lance’s hands gently.

“Because it’s my duty. If I let you break down my walls completely, it would be too dangerous. My work must focus on protecting you, and the only way to do that is to maintain this boundary.” Lance gripped Sonic’s hands tightly. “Sonic, it’s dangerous for you to trust so openly… even me.”

“Be careful what you say, Lance…” The low, threatening voice of his mother echoed in his head.

“I know you would never hurt me,” Sonic said, looking at Lance with true love in his eyes. “You’ve practically been my guardian. How could I not trust you?”

“It’s better this way… please, respect my limits,” Lance said, almost like a plea.

“Lance, this is exactly what I don’t understand! You tell me you love me, show me that you care, and then push me as far away as possible! What am I supposed to think?”

“Sonic, I…”

Sonic stood, frustrated, tears beginning to stream. “Do you pity me? Are you with me because you think I can’t take care of myself? Or is it that I’m not good enough to be with you?”

“Sonic, I would never…!”

“You hate me… don’t you?” Those last words broke something inside Lance. “I’ve seen the pain I cause you every time I try to be with you, to care for you… it’s like I’m a burden that steals your peace. Maybe deep down you expect me to do something horrible, an excuse to leave me to my fate… just like Mom left me alone in this life.”

It was a sharp, piercing blow. Lance realized for the first time that he had been abandoning Sonic all along, just as he had feared the prince might. He had been hurting him, distancing him, making him feel unwanted. He had worried so much about keeping him safe, yet the only person he had truly hurt was him, a pathetic excuse for a knight.

“Arthur, my beloved lord…” Lance took Sonic’s hands delicately, pulling him to place directly in front of him between his legs. While Lance was seated and Sonic standing, he held Sonic’s waist to keep him close and look him in the eye. “I have never hated you. You have no idea how hard it is for me to reject your touch, your closeness, your gestures. If I were selfish, I swear I would make you my husband so the world could see that you are someone no one should touch.” Sonic’s face finally looked at Lance in surprise. “But right now, our circumstances won’t allow that. It would be too risky for you and for the crown to be with someone like me. The only thing I can offer you is my life in your service.”

“Are you rejecting me because you worry about my safety or because you’re not in love with me?” Sonic tried to wipe the tears that wouldn’t stop streaming down his cheeks.

“I love you, Sonic,” Lance said, certain he would regret being honest. “But I refuse to be with you. My duty comes first. You come first.”

“But we would be fine! I know you’re scared of being with me because you think it would interfere with your duty to protect me,” Sonic placed his hands on Lance’s chest. “But it won’t. I don’t care what people think. I don’t care where you come from or if you feel unworthy… I would marry you! If you accepted me and trusted me, you’d see that…”

“Sonic…” Lance’s eyes met Sonic’s with pain and resignation. “I refuse to take you as mine. That is my word. I’m sorry.”

Sonic didn’t know what else to do but give in to his tears; his body shook and his knees began to buckle, so Lance pulled him close and held him tightly to keep him steady.

“I’ll never get you to trust me, will I?” Sonic said painfully, burying his head in Lance’s neck. The knight didn’t respond, because deep down he knew denying Sonic’s words would be pointless; he had already hurt him enough.

Lancelot’s own tears began to fall silently down his cheeks as he held him, hating himself not only for being unworthy of the prince’s love but also for making Sonic feel miserable and rejected, especially knowing that soon he would take away everything Sonic had loved.

“Ask him to place his sword at the end of the tournament,” his mother’s irritating voice appeared in his head again.

“I won’t,” Lance said bitterly in his mind.

“We have a deal, my little one.”

“That’s enough for today. I refuse to take advantage of his vulnerability. If you want that sword, find another way to get it. After all, greed is your greatest talent, isn’t it?”

“As you wish.”

Without further protest, his mother’s voice disappeared from his head, which surprised Lancelot, she would never give in willingly, but the fact that she peacefully accepted his refusal left him unsettled. However, he didn’t have the energy to think about her right now.

“Sonic…” Lancelot gently pulled away from him to see his face. “It’s better if we return to the castle. You need to sleep, and dawn will come soon.”

“I can go back alone,” Sonic said, clearly sulking.

“You won’t. I’ll take you.”

“You don’t want to be with me, but you’re going to take me home?” The resentment in his voice was clear.

“One thing doesn’t cancel the other. Rejecting your proposal doesn’t change the fact that you matter. Like it or not, I’ll make sure you’re safe. Besides, in your state, it’s not right for you to go alone.”

“It’s frustrating, isn’t it?” Sonic smiled bitterly. “Wanting to care for someone and having that person push you away.”

Lancelot couldn’t argue. Partially, Sonic was right; he had done the same many times, and even if it had been against his will, it didn’t make it any easier.

If he kept fighting with Sonic, they would get nowhere. So only one thing came to mind: playing dirty. It was unfair, but all he wanted in that moment was to get the prince safely to his room in case his mother’s voice appeared again in his mind.

Lance cupped Sonic’s face in his hands and kissed his forehead tenderly while drawing him close.

“Arthur, my beloved prince,” he whispered, his voice pleading, “please, allow me to take you home. Let me sleep tonight knowing you are safe within the castle walls.”

Sonic’s eyes shone for what seemed like a fleeting instant, until the sparkle faded, returning to an expression of sorrow. “This is damn unfair, and you know it. You’re taking advantage of me.”

“I know, but it’s the only way you’ll obey me.”

Sonic didn’t argue further. He simply surrendered to Lance’s words, letting him guide him to where Esmeralda waited, tied to a nearby tree.

Lancelot decided to walk ahead of Sonic, knowing the prince was so hurt and discouraged that he wouldn’t care about holding on to avoid falling from the horse. And indeed, that was the case. All the way back, Lance kept a hand on Sonic’s waist, feeling as though he were carrying dead weight, while the prince rested against his chest, silent, only occasionally sobbing softly.

When they finally arrived near Sonic’s balcony, Lance dismounted first, offering a hand to help him down. However, the prince simply turned his back.

“Is it going to be like this until the end?” Lance tried to sound annoyed, but he knew Sonic had every reason to feel bad.

“I told you I could come on my own.”

“Very well,” he sighed in frustration. “That’s enough.”

Abruptly, Lance lifted Sonic onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and started walking straight toward the castle wall.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Sonic kicked his feet in the air.

“Taking you to your room. Don’t you want to walk? Fine, then I’ll carry you myself.”

“Are you crazy?! Put me down right now!”

Lancelot ignored him. With Sonic slung over his shoulder, he began climbing the wall, using the vines with effortless skill.

“Do you think you’re the only one who feels awful? That your heart is the only one shattered into pieces?” Lance leapt down from the top of the wall into the rosebeds, preparing to climb the tower up to the balcony. “There are things I have to do against my will, things that hurt but are necessary if I want you to be safe.”

With precise strength and agility, Lance scaled the tower vines and reached the balcony, where he finally set Sonic on the floor. “So please, don’t make this harder than it has to be,” he said, looking at Sonic with a genuine plea, this was slowly killing him.

For a moment he watched Sonic studying him with an expression he couldn’t quite read, until he noticed the prince beginning to close the distance.

Sonic was fast and bold. He took Lancelot by the neck with both hands and pulled him in for a kiss.

Lance staggered in surprise. His first instinct was to pull away, but as Sonic’s lips moved slowly and sweetly against his with clear need, his desire held him still. He kept his hands at his sides, deliberately not touching, not wanting to lose the little control he had left, letting Sonic do as he wished.

In that moment, had Sonic dared to take things any further, Lance knew he would not have resisted, he would have surrendered his body entirely to the prince’s mercy. For as Sonic’s tongue pressed desperately into his mouth for the first time, he forgot everything, even that his highest duty was to protect the prince, to keep him at a distance.

But the reason the kiss went no further was that Sonic had done it out of need and pain. He wasn’t kissing Lance in the heat of passion, but because he knew it was all he could ever take from him. It was a rebellious act, daring, desperate, and brimming with frustration. If Lance had denied him a life together, then at least Sonic would claim by force the one thing he still believed belonged to him: the lips of his beloved knight.

After a time, Sonic released him. Both hedgehogs were breathless and clearly elated. Slowly the prince’s hands slid from Lance’s neck to his chest. They looked at each other briefly, still feeling sparks and warmth on their mouths, both aching to return to that burning closeness.

Finally, after a quiet pause, Sonic stepped away completely. “Thanks for bringing me... see you later.”

As Sonic turned his back, Lance grabbed his arm and spun him around once more. “Sonic, can I ask one last favor?”

Lancelot’s touch felt different to Sonic, there was something odd, though he couldn’t place it. “What do you need?” Sonic asked flatly.

“I was thinking… at the tournament, could you place your sword at the finish line as a symbol of victory, so that whoever raises it is the champion of the arena?”

“And why would you want that?” The request sounded out of place.

“Because if this is the last chance I have to serve you, at least let me hold your sword, let it be a symbol of my pride in your name. Also… I’ll wear your belt at my waist. If some other man takes my title as your protector, at least let me show every noble that I once belonged to you in body and soul… that no one can ever replace me in your mind and heart.”

Sonic felt moved. The idea that Lance wanted publicly to mark, in some indirect way, that he had given himself fully to the prince, that he belonged to him, washed over him in an undefinable way. Still, there was something strange in Lancelot’s eyes that didn’t sit right, but Sonic blamed it on exhaustion from the emotionally charged day and let it pass.

“All right. I’ll grant your last request.” With that, Sonic went into his room, leaving Lance on the balcony.

On the way home, Lancelot's body calmly rode Esmeralda.

"How dare you take advantage of Sonic's vulnerability like that?!" Lance's voice echoed inside his own mind, for at that moment his mother had complete control of his body, leaving him as nothing more than a spectator trapped within his own reality.

“I told you: if you didn’t do what I asked, I would do it for you,” his mother said simply. “Remember you have two choices: you do as I ask and make sure I don’t touch Sonic, or you refuse and leave the prince completely unprotected at my mercy. Consider this a warning. Don’t disobey me again if you want your body back.”

"This is twisted, even for you" his voice came out strained with annoyance and pain, the reminder heavy that this woman was his mother, because despite everything, a part of him still loved her.

“And one more thing, darling,” her voice softened but remained sharp, “be very careful what you say to Sonic, because if you warn him about me, you know that will also warrant a punishment. Do we understand each other?”

Lancelot didn’t respond.

“I said, do we understand each other?” This time, her tone was unmistakably threatening.

“Yes, mother.”

And Lance’s voice faded into the depths of his own mind.

Chapter Text

The kingdom of Camelot buzzed with the clamor of its people; villagers had been swarming the streets since early morning, rushing to finish their chores, while every noble knight who had poured his faith and effort into earning the coveted title of Sentinel of the Dawn was already inside the castle, polishing their armor, boasting of their riches, and driving their attendants to make sure they looked their very best.

The tournament was to be held today.

Every detail had been meticulously secured and prepared in case anyone, or anything, attempted to break into the castle. Even if the kingdom’s defenses were not enough, every aspiring knight stood ready to face any threat. Not out of deep loyalty to Prince Arthur, but because they knew it would earn them favor with the king.

Unfortunately for Sonic, he hadn’t slept at all, again. He had spent the night awake in tears. He was sick of the constant feeling of guards shadowing his every step since dawn. He had escorts everywhere, and the only moments he found himself alone were when he slipped into a room for private matters, whether to use the lavatory, speak to his father in confidence, or retreat to his chambers.

“Sonic, you should at least try to rest for fifteen minutes,” Tails pleaded as he adjusted Sonic’s garments. Since they were inside the prince’s chambers, the guards were forbidden to enter, much less see him in his underclothes, so Sonic could take a small, quiet nap if he wished.

“It won’t do any good, Tails. I’m tired, yes, but if I couldn’t sleep last night, I won’t manage it now, especially with all this stress since the crack of dawn.” Sonic’s eyes were visibly weary and a little swollen, his posture slouched, and he yawned every few minutes. His current state was far from princely.

“I worry about you showing up in the arena like this.” The young fox’s eyes brimmed with concern. “Maybe you won’t fight, but what if the beast appears? Or something happens to harm you? I’m sure you’re not even hearing clearly enough to anticipate an opponent’s moves.”

“Relax, little bro” Sonic brushed the matter aside. “Yesterday was my birthday and nothing happened. Who knows? Maybe that so-called beast got tired of waiting, or maybe it doesn’t even exist, and we’re making a whole circus out of nothing.”

“Don’t be so careless!” Tails yanked hard on the laces of Sonic’s vest, making him wince. “The king wouldn’t go this far over silly superstitions. There’s an entire kingdom out there taking this seriously, and you’re the one in danger… and you don’t even care!”

Sonic let out an exhale heavy with fatigue.

“Listen.” With firm hands, the hedgehog gripped Tails by the shoulders. “Of course I care about all this. God, my whole life I’ve been warned I’d die a horrible death.” A bitter smile tugged at his face. “Living with that idea is no joy. But if I’d based my whole existence on fearing my death, I would’ve gone insane. I’m the future king of this nation. It’s my duty to make everyone feel safe, to show them I can face anything. So even if I’m terrified, I still have to be the tough guy here. Do you understand?”

Tails had never stopped to consider that Sonic had likely carried that fear alone for years. The king was neither loving nor compassionate, so Sonic had never known real comfort to shield him from his insecurities. He had been a child thrust into the head of a kingdom with the threat of death hanging over him since birth. Perhaps he had even grown weary of the curse itself, after years of chasing ways to undo it while his father dictated every path his life would take.

Tails was a servant, yes, but even he had enjoyed more freedom to live a normal life than Sonic ever could. The prince hadn’t even been allowed to choose whom to love, much less simple, ordinary matters like the clothes he wore or the decoration of his chamber.

Sonic was simply trying to handle it all in the best way he could, and still he worried about making Tails feel safe. No one knew what it was to be Prince Arthur but him, and reminding him that today might well be the day of his death would do nothing but harm.

Guilt welled in Tails’s chest.

“I’m sorry, Sonic.”

“For what?” Sonic’s tone held no annoyance, only kindness.

“For pressuring you so much. I’m sure the last thing you need right now is a reminder of all your problems.”

“Oh, come on!” Sonic ruffled the fur on Tails’s head fondly. “I know you’re just worried about me, and I really appreciate it. You don’t need to apologize for that. I’m sure I just scare you because it looks like I’m not doing anything about it, but I’ve got everything under control.”

Tails looked at Sonic with glassy eyes. His tears threatened to spill, but he didn’t want to seem like a little crybaby hiding beneath Sonic’s cape.

With a sudden burst of emotion, Tails threw his arms around Sonic, hugging him tightly and burying his face against his chest.

“Whoa, buddy!” Sonic returned the hug at once. “You okay?”

“Swear to me you’ll come back safe, no matter what happens.” A few sobs began to escape Tails’s mouth. “I can’t be left an orphan without my big brother… you’re all the family I have.”

“Don’t worry, little one. I’ll come back. Your big brother will always be somewhere you can reach him.” Sonic tightened the embrace, trying to make Tails feel completely protected.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆☾ ⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

By midday, all the knights had gathered behind the arena, preparing for their formal introductions to the crowd before the tournament began. At least three dozen noble warriors were competing for the title of personal knight, each attended by squires polishing their armor, sharpening blades, and readying banners to display their family crests. All of them carried fame and wealth, eager to increase their value with the glory of the tournament.

All except Lancelot.

Lancelot was visibly nothing more than a commoner, no renown, no family, no wealth, nothing. That didn’t mean he wasn’t a worthy warrior, since bloodline wasn’t a requirement, but the difference between a knight backed by a proud lineage and a nameless foreigner with nothing to his name was stark.

Lancelot didn’t truly care about being a lowborn competing among nobles. What weighed on him more was the guilt that had kept him from sleeping. He knew that by the end of the day, he would betray Sonic, sell out the kingdom, its citizens, Camelot’s riches, all to his mother, only to spare Sonic’s life. He knew the prince would never forgive him after today. If Sonic didn’t kill him with his own hands, Lancelot no longer knew what to expect.

As the hedgehog fastened his armor inside the small, makeshift tent given to each knight for privacy, his eyes lingered on the belt around his waist, the one Sonic had gifted him when they first grew close. It was a symbol of the prince’s protection and love, a sign to others that he belonged to Sonic alone. Now it felt unbearably heavy.

Not only had he rejected Sonic, but he was about to betray him as well. What kind of personal knight could commit something so vile, so atrocious? He had sworn to protect the man he respected and loved, and now his weakness had done nothing but allow Sonic to escape death instead of facing it.

He had failed Sonic before. He was failing him now. And he would fail him again.

The only comfort Lancelot clung to was the thought of Sonic being the one to kill him, not in some ordinary way, but by destroying him completely. Even if the idea stung, he hoped that when the moment came, Sonic would unleash his fury against him and defend the kingdom. He trusted in Sonic’s strength and skill. And perhaps now, with his heart broken, the prince would have enough hatred in him to finish the job.

After that, he hoped Sonic would rebuild his life with Princess Amy, or any other princess who could strengthen his throne and give Camelot a formidable heir.

The thought soured his stomach, true, but at least he was certain he wouldn’t see Sonic again until the tournament. By then, his mother would have possessed his body, so he wouldn’t have to face Sonic’s hatred… something he knew he couldn’t bear.

So lost was he in his own self-loathing that he didn’t notice someone entering his tent unannounced.

“You could’ve asked for help with the armor, you know.” Sonic stood at the entrance of the makeshift tent, looking at Lance… and it was a glorious sight.

It was the first time Lancelot had truly seen Sonic as a prince. He was dressed in an elegant, deep-blue suit of fine fabric. Every button and piece of metal was wrought in gleaming silver, adorned with precious green gems. A silken cape draped gracefully from his shoulders, making him look taller, imposing, regal… untouchable. At times, Lance forgot he was standing before a prince. And not just any prince, the one he had kissed.

Lancelot’s face burned with embarrassment, like some foolish teenager in love.

But for Sonic, the feeling wasn’t so different.

Lancelot looked nothing short of spectacular in full armor. Sonic had always thought Lance’s trained, imposing frame and dark quills gave him an authoritative yet alluring presence. But now, he looked even more formidable. The polished, well-fitted armor made him appear broader and taller than ever, giving him a commanding presence, dangerous and enigmatic. And once his helmet was in place, those crimson eyes would glow from the shadows like a warning to any enemy.

Both of them were utterly lost in the other.

But Sonic’s heart was still broken.

“What are you doing here?!” Lance hadn’t expected Sonic to come see him, and in truth, part of him hadn’t wanted him to.

“You’re the only knight who doesn’t come from noble blood or represent a family crest. That means you’d have no one to help you,” Sonic crossed his arms with a touch of indifference. “So I decided to do it myself.”

“That wouldn’t be proper for a prince like you, Your Highness.”

“Oh? Now I’m ‘Your Highness’? Funny… because every time you’ve had your hands on my waist, you called me ‘Arthur.’” Lancelot’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment.

“That was different,” Lance swallowed hard. “Right now, I’m just another competitor. If you’re here, the other knights might think you’re showing favoritism toward me.”

“But I do favor you.”

“That doesn’t make it right. Besides, you said you wouldn’t grant me the winner’s title.”

“That’s true. Which is exactly why it doesn’t matter if I’m here with you. Since you won’t receive the title of Sentinel of the Dawn, no one could call it favoritism if you gain nothing in the end.”

“I suppose you’re right…” Lance exhaled, uneasy with the conversation.

“Stop acting tough and let me help you put that on.” Sonic stepped closer, irritation clear in his tone. He was angry with Lance, but he’d help him anyway.

Lancelot didn’t argue. Sonic began fastening the pauldrons under his shoulders, feeling the cold steel beneath his gloves. If he could, he’d rather be tearing the armor off Lance in a very different context, instead of securing it to his body. But the way things stood, Sonic doubted he’d ever get the chance to kiss Lancelot again.

When he finished adjusting the pauldrons, Sonic’s hands slid slowly down to Lance’s waist, pausing over the belt he himself had gifted. His palms pressed gently on either side. Lance stiffened at the touch, his nerves making him straighten abruptly.

“W-what’s wrong?!” His cheeks burned red, and he didn’t have the courage to turn his face toward Sonic.

“I thought you wouldn’t wear the belt I gave you.”

“I told you it symbolized my vow to protect you. It only makes sense to wear it into the tournament.”

“You’re confusing, you know that?” Sonic rested his head against Lance’s back, still holding his waist.

“I know. And I’m sorry.” Lance took one of Sonic’s hands from his waist, trying to offer him some comfort.

After a quiet moment, Sonic let go of him and sat down at his side without another word.

“Sonic…”

“Hmmm?”

“What would you do if you came face-to-face with the beast right now?”

“You mean the one that’s supposed to kill me and take over the kingdom?”

Lance nodded silently.

“I’d destroy it.” Sonic’s words were cold, sharp, without hesitation, wounding and terrifying Lance all at once. “It’s a danger to me and to the people I love.” His mind flashed to the small, trembling body of Tails in his arms. “It’s a dark shadow born from the hatred of the woman who killed my mother. Of course I’d want to keep it away from everything that matters to me. If that woman hadn’t been there that night… my mother would still…”

“Wait.” Lance looked at him, confused and slightly angry. “Are you saying that woman killed your mother? Wasn’t she the one who tried to save you and your mother, and in the end your father betrayed her?”

“What are you talking about?” Sonic frowned, bewildered. “That woman promised to help my father, but in the end she tried to blackmail him, demanded payment in exchange for my mother’s life and mine. My father refused, and she killed my mother out of vengeance.” His voice was thick with resentment. “And she cursed me and my kingdom. My father told me everything.”

“And you don’t think maybe your father lied to you? That she was just a victim of his selfishness?” Lance struggled to hide his anger, but it was becoming harder with every word.

“My father would never gamble with my mother’s life like that. He may be many things, but he’d never break his word. He’s a man loyal to his promises.” Sonic’s stance hardened, irritation rising at Lance’s accusations, accusations from someone who hadn’t even been there when it all happened.

“So now you’ll say your father is a good man, defending him against any charge that might tarnish his ‘honor’ as king?”

“My father isn’t perfect, but I know his limits better than you do.” The air between them was growing tense.

“Then I suppose you stand behind everything he does in the name of the crown.” There was a trace of bitterness in Lance’s tone, and Sonic caught it instantly.

"I didn’t say that. Of course my father has his faults, but he’s not a bad man all the time." Sonic stepped closer to Lancelot. "What’s wrong? Why does this upset you now?"

"Because you sound like him." Sonic felt a knot form in his stomach. "You don’t just defend him at the thought that he might have been a bad man, you also go around saying you’ll kill anything that stands between you and the kingdom." Lance wrapped his arms around himself in a reflex.

"I would never harm an innocent being, Lancelot." Sonic tried to meet his gaze, feeling again as though the knight feared he might hurt him, and that thought cut deep. "Trying to destroy a beast born of a curse’s hatred isn’t the same as hurting a common villager."

"And if that beast… had a face, feelings, a name, have you thought of that?" Lance didn’t dare look Sonic in the eyes. Once, he had been resigned to die by the prince’s blade, but now it hurt all the more that Sonic might see him as his mother had said: just a beast.

"I… uh…" Sonic had never considered that possibility. What if the beast was in fact a thinking being with feelings? Someone forced to carry out a curse, just as he was? "I don’t know. But I don’t think that’s the case. I want to believe it’s not. Nothing good or valuable can come from an act of hatred, so I doubt it."

He wasn’t valuable. That was the last thing Lancelot needed to hear that Sonic, the one person who had sworn to love him, who said he cared for him, was reducing Lance’s worth to that of an unwanted animal.

It hurt so much because the man he loved was stabbing him with the same words he had told himself for years. Sonic was reaffirming that all the self-loathing he had carried for as long as he could remember was legitimate. He wasn’t worth anything, and wherever he went, no one would ever love him, because he was a monster, not even considered a living being.

"Lance?" Sonic touched Lancelot’s shoulder when he saw he had drifted into his thoughts. The fearful, withdrawn posture worried him, he could sense that something made Lance feel vulnerable, and he hated to see him that way, all the more because Sonic had always wanted his knight to feel safe. "Are you alright?"

"I think it would be better if you left now, Your Highness." The coldness in Lancelot’s tone pierced Sonic with pain. "It’s not proper for you to help an undesirable commoner like me." The poison in his words was clear, but it wasn’t directed at Sonic, it was directed at himself.

"You’re not undesirable," Sonic said firmly. "I already told you I don’t care where you come from. To me, you’re more valuable than that whole group of arrogant nobles. You’re the only one who holds my trust and my heart."

He spoke with undeniable conviction and admiration, but to Lance those words no longer held meaning. They were empty promises from a prince who claimed to love him, but the moment he saw who he really was, that “love” would mean nothing. And Lancelot couldn’t blame him. He himself didn’t love the beast within him.

"Forgive me, but I don’t think we should continue this conversation. Besides, I’ll have to head out to the arena soon." Lance pulled away from Sonic’s touch.

Sonic fixed his gaze on him, as though wanting to say everything that hurt in that moment. There it was again, Lance’s damnable habit of never voicing what he felt, what pained him, what he thought. Sonic was tired of hitting the same wall again and again, wondering if he would ever truly reach the dark knight’s heart.

"Lancelot." He spoke his name with authority and frustration. "All this time, you’ve kept most things from me. I’m not saying you have to tell me absolutely everything if you don’t want to, but," he sighed, "you’re drowning. I’m literally holding out my arms for you to leap into them and let me carry your pain, but all you do is retreat. I’m certain that whatever is inside you that keeps you from coming to me is something we could face together, but I need you to trust me. I know you love me, I can feel it, but you can’t expect everything to rest on your shoulders alone. What terrifies me most is that you’ll reach a point where, even if you want me to, I won’t be able to help you anymore."

Sonic was there, right beside Lance, so close, waiting for the knight to finally accept the prince. The blue hedgehog’s gaze, strong, desperate, unwavering, was fixed on him with boundless devotion. Lancelot knew better than anyone the strength Sonic possessed; in any other circumstance, he would have gone to him without hesitation.

But his body was treacherous.

He couldn’t be sure if his mother would honor her bargain or lunge for Sonic’s throat at the first chance. Even if he wanted to, Lance couldn’t speak; he couldn’t warn him, because his mother would know. From every angle, he had to be obedient and trust that Sonic would do what was necessary to save himself and the others.

"I know you ask me to trust you, and believe me, I do. I depend on your skill more than you can understand right now. But if you truly love me", his eyes locked on Sonic’s in a silent plea "then trust me too. Trust my silence, because it’s what I want and need. I know it’s not easy, but I know you’ll do the right thing when the time comes."

"I’m not really understanding you."

"And you won’t. Not until that moment comes. Then you’ll know everything I’ve been going through and… I trust you’ll make the right choices."

"You're scaring me," the prince said, trying to reach for Lance’s shoulder as a gesture of concern.

"Calm down." Lance took his hand gently, smiling. "You have nothing to fear, everything will be fine."

"I care about you being fine. Can you promise me that?" His gaze was direct.

"I…" he no longer wanted to lie. "I’ll do the best I can."

Sonic was ready to continue his questioning, until someone else stepped into the small improvised tent, drawing both their attention.

Pulling aside the cloth that covered the structure, a young Siamese cat entered. Her fur was sleek and spotless, her eyes bright, and she wore a fine lilac gown that enhanced her elegant appearance; at a glance, it was clear she was a noblewoman.

"Oh, Your Majesty!" her voice was sweet. "Forgive me for interrupting, but many outside are asking for you, to take your seat among the young nobles and enjoy the spectacle."

"I… I’m sorry, I had forgotten I was supposed to be with you. Please forgive me… uh, Lady…?"

"Marlene. I am Lady Marlene, Your Majesty," the young woman said with a curtsy to the prince.

Sonic immediately stood, manners and gallantry always coming first, and kissed the young lady’s hand in greeting.

"A pleasure to meet you, Lady Marlene. Please forgive me for making you come all the way here."

"Don’t apologize, Your Majesty!" the girl’s cheeks flushed. "I also wanted to greet you in person, you’re very famous among the nobles of my region."

"Really? I thought I only looked like just another spoiled prince." Sonic turned it into a joke, trying to lighten the mood.

"Oh no, not at all. In fact, they believe you’re a promising prince and an agile warrior." With a touch of shyness, she stepped closer to Sonic, covering part of her blushing face with one hand. "Actually, I would love to see you in battle." She gave him a look of admiration and… something more.

Lancelot began watching them with interest.

"Well, maybe I can’t do that today, but I’m sure in the near future I could give a demonstration of my skills in some royal competition."

"I hope it’s soon." She stepped even closer, her hands resting on Sonic’s arms. "I’m sure you’re in excellent shape."

The young lady was starting to invade Sonic’s personal space, and it was beginning to displease Lancelot, but he said nothing… not yet.

"Uh… yes." Sonic’s smile turned nervous.

"My, what a lovely necklace." The noblewoman’s hands slid across Sonic’s chest until they touched the pendant Lance had given him. "It’s green, like your eyes, Your Majesty."

"Yes, my fiancée gave it to me. She says it reminds her of my gaze." It was a half-truth, but he hoped it would drive the girl away.

"That’s true." Her spirits dimmed a little. "You are betrothed to Princess Rose, it’s such a pity."

"Why?"

"Well, I think your engagement was rather hasty." She softly slid her hands up to Sonic’s shoulders. "I believe you should have considered other young noblewomen who might be interested in you." Her hands moved to the sides of Sonic’s neck, almost as if she were about to kiss him. "But you denied many of us the chance…"

Sonic froze on the spot. If she had been a man, he would have shoved her away easily, but she was a Lady, he didn’t want to be rough with her, nor openly reject feminine affection, as that could cause some scandal later. Still, he didn’t want to kiss her, and especially not in front of Lance. True, they weren’t a couple and Lance had rejected him, but something about this felt like betrayal, like disrespect.

Fortunately, someone else did act.

With a gentle yet firm tug, Lancelot seized the young woman by the arm, immediately pulling her away from Sonic and forcing her back a few steps.

"I’m sorry, Lady Marlene, but it is not permitted to invade the prince’s personal space." His expression was stern, his gaze sharp.

"I believe it’s the prince who decides that, isn’t it?" she asked, looking at Sonic in confusion.

"He does. But I have been serving as the prince’s temporary personal knight until now, and my orders are to keep any stranger at a prudent distance from His Majesty." His posture remained unshaken. "So I must also ask you to leave this area. This is a place for competitors, and it could be dangerous for a lady such as yourself."

"But…" she hesitated for a moment, then, feeling uncomfortable in front of both hedgehogs, she relented. "Alright, my apologies, Your Majesty. I’ll wait in the designated area."

The young lady smoothed out the wrinkles left from Lancelot’s grip and quickly left the tent.

Sonic glanced at Lance with amusement, waiting for him to say something, but when he didn’t, he decided to break the silence.

"Did it bother you that she invaded my personal space, or that she tried to kiss me?"

"I don’t think that matters," Lance said, turning and walking back toward the improvised table where the rest of his armor lay.

"Oh, it does matter," Sonic raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms, amused by the scene. "It was easy enough for you to tell me to find a wife, but now that it seems I could, suddenly the idea doesn’t sit well with you, huh?"

"I’m not bothered if you marry Princess Amy."

"Of course, because she’s not in love with me, so it’s not the same."

"If we’re just going to keep wasting time with this, you better get moving." Turning his back to Sonic, Lance adjusted the cape on his shoulders to finish dressing, partly trying not to show he cared about the matter. "The tournament presentations are about to start."

"We could avoid all this if someone agreed to be my boyfriend." Though Sonic’s words were indirect, he clearly hoped Lance would at least consider the possibility instead of giving an immediate refusal.

"You know my answer and my reasons." Lance finally looked at Sonic, fully armored, helmet in hand, a view that, fortunately for the prince, was spectacular.

"Sometimes it’s not bad to be a little selfish, Lance." Sonic walked slowly toward him, studying his face for a moment before taking the knight’s helmet in his hands. "You also have the right to try to take what makes you happy, you deserve that."

Gently, Sonic pressed a kiss to Lance’s lips. But this time it was different; the kiss wasn’t desperate or urgent, it was calm, affectionate, and warm, more like a gesture of good luck for the dark knight.

Once again, Lancelot didn’t move to continue the kiss. Though he didn’t pull away, he didn’t do anything with his hands either, simply letting Sonic do as he pleased. He always said it was wrong for Sonic to do these things, but he never refused physical displays of affection, against his better judgment, he liked them too much not to enjoy them, even just a little.

"You should stop doing that. I’m your knight, not a noble," Lance said, his eyes immediately locking on Sonic after the kiss.

"Shut up already," Sonic replied, feigning irritation. "It’s not like you didn’t like it." Precisely, he placed the helmet on Lance’s head, adjusting his quills so everything was in order and secure. "And consider that kiss a gesture of good luck. Princesses usually do this for their knights."

With that, Sonic left the small tent, heading toward the royal boxes and disappearing into the crowd.

Under different circumstances, the kiss would have been charming for Lancelot; he would have savored its warmth and sweetness. But this time, it was different.

The kiss weighed not only on his lips but also on his conscience. How could he enjoy something like that when he would soon betray Sonic? What would Sonic think when he lost everything and remembered all the times he had shown affection toward Lance? He would probably believe he was used, mocked.

He truly hoped Sonic would end his life. With a glimmer of hope, he wanted to believe that someday the prince would remember him fondly, even if mixed with hatred.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆ ☾ ⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

The crowd began cheering excitedly, their voices echoing throughout the arena, watching as all the knights flaunted their names and skills. They competed not only to win the kingdom’s favor but also that of the royal family, seated high in the central boxes, surrounded by tight security.

The king sat to the right, beside him Amy’s parents, who had also come to the kingdom with their daughter. To their right were Sonic and Amy, the perfect future couple.

"I’m sorry my father didn’t allow more people to sit with us," Sonic said to Amy, a subtle apology in his tone. "I know you would have liked to have Blaze here."

"Don’t worry, Arthur," Amy took Sonic’s hand in hers, using his real name since the kings were present. "Anyway, Blaze managed to come to the tournament, and I can see her later. That’s better than not seeing her at all."

"At least I’m glad you two can be fine after all," there was a trace of sadness in Sonic’s tone.

"Come on, cheer up," Amy’s smile was as charming as ever. "He’s going to compete, and I’m sure above all else, he wants to put on a great show, just for you. So try to enjoy it, at least for today, okay?"

Sonic exhaled heavily, rubbing his eyes. Fatigue still lingered, reminding him that he hadn’t slept well in the past few days. "Alright… I guess I can at least do that today."

By this point, Sonic felt miserable and defeated. Not only had he failed to find the beast before the tournament day, but he had been completely incompetent at stopping the curse, and saving Amy from her engagement to him? Forget it.For a prince of a nation and supposed hero of the defenseless, he had done nothing.

Maybe Lancelot was right to distrust him so much. Sonic had seen his own incompetence in keeping his promises, and at this point, the only thing left was for Lance to end up being the hero of Camelot, saving everyone, stopping the beast, and leaving Sonic like a helpless princess.

It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate someone more capable fixing the mess, but that would only prove what he had always believed about himself, that he wasn’t enough. Unlike his father, a widowed king who led armies, raised Camelot to glory, and never faltered before any enemy out of compassion, Sonic was merely the shadow of a twenty-year-old boy completely lost, unsure of how to be a capable, steadfast leader.

He could have continued drowning in his thoughts, until Amy’s hand squeeze pulled him from his reverie, letting him know the competitors had begun parading through the arena one by one, accompanied by the cheers and applause of the watching crowd.

Each warrior presented themselves with honor and pride, displaying their family crests, flaunting their wealth, and trying to stand out in the eyes of the kings, but mainly in Sonic’s.

Their rides were slow, elegant, and rehearsed. They paraded across the arena like a formal procession, stopping in the center before the royalty to show respect. Some took the opportunity to flaunt the fine gifts of their supporting royal families if they weren’t born into nobility, others subtly hinted that they were engaged, while a few more openly showed off, trying to find a young noble lady interested in them.

Over time, the spectacle began to bore Sonic. Though the show was designed to catch his attention, none of these men had his preference. He knew most weren’t interested in working with him out of respect, but for money and status, which was even more frustrating, because he had denied Lancelot the title of winner. Whether he liked it or not, he would have to choose his knight from this group of egotistical men.

Many knights had already paraded, and Sonic began wondering when it would be Lance’s turn. He even worried that the last kiss he had given him might have been too much, possibly driving him away. Lancelot had been direct about asking for respect regarding his decisions, which Sonic had crossed by kissing him, and now he was starting to regret it.

It wasn’t until the very end that the dark knight made his glorious entrance.

His name echoed throughout the arena, announced as “Lancelot, the stranger from distant lands,” followed by the crowd’s applause. They weren’t initially convinced, hearing the name of a complete unknown without title, until his presence changed everything.

He began his measured walk, mounted on Esmeralda. The mare was adorned with fine riding decorations, making her look more elegant and beautiful, while her rider was no less impressive.

The sunlight made Lance’s armor gleam with an almost divine aura, his broad shoulders and the dark gaze within his helmet giving him the appearance of a gift from the gods. He didn’t revel in attention, didn’t seek it, and certainly wasn’t boastful. He moved through the arena as if it were work, not a show; it was his air of indifference and sharp presence that drew people’s eyes. That aura of distance and authority made him magnetic, you knew that if you tried to approach him, he would probably reject you or it would be impossible to gain his attention. Naturally, this drove the women crazy; there was no man more attractive than one in his working uniform.

As time passed, the young ladies started cheering and waving their handkerchiefs more as he approached, though his expensive belt was clearly visible. They deliberately ignored it, knowing he might have a wealthy fiancée, but they wouldn’t miss the chance to at least try.

To Sonic, the female attention Lancelot received was a bit annoying, not because he was attractive or because he didn’t want others to notice, but because he had made clear that the knight belonged only to him. Yet it seemed the women had no intention of respecting that, so he was sure that once Lancelot was free and in public view, they would all pursue him, hoping for more than just admiration.

When Lance finally reached the front of the royal box, where normally the other contenders would bow or perform some exaggerated gesture to stand out before Sonic, everyone expected something normal, subtle, or even simple and formal, since they had already observed that the dark knight wasn’t interested in drawing attention.

But the story was different.

Lance stopped slowly in front of the royal box, making Esmeralda stand still. He raised one of his hands to remove his left glove with slow, elegant movements, revealing his bare hand. All the women began to feel their faces flush, unable to look away, completely excited. Once his hand was fully exposed, he took the glove, brought it to his chest, kissed it, and then lifted it toward where Sonic was seated, holding it there for a few seconds before lowering his hand, placing the glove back on, and exiting the arena with his usual calm, without saying a single word.

For a moment, the arena fell silent.

It wasn’t until a few seconds later that the women erupted into ecstatic screams at the sight of his gesture, one that was extremely intimate. They fantasized that he had done it for them. Removing the glove and leaving his hand exposed wasn’t just a sign of vulnerability and intimate submission, it was the way he held it to his chest and then offered it to Sonic that served as a clear declaration: he was offering himself, body and soul, to the prince, to the crown.

Fortunately, like his belt, this gesture could be interpreted both romantically and as a display of deep devotion, so the ambiguity worked in his favor.

However, that didn’t take away from how scandalous and intimate the gesture was. It wasn’t disrespectful to the prince in any way, but it was rare to see a stranger offer his body and being so openly and intimately to someone he, in theory, didn’t know. It was almost like watching someone offer their eternal love in private to a complete stranger from afar.

Sonic froze in his seat; he definitely hadn’t expected this.

His heart began to race, and his face turned completely red. It was a gesture he never thought Lance would make. He had assumed the belt was already bold enough for both of them, but this… this was far more intimate and obvious, almost dangerous. That way Lance claimed what was his, so submissive, yet so ambiguous, a context only Sonic could fully understand, but at the same time clear to anyone watching that it meant something, was madness.

“He knew it would bother me,” Sonic whispered.

“What do you mean?” Amy asked quietly.

“All those women screaming for him… he probably knew I’d be annoyed by how he drew attention, and he wanted to remind me of his loyalty, his belonging to me, not in an ordinary way, but explicitly,” Sonic swallowed hard. “But I think he also did it for me. It was his way of asserting, in front of the nobles, that I wasn’t available to them. Though… it was more of an outlet for him, because they wouldn't interpret it as a romantic declaration.”

“Wow, Arthur,” Amy gave Sonic a knowing glance. “Your knight is definitely devoted… and very protective.”

“Please, don’t,” Sonic covered his face with his hands. “It’s already enough for me that everyone saw it. I feel like my heart will jump out of my chest.”

“Seems like the competition will be fierce,” Sonic’s father said, observing Lancelot’s exit with curiosity.

“At least we know that whoever wins will be very dedicated to protecting the prince,” Amy’s mother responded with a smile.

“That’s what I hope,” said the king, more as a confirmation to himself than a reply to anyone else.

Chapter Text

Lance’s heart was pounding so fast he almost believed it would burst out of his chest. Throughout his entire presentation in the arena, he had maintained a firm, steady posture, almost unshakable. At no point had he shown hesitation in his actions, not for a single moment. Everything had been measured, calculated to the smallest detail, and devoid of outward emotion. But it had only been an act, a surge of adrenaline mixed with recklessness.

How dare a knight of such poor lineage offer his heart to the prince of a nation in such an arrogant, brazen way?

Lancelot collapsed onto the ground the moment he was back inside his makeshift tent. His pride and possessive nature had clouded his judgment, driving him to act so shamelessly, so disgracefully. What must the king have thought? How must Princess Amy have reacted, seeing a mere commoner offer such an intimate gesture to the man who was meant to be her husband?

Of all those present, Sonic’s reaction was the only one he didn’t worry about, for Lance knew the prince loved him. Surely he wouldn’t be angry, perhaps only a little concerned that someone might notice they were more than just a knight and his prince. After all, they had never openly been in a romantic relationship, so people wouldn’t dare imagine they were in love with each other.

But they had shared caresses, kisses, embraces, vows of love, gifts, quarrels, dates… sheets.

They had done almost everything a young couple in love would do. To keep pretending at this point that they were merely colleagues was absurd, even to Sonic’s friends.

And yet, Lancelot had sworn to protect Sonic from every danger, even at the cost of giving up the idea of a life together. So what had happened? Lance had never been a compulsive man, never prideful, never territorial. But something about the thought of those noble women out there arrogantly believing Sonic could be anyone’s… no. He couldn’t be just anyone’s, not simply because they desired it. Sonic had the right to choose who he wanted to be with. And if he chose Lancelot, that choice had to be respected.

It was utterly ridiculous, completely illogical. Lancelot himself had urged Sonic to find a wife, he had rejected him, given him the freedom to live his life with someone else. But when others sought the prince, exercising the very freedom he himself had allowed, Lance couldn’t stand it. The prince belonged to him, that much was clear from the collar around Sonic’s neck. And just as clear was that Lance belonged to the prince, marked by the belt on his armor. But when you’re in love, reason and logic go out the window. And as much as the dark knight wanted to rationalize his emotions, he couldn’t, because in the end, that’s all they were. Emotions. You don’t understand them, you just live them.

Still, this was nothing more than a cruel joke of fate. No matter how deeply Lance loved Sonic, he could never hope to see that love fulfilled, for he was destined to die that very day, whether at the hands of his mother, or by Sonic’s own blade. At the very least, he wished it would be Sonic.

If fate wouldn’t allow him to be loved by anyone, then he wished life would strip him of the ability to love altogether. Because this was torture, a prolonged agony, a bittersweet symphony that struck him with anguish only to confuse him with crumbs of an impossible love. Life is emotionally abusive, and living through it felt like punishment.

At the very least, Sonic knew that he had been loved. Against every ounce of Lance’s will, the prince had stolen his heart. Hopefully, Sonic would remember that as he tore the life from Lancelot in the final battle.

There were so many things Lancelot wished he could have lived long enough to experience with Sonic. In those moments, he almost wished Sonic had been a princess, because then at least, he could have given him a child, a living proof of his love. Something only they could have created, born of their hearts and their bodies. A living memory of them both, someone who would stay by Sonic’s side when Lance was gone. It was strange how the things no one usually thinks about, things that seem absurd in an ordinary day, suddenly become the most important wishes when death is close at hand.

Finally, Lancelot pushed himself off the ground, feeling strength return to his legs as he brushed the dust from his knees. He needed every ounce of concentration and resolve to win the tournament in the arena. And yet, at this point, the tournament itself hardly mattered. It was merely the excuse he and his mother had devised to seize Sonic’s sword and rule Camelot from the shadows.

His stomach churned at the thought.

He removed his helmet, setting it on the table, and walked over to the modest wooden bench to check his armor one last time before the tournament began in earnest.

As he sat adjusting his boots, a sudden dizziness swept over him. A shiver ran through his body, making his quills bristle from root to tip. It was the warning sign that his mother was about to invade his mind and speak to him.

“I had no idea my son was such a romantic man,” came the woman’s mocking, cynical voice. “What a shame you’re just a simple knight. If you had been a prince, you could have married any princess you wished. You could have tripled your riches.”

“I would never marry someone for money. I already know what it’s like to live among people who don’t love you. I’m tired of empty bonds,” Lancelot growled.

“Oh, come on!” the woman let out a laugh “admit it, you love Arthur because he’s a prince. His charm, his manners, his class, his skill, all those things only nobility can offer are what make him desirable, easy to love in your eyes.”

Lance stayed silent for a minute, staring at his feet as if trying to find the right words to say, until at last he had something to answer his mother.

“No,” a heavy sigh accompanied his words “I didn’t fall in love with Sonic because he was a prince. From the very first moment I knew his lineage, so that never mattered to me. What mattered was fulfilling your wish.” There was a trace of remorse in his explanation as he remembered the reasons he had done all this. “The reason I love Sonic is because of his heart. Sonic has all the money and power anyone could ever want, and yet he runs from all of it just to form real bonds with the people around him. He relies only on his skills and his heart to protect his people. He’s brutally honest and loyal, and he includes everyone; he never leaves anyone out and makes you feel like someone important in his life, someone loved… someone valuable.”

A small warmth bloomed in Lancelot’s chest, spreading through his body every time he kept talking about Sonic, and it felt beautiful.

“It’s true he’s not perfect, but even his flaws aren’t truly bad, they only make him vulnerable, never someone evil or selfish. He’s actually terrible at trying to be bad.” A slight smile formed on Lance’s face. “That’s why you can take his kingdom and all the pretentious things you want, Mother, but what makes him who he is, what makes him a formidable prince and a hero, lies within his heart. And that, you will never be able to take from him.”

“Don’t you just want to go and propose to him right now?” his mother’s voice was openly mocking.

“I would if I could,” Lance’s reply carried overwhelming certainty.

“Hmmm. Too bad you’ll never be able to, don’t you think? I’m sure that silly fool would die to know you want to marry him. It’s going to hurt him so much to see how you betray them this afternoon.” There wasn’t the slightest trace of guilt in the woman’s words, only pure indifference. “At least it will be me using your body, because I’m sure you wouldn’t stop crying if you had to do it yourself.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t get my hopes up. I’m sure you heard what he said earlier, he’ll kill the beast the moment he sees it. So one way or another, you won’t win.” It was a bitter, painful feeling for him, but at the same time, the idea that Sonic would save the day in the end, no matter what happened, gave him a strange peace.

“That remains to be seen, dear. Because even if he doesn’t love you enough to be incapable of hurting you, with Excalibur in my hands, he won’t be able to win this fight, even if he has the heart of an angel.”

Her words carved themselves into his mind like a heavy pain. It was true Sonic was a formidable and skilled prince, but the sword’s abilities granted its bearer great power of protection and victory. At this point, Lance began to doubt whether Sonic could even defeat his own sword, because in the end, his mother was right: “A curse only disappears once it’s fulfilled.”

Lancelot had to rip Sonic’s heart out and take Camelot. Even though his mother had promised to let Sonic escape, there was a lingering doubt whether she even had the power to change her own curses, since in magic, a witch only brings the curses and their effects into this plane, she does not control them. That is the nature of sorcery; witches are the conduit, but not the origin or the destiny.

Lance, on the other hand, was a hybrid product of shadow entities and a woman with spiritual abilities. He didn’t even know if he counted as a curse rather than an independent being. In fact, he was terrified of not knowing if something inside him would change the moment he had to face Sonic.

What if he turned into a horrible, disgusting monster, a grotesque creature of shadows so vile Sonic couldn’t even recognize him? If that was the case, the prince would kill him without the slightest remorse, because Sonic wouldn’t know it was Lancelot inside that monstrous form.

But what hurt him the most was that if he became a beast, maybe he wouldn’t be able to speak, not even act like a thinking being, so he wouldn’t be able to tell Sonic anything at all.

Lance felt fear again.

He imagined himself, his chest pierced by the sword, sprawled on the ground, drowning in his own blood and feeling his lungs struggle for oxygen while fighting the burning pain of the thick red liquid flooding them, Sonic looking at him with hatred and disgust, leaving him to die on the ground before walking away to celebrate killing the beast and saving Camelot.

And he wouldn’t be able to say a single word. He wouldn’t be able to tell Sonic who he was, that he was terrified, that he didn’t want to die alone, that he didn’t want an entire people to celebrate his death as if he were some bastard not even worthy of a funeral.

That at least Sonic would hold his hand and stay with him until he finally died.

All his quills bristled as he tried to dissolve the knot in his throat. He couldn’t think about these things now, especially because he had to accept the idea that it was okay for Sonic to kill him, for Sonic not to try to be a hero and save him, because otherwise he and Camelot would suffer a cruel fate. He had decided to die for love, it didn’t matter if it was a glorious death full of love or a lonely, bloody one. If he truly loved the prince as much as he said and had sworn to protect him from all harm, he would accept all the consequences without hesitation, because that was the true loyalty of a heart that loves.

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Sonic and Amy were in one of the private resting areas. The opening presentations had ended, and now they were simply waiting for time to pass while the competitors prepared for the tournament in the arena.

The small room was cozy and refreshing, its walls painted in warm wooden tones with floral arrangements scattered in every corner. A central table offered delicately placed desserts for the delight of the princess and the prince. It wasn’t the most pretentious setting in the world, but it was perfect for resting and giving the young hedgehogs a bit of privacy.

“Oh my God!” Amy laughed excitedly as she picked up a small strawberry-and-cream tart from the table. “If I didn’t have Blaze, I’d be so jealous of what you have with that knight. What he did in the arena? The girls were screaming in excitement! If our parents hadn’t been sitting right next to us, I would’ve screamed too.”

“Don’t remind me…” Sonic covered his face with his hands, trying not to let Amy see how much more embarrassed he was getting. “I almost had a heart attack! What if our parents had thought something weird? I’ve never seen him do anything like that before.”

“Calm down, my gallant knight.” She picked up a butter cookie and offered it to Sonic. “Our parents know that all the knights there are desperate to work for you, so it won’t seem strange for them to try to stand out in the most outrageous way possible. Besides,” Amy took the hot teapot from the table and began pouring two cups “nobody knows you don’t like women. And with me by your side, they’d never believe you’re involved with a knight of the realm.”

“Even so…” With some effort, Sonic tried to bite the butter cookie, though his appetite had been ruined for days. “What good is it for him to do such ‘romantic’ things if he refuses to have a romantic relationship with me?”

“He’s just trying to protect you, Sonic. A knight’s life is very dangerous. Sometimes they have to lead missions in the king’s name, fight wars outside the kingdom, and make countless enemies along the way. Anyone who serves knows it’s very likely they’ll die on some crusade. That’s why many monarchs prefer their knights not to have a family or someone waiting at home, they offer their lives in our service. Maybe he doesn’t want you living that way, thinking each day could be the last time you see him alive.”

“If that’s what he thinks, then it’s useless.” Sonic gave up trying to finish the cookie and placed it back on the plate. “He could even be the personal knight of another monarch and my heart would still die for him. It doesn’t matter where he is, even if he builds a family next to someone else, I’ll keep loving him.” His frustration began to show. “Why the hell won’t he just accept that we could be together?! It’s so frustrating to know our love is mutual but he refuses to be with me ‘to protect me’!” Sonic buried his hands in his face. “I don’t want protection, I want a man. I want you, you idiot!”

Amy tried to stifle her laughter. “Sonic, calm down.” She reached out a hand and took Sonic’s. “Maybe he’s just worried about the curse. That’s why he doesn’t want distractions, he wants to take proper care of you. Maybe if you ask him again, after all this mess, he’ll feel calmer and believe he can have a relationship with you without it affecting his performance.”

“You know what? After all this is over, I’ll ask him to marry me. And if he refuses again, saying it’s for my own good, I’ll find the woman who irritates him the most and marry her. I’ll make him squirm with jealousy and frustration until he finally does something about it.”

“I’m not sure that’s the best way to make Lancelot react,” Amy said, “but if that’s your most desperate measure…”

While Sonic and Amy chatted at the table, without warning, someone entered the room with steady, serene steps.

“Blaze, my love!” Amy immediately jumped from her seat, extending her arms to catch Blaze in a hug.

“Hello, my sweet rose. How have you been?” Blaze gently took Amy in her arms, greeting her with a kiss. “Forgive me for not coming sooner. Most of the servants are too busy, and I wasn’t properly announced until after the show.”

“Welcome, Blaze, it’s an honor to have you in my kingdom.” Sonic gave a slight bow of his head.

“Arthur, it’s been a long time. And by the way, happy birthday.” The once-princess and now-queen Blaze returned Sonic’s bow.

“Thank you, though I think this birthday has been everything but a happy event.” His face showed his exhaustion. “Come, join us at the table while the knights prepare for the competition.”

“Actually, that’s exactly what I came to talk to you about, Arthur.” With a mysterious and worried tone, Blaze hurried to join them at the table.

“Please tell me you’re not bringing bad news. I’m tired of dealing with so many problems at once.”

"I'm sorry, Arthur," her body let out a heavy sigh. "As you must already know, the emeralds of my kingdom often grant me premonitions of important events when disaster is about to strike..."

"Definitely bad news." Sonic tilted his head back, tired of not having even five minutes to let his guard down.

"The night before I came here, they left me some kind of message, something important you need to know." She swallowed hard. "The beast is already here."

"What?!" Sonic immediately shot up in his seat. "Since when? Nothing’s happened yet. Besides, if something like that had tried to enter the kingdom, the knights would’ve noticed."

"It’s been in the kingdom for weeks, Arthur, long before you turned twenty." Blaze’s posture went rigid. "It’s been following your every move like a sinister shadow, learning from you, listening to you, watching you. It doesn’t matter if there are five hundred or a thousand knights behind every door and window in the kingdom; it’s useless, because that thing has already entered. And now it’s simply waiting for its moment to fulfill the curse."

Sonic’s blood froze instantly. His quills bristled and his body went stiff. He had tried so hard to avoid this, searching, gathering information, asking for help, making sure to protect everyone he loved, trying to be a good prince and a capable hero… and yet the beast had slipped in long ago, walking freely by his side, mocking him behind his back, so close to the people he loved, so close to him.

That meant the prophecy would come true. Sonic would die today, his heart torn out and the kingdom destroyed, all at the beast’s hands.

"Sonic?" Amy clasped Sonic’s hands, worried, feeling how cold and faintly trembling they were.

"What else did the emeralds warn you about?" Still stunned, he turned to Blaze.

"It doesn’t get any better." Blaze lowered her face, weighed down by being the bearer of bad news. "The beast entered because someone let it in. Someone in this kingdom has betrayed you, Arthur, and they’ll let it fulfill its mission."

"Who betrayed me? A servant? A cook? A merchant?"

Blaze’s shoulders hunched as if she were trying to take up less space, feeling the weight of a guilt that wasn’t hers. "They couldn’t tell me who it was. All I know is that they said it’s someone very close to you, someone you care about deeply and their betrayal will be what finally breaks your heart." Blaze’s eyes fell on Sonic with sorrow. "I’m sorry, Arthur."

Sonic said nothing. He sat lost in his seat, trying to find answers in his mind, trying to imagine which of all the people he loved could ever do something like this, as if the mere thought of betrayal from someone close hurt not only his heart but also his head.

For Blaze, dealing with feelings was hard enough, especially now, watching Arthur crumble under the weight of her words. She even felt unworthy of standing before him, because instead of bringing a little joy on the eve of the prince’s birthday, she had brought only tears and pain. More than anyone, she knew the bitterness of bearing bad news, especially when it concerned those you love.

"I’d better leave you two alone for a moment. You’ll be more help to him than I can." Blaze pressed Amy’s shoulder gently, as if apologizing for what she’d said.

"I know. It’s fine. Be careful." Amy’s voice was a whisper.

Blaze left the room in silent, cautious steps.

"Sonic, come on. Breathe." Amy began to rub Sonic’s hands between hers, trying to pass some warmth into them.

"This isn’t possible..." Sonic’s voice scraped its way out of his throat. "None of the people I love could ever do this… Blaze must be wrong." He started shaking his head. "Rouge is reckless sometimes, but she’d never… Knuckles is far too loyal to the crown as Guardian… Tails never… he’s still just a teenager, there’s no way he could…"

And then the tears came, thick, hot, and abundant, streaming from Sonic’s eyes, just when he thought his body had no more left to cry with. Even now, pieces of him could still crumble, bit by bit.

"Sonic..." Amy’s heart clenched so painfully.

"If someone I love did this, let a monster into my own home to kill me, then it’s my fault. I deserve it." He tried with all his might to keep his sobs from choking his voice. "I swore to everyone I’d protect them, keep them safe. I said I’d be a hero, that I’d keep the kingdom far from any danger, and I failed them all. I let the curse advance. I allowed the beast to enter the kingdom. I couldn’t stop this… I even failed you, Amy…"

"Dear, that’s not…"

"Everyone will suffer a horrible punishment because of my incompetence!" The prince’s body was a knot of pain and nerves, trembling like a frightened child. "That’s why Lancelot never wanted to love me, because he knew I couldn’t keep my promises. He knew I was a complete failure who would ruin every good thing that came his way… I’m not a good leader, or a good guardian, not even a good prince. How could I ever be a good king if I can’t even protect one single person? How am I supposed to protect thousands of people now, when there’s a beast prowling the kingdom?! And I allowed it… I allowed it from the very beginning."

"Stop being so hard on yourself!" Amy’s desperate shout tore out of her, trying to save Sonic from his deep self-hatred for not being perfect. "Sonic, you’ve done everything humanly possible to protect us all, always putting yourself at risk in the process. For years, I’ve watched you sacrifice half your life and your peace of mind just to hold back the curse, searching even in impossible places to make sure the beast wouldn’t reach anyone… to protect what your mother built with so much love."

Amy’s hands clutched Sonic tightly, as if letting go meant losing him forever.

"I don’t care what you say, you’re the best prince I know. You’re strong, fast, dazzling, brave, and above all else, you have a heart that always acts out of love, never out of resentment or hate. Even if life has taken away, piece by piece, everything that once made you happy, you’ve always done the very best you could in situations you were never prepared for. It doesn’t matter if others deserve it or not, you’ve given everyone a light to guide and inspire them through difficult times. So I won’t allow you to hurt yourself like this, not when you’ve never deserved it."

There was something in Amy’s intense gaze, a deep feeling of love and gratitude, built over all the years she’d been one of Sonic’s closest friends. She remembered how, when she was just a child struggling under the harsh demands of the crown, Sonic had appeared like a warm ray of sunlight, making everything a little easier, a little sweeter, ensuring she was always safe, never alone or vulnerable, giving her the strength she thought she’d lost.

But Sonic was at such a low point now that no voice could truly reach him.

"When the competition ends, go to Blaze and stay with her. She’ll protect you." His gaze was still lost, but this time it carried an even heavier defeat. "When the moment comes, I’ll face the beast head-on. I’ll fight it, and that way everyone else will have time to escape."

"You’re insane if you think I’ll let you kill yourself."

"Ames, please." Sonic’s eyes turned into a painful plea. "I couldn’t even defend myself properly if I had to worry about something happening to you."

"But, Sonic…"

Tears now fought to escape Amy’s eyes, yet she understood Sonic’s feelings perfectly.

"All right."

Sonic was ready to leave the room, likely in search of fresh air and of the courage he lacked to face his death.

"Wait." Amy grabbed his arm. "At least share one last cup of tea with me. Let me be with you just a little longer. You don’t have to exile yourself sooner than necessary." Her smile wavered, but there was no doubt it was filled with love.

He looked at her for a moment, debating whether to pretend, just for a little while longer, that nothing bad was coming, and spend time together as they once did as children, or to leave and drown in his thoughts.

"Whatever the lady commands." Sonic forced himself to give Amy a sweet smile, a small comfort for them both before facing what lay ahead.

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The arena was completely full. Every single person in the kingdom waited anxiously, watching as the competitors lined up at the starting point, ready and determined to win the prince’s favor and claim the coveted title of Sentinel of the Dawn.

And there, gleaming at the finish line, stood as a proud and imposing symbol of victory and honor one of the finest, most extraordinary pieces of armory ever forged: the sword of Prince Arthur of Camelot, Excalibur.

The blade, famed for always granting victory to its wielder, had been bestowed upon Sonic at birth as a gift from the gods, meant to protect not only the prince but the kingdom itself from any threat. The weapon embodied hope and light, a reminder to everyone that no one could ever overcome the justice and truth of the prince. That no matter the enemy or the circumstance, fate would always be on Sonic’s side.

Or at least, that was the belief.

Meanwhile, in the distant royal balcony, the noble families gathered, ready to begin the tournament and remind the contenders that whoever triumphed would earn the fortune of serving the future kings for the rest of their life, immortalized in history as the knight who fought side by side with Sonic against the beast.

Sonic, feeling the weight in his body yet doing his best to walk toward the edge of the balcony where all could see him, filled his lungs with air so he could speak as loudly as possible, making sure his voice sounded steady and full of authority.

The arena fell silent as their prince stepped forward.

"As you all know, today is an important day for all of us, but especially for me." He paused for a few seconds. "Today is the day when one of you, honorable men who have come to offer your lives in my service, will prove what you are made of. You will test your strength and your skills so that I may decide who among you is worthy of bearing the title of Sentinel of the Dawn. Beyond protecting me, you must swear to protect Camelot from all evil, against every trial. And though the knight who claims my sword at the finish line will certainly be the victor, I will decide who among you, based not only on strength but on willpower, is the knight worthy of my eternal trust and admiration."

The warriors all tensed, waiting for the signal that would start the contest.

"With nothing more to say," Sonic hesitated for a moment, searching the distance for Lancelot’s gaze, hoping to at least send him one last message of love to carry into the contest, even if it were no more than a farewell. Yet Lance never looked at him, not even for a second; his eyes remained fixed on the sword in the distance. The sight saddened Sonic, who had hoped to show him just one final thing. "let the competition begin!"

With the sharp blast of a trumpet breaking the silence, the competitors received their signal and stormed forward, racing through the arena to claim the prince’s sword.

The roar of the crowd thundered with excitement. Across the arena stretched at least a dozen trials, each designed to hinder the knights’ advance as much as possible, and in the best-case scenario, leave them unable to continue.

The arena was divided into three stages:

The first tested the candidates’ reflexes. It greeted them with a bridge of loose planks, where a single misstep could send a knight plummeting into the depths below. If they made it across, they faced a path of swinging iron shields, like pendulums that would fling them aside with brutal force if they miscalculated. Beyond this lay the spear forest, where lances shot indiscriminately at the contenders, forcing them to stay sharp or be skewered. Finally, they had to cross a path of trapped tiles, some of which, when stepped on, would unleash volleys of arrows in every direction.

Those who survived the first stage were met with hostility in the second. This stage tested the knights’ ability to keep agility and focus under pressure. At the beginning, they were forced down a narrow corridor battered by violent gusts of wind that slammed them against the walls, slowing them down and leaving them with few defenses. Next came a deep pit, where the only way forward was across spinning iron cylinders that rolled beneath their weight, demanding speed and precision to avoid falling. Those with the best balance then faced a crossing of hanging chains over water, swinging from one to the next using only the strength of their arms. And without rest, they were set upon by the king’s hounds, a vicious pack trained to bite and tear their prey. Killing them was forbidden; the knights had to break free through brute strength and skill alone.

By the time they reached the final stage, many contestants had fallen. Some had collapsed halfway through, others lay unconscious or crippled by their wounds, and still more had surrendered upon realizing their strength was not enough to finish.

But four knights remained standing: Lancelot, Sir Gawain, Sir Percival, and Sir Galahad.

Though visibly weary, some even wounded, they pressed on, their willpower still aflame, and they had won the volatile favor of the crowd.

The king’s gaze lingered on them with interest. Though only one would be named the prince’s personal knight, it would be a waste to let such warriors go. Perhaps, in time, they could join the ranks of the prince’s legion.

The final stage was designed not to test their strength of body, but to break the last of their willpower.

At the entrance, the four knights were met by massive wrought-iron gates, one for each of them. Their sheer weight was plain, and the only way to raise them was with brute strength, hauling on thick iron chains until the gates rose just high enough to crawl beneath.

Lancelot and Galahad were the first to gain the advantage, straining against the chains. At first, the gates barely budged, as though none of them would be able to lift them. But at last, they managed to raise them just enough to crawl underneath, dragging themselves forward, followed closely by Gawain and Percival.

Once they had left the gates behind, an expanse of soft, sinking sands greeted them cruelly. Step by step, the warriors sank up to their waists, each movement slower and heavier as the sands fought against them, devouring their strength and making even the smallest advance a brutal effort.

The crowd watched the warriors struggle through the sinking sands, their shouts growing louder, trying to give them one last burst of strength to push forward and pull themselves free. Percival was the first to emerge, followed closely by Galahad, while Lancelot and Gawain were still stuck near the end of the path.

Sonic’s heart felt trapped in that very moment. He wanted to scream with all his might that Lancelot had to keep going no matter what, but doing so would only expose his blatant favoritism, something Lance had already warned him against. So he forced himself to wait, consumed by anxiety.

It wasn’t long before, with one final pull, Lancelot managed to break free, sprinting breathlessly to catch up to the two knights ahead of him. But for Gawain, it was a different story, he didn’t have the strength to finish. He let himself sink, announcing his surrender.

Only two obstacles remained before reaching the sword.

The next trial consisted of iron rings, each with considerable weight, which the knights had to fasten to their wrists and ankles. Every step became heavier, every movement more agonizing as the strain tore at their muscles. Commonly used for training, here they served as extra burdens, forcing the knights to push themselves to their absolute physical limits.

Once all three had their rings in place, they faced the final trial of the arena: a towering wooden wall, slick with water, its surface offering only a handful of cracks and grooves to cling to. Whoever managed to climb it would have to seize a rope at the top, cut it free, and swing down to the base, where the prince’s sword awaited, the prize of victory.

With no time to think, the three knights hurled themselves forward, ready to climb the wall that seemed nearly impossible from the very first glance.

Lancelot and Galahad, the favorites thus far, surged ahead, using every ounce of momentum to gain height, while Percival struggled from the start. The weighted rings dragged him down, gravity seizing every chance to pull him off the wall.

Galahad proved himself a worthy opponent, nearly the only one capable of matching Lancelot’s overwhelming strength. But what no one knew was that Lancelot wasn’t an ordinary hedgehog. He had advantages others did not. Taking full advantage, he extended his claws, sharper and stronger than any average warrior’s, and sank them into the wood, driving them deep as handholds that allowed him to climb with ferocious speed.

When Galahad noticed this, he pushed himself harder, finding strength he didn’t know he had, spurred on by the roar of the crowd. Inch by inch, he pulled alongside Lance, until they were nearly at the top.

It happened in seconds, but to Lancelot’s misfortune, Galahad reached the top first. He nearly hurled himself upward in desperation, grasping the rope with trembling, exhausted hands.

The victory was his. Galahad would be the champion of the arena.

If not for Lancelot driving his claws into Galahad’s arm, wrenching him back toward the edge of the wall.

Galahad barely managed to hang on, clutching the ledge to keep from plummeting to the ground. The crowd erupted in outrage, watching Lance break the rules by striking another knight, a clear act of cheating. But Lancelot, frantic and desperate for victory, ignored their cries. He seized the rope with both hands and leapt swiftly toward the sword.

Sonic was bewildered. Lancelot had never been dishonorable, never resorted to cheap tricks. To him, honor had always been sacred. Yet now it seemed none of that mattered, only the sword.

"What’s wrong with him?!" Amy whispered beside Sonic. "You said he was a fair and noble warrior, didn’t you?"

"Of course he is!" Sonic whispered back.

"Then what is he doing?"

"I don’t know. He never said anything strange, nothing that would make me think he’d do this."

The air grew tense. Sonic didn’t want to doubt Lance’s intentions, but things were becoming harder to ignore. Was it because Sonic had told him he would not be chosen as the Sentinel of the Dawn? Had Lancelot decided to claim the title by force? Perhaps the dark knight was so furious with Sonic’s decision that, in a final fit of rage, he had lost his reason and turned to dishonor.

As soon as Lancelot reached the base of the sword, he slowed, staring at it with raw hunger and desperation, as if it were the most precious thing his eyes had ever seen, something he had been searching for his entire life.

Something twisted in Sonic’s gut. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. A chill rippled across his quills, the same feeling he always got when sensing a mortal strike from an enemy. Straining his hearing, Sonic perked his ears, rose from his seat, and walked to the very edge of the royal balcony.

“Arthur?” Amy tried to follow Sonic, but he motioned for her not to come closer.

As the prince approached the edge, he could hear that Lancelot’s breathing was off, not ragged from exertion, but wrong in a strange way, as if it were not truly his.

Lancelot gripped the sword with both hands and, with one heave, pulled it from its base. He raised it like a champion, pointing it proudly toward the sky.

And in that instant everything changed.

The sky darkened in a heartbeat, rolling in thick, black storm clouds as if the heavens themselves would break apart above the kingdom. A bolt of lightning struck near the arena, detonating a thunder that made the ground tremble.

Those present cried out in terror. The air turned heavy and cold, a warning that an imminent disaster had arrived and that running would be useless.

Sonic watched Lancelot, worried, he had no idea what was happening.

“Lance?” he whispered, voice trembling.

“Kingdom of Camelot,” Lancelot’s voice was deep and authoritative; though always firm, this time it sounded unusually dark and dangerous “today is the great day. Twenty years ago a curse was proclaimed upon the firstborn of the king and his people. That curse decreed that Prince Arthur would lose his life to a terrible beast that would bring devastation to Camelot as vengeance for the selfish heart of the king, who failed to keep his word. Now he will pay the consequences of his deeds.”

Sonic was stunned, unable to move or take in what was happening.

Slowly, Lancelot turned to face Sonic, offering a cynical smile and a killer’s stare.

“And I am the beast that will rip the prince’s heart out.”

The prince felt his legs go weak and his heart stop. What Lancelot said had to be a lie, he couldn’t be the beast of the curse. The man he loved, the man who had protected him countless times, with whom he’d shared kisses, laughter, even sheets, this same man who noticed every little thing about Sonic’s behavior, he could not be that monster.

“Lancelot… what is this?” Sonic’s voice cracked; tears brimmed at the edge of his eyes.

“Two things. First: don’t call me ‘Lancelot’ anymore, because now my name is Shadow, the vengeance made flesh in this body. And second…”

Suddenly, a pair of vast, pointed black wings unfurled from his back, like a raven heralding death. With terrifying ease, he launched into a nimble flight and crouched at the edge of the platform, looking Sonic square in the face.

“I am the one who will kill you today.”

Sonic couldn’t speak; the knot in his throat barely let him breathe.

“Did you really think I loved you?” Shadow laughed, a guttural, sinister sound full of hatred and scorn. “You’re a fool, an easy mark who fell for a few pretty words and a handful of kisses. You’re nothing but a pathetic excuse for a prince who, desperate for acceptance and the love your father never gave you, fell for the first person who paid you a scrap of attention. You were so easy to win that you let me into the kingdom, into your home, into your heart. Now, not only will your kingdom and your friends perish under my claws because of you, but you will die horribly. And do you know the funniest part?” Shadow reached out and lifted Sonic’s chin with one hand. “You won’t lift a finger to defend yourself… because you love me.”

And at last the tears slipped down Sonic’s cheeks.

Chapter Text

“But what sweet, noble tears… you almost make me feel sorry for you.”
Lancelot’s eyes lingered on Sonic with a hint of contempt.

“Why are you doing this to me? Was I cruel to you? Did I ever hurt you? Did I not make you feel loved enough?” Sonic’s trembling, weakened hand clutched at Lancelot’s.

“You still don’t get it? I only used you. I needed your sword, a clear path into the kingdom, and your trust. That’s why I made you fall in love with me.”

“No… you’re not well,” Sonic shook his head. “I know who you are. You’re kind, noble, loyal, attentive, faithful to your duty…” His tears blurred his vision. “You would never want to hurt me…”

“How ironic,” Lancelot let out a dry laugh. “Weren’t you the one who said that the moment you met the beast, you would kill it?” Sonic froze as the memory hit him. “Oh, well then, kill me. Go on. Pierce my heart.”

Lancelot’s eyes locked on the prince with a mix of determination and bitterness, as if resentment had been festering in his chest for years. Sonic, in contrast, was simply shattered, wounded, betrayed. Yet in his pain there was also self-loathing. He remembered every time he had sworn before Lance to slay the beast, destroy it, proclaim his hatred and fear of it. All those awful words he had hurled at Lancelot over time, now he wished he could erase every single one.

How could he have spoken such vile things about Lancelot? Promised to exterminate him completely, when his sweet dark knight had done nothing but love and protect him?

That was why Lance had felt fear in his presence. He had known he was near his enemy… and yet had still shown affection and loyalty to that enemy.

Sonic had failed once again and this time, he had failed the man he loved.

“Lance…”

“Shadow,” Lance growled.

“Shads…” Sonic tried to step closer, as far as his trembling legs would let him. “I don’t deserve you. I never have. But I’m sure of one thing, every single act of love you showed me was real, because your love for me was real. You’re hurt, I know that, but I also know you’d never choose to harm anyone.” Sonic’s eyes glistened as he looked at Lancelot with love, denial, and guilt all at once.

“You’re a fool. You think everything can be fixed with a single, hypocritical display of remorse.” His gaze turned lethal. “You’re trying to use the feelings you think I still have to bring me to heel… but you’re about to find out how costly your feigned innocence truly is.” The hand holding Excalibur rose toward Sonic. “I’ve come to collect what I’m owed.”

And with one swift strike, Lancelot brought the blade down with all his strength.

Sonic felt his soul leave him in a breath, if not for his father’s sharp reflexes. The king grabbed the prince by the hood and yanked him back hard, pulling him out of reach and saving him from being skewered.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Arthur?!” The king’s voice was both scolding and fearful. “You’ve never been slow to dodge an attack before!”

Sonic’s breathing was fast and frantic, his heart pounding, his mind overstimulated.

“He… he did it,” he gasped for air. “Lance tried to kill me…” His tears blurred his sight again.

“Of course he tried to kill you! He’s the beast. Son, please, stop wasting time!”

The king stepped between Sonic and Lance, drawing his sword at once, ready to strike if needed. The royal guards flanking the family in the stands closed in at his sides, prepared for battle.

“Forget about me, get the Rose family out of here.” The king cast a glance at Sonic, seeing how incapable he was of fighting back. “Take the prince with them as well.”

“No!” Sonic snapped back to alertness, though still unsteady. “Let me fight. He’s after me. It’s my duty to defend the kingdom.”

“Look at yourself, Arthur!” his father raised his voice. “You’re shaking like a newborn fawn crying for its mother. What kind of fight do you think you can give? At this rate, you’ll only get in my way and he’ll kill you.”

“Arthur, come with me!” Amy pleaded from behind the guards’ protection.

“No…” Sonic forced himself off the ground. Against his body’s weakness, he managed to steady himself. “This is my curse. I’ve failed in everything, failed everyone. The least I can do is face my death.”

“What a brave little spectacle!” Lancelot let out a cynical laugh. “I’m almost moved by how you all protect each other, like one big group of cockroaches.”

“You won’t find it so amusing when I drive my sword through your throat.”
The king was slipping into battle mode, something that terrified Sonic, because he knew his father never left an enemy alive.

Amy and her parents were immediately escorted out of the stands. Around the arena, the remaining knights began trying to evacuate the panicked crowd. It was like herding a massive, frenzied tide of people desperate to escape. The king’s soldiers struggled to protect a crowd that far outnumbered them, while another detachment raced toward the royal box to guard the king and prince.

But the chaos made everything harder: people running wild, horses breaking free from their stables, and the weather turning ominous.

And then, as if the situation weren’t dire enough, the sky growled over the villagers’ heads like a warning of impending doom. Multiple bolts of lightning struck the vegetation surrounding the kingdom, setting the trees ablaze and forming a fiery ring around Camelot.

No one could escape the kingdom.

“I told you misfortune would fall upon Camelot.” Lancelot glanced around, admiring his own disaster, drinking in the sight of hundreds of people panicking for his delight. “And so everyone here will suffer the same punishment.”

“Release my people!” The king’s voice still carried that commanding tone of his, as if he truly believed Lancelot would obey. “This is between you and me. Don’t punish the innocent.”

“Innocent?” His voice dripped with outrage. “Now you want to talk about innocence? How curious. How hypocritical. Do you remember what you did to the young witch who helped your son be born? You swore her a quiet life, a life free of persecution for her gifts. She helped you… and you killed her.”

“Dad, what is he talking about Lan… Shadow?” Sonic’s confusion deepened. He’d heard this before.

“Oh, of course. Your father never told you the truth.” Lancelot smiled with malice, like someone savoring the reveal of a long-kept secret. “The witch didn’t kill your mother, prince. Your father knew there was a powerful woman hidden within the kingdom, because in Camelot, magic is punishable by death. He hunted her down desperately, not wanting his wife to fail to produce an heir. He begged for her help and promised her absolution for her ‘crimes’ if she ensured your birth. And she did. You were born. But your mother had made a superhuman effort to bring you into this world, and unfortunately, death had already laid its sweet hands upon her. There was no power on earth that could have stopped it. And that was the perfect excuse for the king to break his promise and kill the witch, because he fears what he doesn’t understand. Magic is something he cannot control, and that is why he feared it and decided to erase it from his kingdom.”

Sonic was speechless. So many revelations were hitting him so fast he felt his sanity slipping away: the beast, Lancelot, the curse, and now his father.

Lancelot had been right. His father had lied to him, done things unworthy of a good king, unworthy of a good father.

“Dad…” He was simply exhausted now, worn down by one emotional blow after another. “Tell me the truth. Did you betray and kill that woman?”

“Are you really going to ask stupid questions right now, Arthur?!”

“Tell me the damn truth! Just once in your life, have the courage to treat me with a shred of respect!”

His father exhaled with exasperation, as if Sonic’s very presence could only disappoint him further. “Yes. I killed her. She was a danger, Arthur. Deceiving her was the only way to finally trap her. Having her help with your birth would atone for her sins.”

“Sins?!” Sonic’s throat tightened, not from sorrow but from pure rage. “What the hell are you talking about? She was born with those gifts! She wasn’t a danger, she was just different!”

“She was a threat. Powers like that are dangerous. She could have endangered the monarchy if she chose to. That’s why I did it. And that’s what you’ve always lacked, the courage to do your duty.”

“Is that why there’s no magic in Camelot?! You exterminated them all!”

“It was for the greater good!”

“No!” Sonic was done, done living under his father’s yoke, done watching him trample everyone who defied him, done never being enough to please him. More than anything, he was done watching his father reject not just him but an entire nation, marginalizing those who didn’t fit his ideals, exiling them to misery in the poor districts where so many of Sonic’s friends barely scraped by, while his father handed out wealth and dignity to a chosen few who didn’t deserve it. “It’s your damn fault so much of this nation hates us, because you treat everyone like garbage from your filthy, ignorant privilege! And what’s happening right now is the result of your arrogance and cynicism!”

“Don’t you dare speak to me like that!”

“You lied to me. You manipulated me. And even worse, because of you, the kingdom and I will die at the hands of a disaster born from the hatred your actions created. But you’re so narrow-minded you can’t even see it!”

“You’re taking the enemy’s side?!”

"There isn’t even a side to take, it's just me trying to deal with the mess you created!" Sonic’s shouts were desperate and exhausted, as if he were carrying years of pent-up frustration within his body.

"I wish it had been you who died instead of your mother. At least she would’ve given me a more competent son."

Those words shattered Sonic. He had spent so many years yearning for his father’s approval, trying to prove he was capable, that he could be a good king, that one day his father might care about those he had abandoned, the ones he never accepted. But now, Sonic finally understood that he would never change his father. The man was what he was, and Sonic could never meet his expectations without betraying himself.

He knew that being who he was and having the heart of a hero, wasn’t wrong. It was right. But still, his father’s words hurt. He couldn’t help it.

This time, though, he wouldn’t back down. He would defend himself and the ones he cared about. If his mother were alive, she’d be proud of him.

With a trembling hand, Sonic wiped his tears and fought to hold back his sobs. He wouldn’t give his father the satisfaction of seeing that he still had power over him.

"I don’t care if you don’t love me," Sonic said, swallowing hard. "But if you don’t take back what you’ve done, we’re all going to die."

"A king never goes back on his word. I didn’t win my battles by being some soft coward, and I’ll prove who makes the law in this kingdom."

The king turned his back to Sonic, walking forward with his sword in hand, his stance brimming with arrogance and the murderous conviction of a man who believed he could defeat anything. He was the King of Camelot, after all. In his mind, he was never wrong. He would never be a coward.

"You’ll never learn your lesson, will you?" Lancelot said calmly, watching as the king advanced, ready to strike him down.

"I don’t negotiate with monsters."

"So be it."

The king charged forward, swinging his sword downward with all his strength. But Lancelot caught the blow mid-strike with Excalibur, effortlessly.

The monarch staggered back, then lunged again. Though he was twice Lancelot’s size, the dark knight was faster, more agile, easily deflecting his attacks and redirecting his power. The king made the fatal mistake of trusting brute force over strategy, and Lancelot was no ordinary warrior. With each counterattack, the dark hedgehog gained ground, forcing the king to retreat, able only to block and no longer strike back with precision.

Lance attacked from above, slashing the king’s arm, then spread his massive wings and beat them with force, unleashing a gust of wind that sent the old hedgehog crashing to the ground. Before he could recover, Lancelot dove toward him, sword aimed for his heart. The monarch barely managed to block the blow.

"Is that all you’ve got?" Lancelot taunted, pressing his blade against the king’s, his strength overpowering him. The old hedgehog was pinned beneath the dark knight’s weight, completely cornered.

"The fight’s not over until one of us is dead," the king wheezed. "And I won’t be the one dying today."

With a sudden move, he threw Excalibur backward, forcing Lancelot to lose balance for just a moment, long enough for the king to drive his sword deep into the knight’s side.

"Lance!" Sonic felt his soul leave his body.

Lancelot let out a guttural cry, the sound of a wounded beast, staggering back and collapsing to one side. He dropped his sword, clutching the wound with his hands.

The king seized the opening, rising to his feet with renewed rage. He charged, both hands gripping his sword, aiming straight for Lancelot’s neck, but the knight was faster. He caught the blade with one hand and kicked the king in the stomach, sending him flying several meters back.

Luckily for the dark beast, his wings were still intact. With a few hurried beats, he lifted himself into the stormy sky, trying to gain a moment to recover.

But the king wasn’t finished with him.

With the deadly precision of a man forged in war, the monarch, still on the ground, grabbed his sword and hurled it like a dagger. His aim was flawless. The blade pierced the base of Lancelot’s right wing, forcing him into a spiral. He crashed down hard, tumbling across the audience seats before his battered body slammed into the arena floor.

"Lancelot!" Sonic felt the impulse to run and descend to where Lance’s body lay motionless, but his father yanked him back by the arm.

"You side with my enemy?!" the king roared, glaring at his son in fury.

"He’s not an enemy, he’s my knight!"

"He’s the beast that came to kill you!"

"And you’re the beast who slaughtered hundreds of sorcerers and witches! And yet, you’re still my father..." Sonic’s eyes burned with both pain and anger.

His father stared at him in silence for a few seconds before speaking, his voice cold. "I should’ve known you’d never be man enough to be a worthy king, to do what must be done."

The king rose to his feet, clenched his fist, and struck Sonic hard across the face, knocking him to the ground and leaving him dazed.

"I’ll deal with you later."

With heavy, labored steps and pain radiating through every bone in his body, the king made his way down the arena stands, leaving Sonic writhing in agony, struggling to clear his blurred vision. From above, it looked as though Lance’s body hadn’t moved since his fall, and the monarch assumed the beast had died on impact, but he needed to be sure.

It wasn’t hard to descend, since Lance’s fall had left a trail of destruction behind him, splintered wooden beams and a jagged path leading straight to the arena floor.

The closer Sonic’s father got, the stronger the chill that crawled up his quills. He didn’t know if it was because of the apocalyptic scene, the storm, the distant flames or the sight of those enormous black wings twisted and broken on the ground, a river of blood spreading from the wounded one. Whatever the reason, to him, Lance was as revolting as a creature born from shadow itself.

"Disgusting," the king muttered, kicking Lance’s body, unwilling to touch it with his hands, just to make sure it didn’t move.

Once he confirmed there was no reaction, he placed a boot firmly on the knight’s back to hold him down and gripped the sword impaled in Lance’s wing, pulling hard to free it.

A thick, wet gurgle echoed as the king finally retrieved his weapon, now drenched in the beast’s blood, dark and viscous, gleaming against his black quills and the nightmarish silhouette before him.

With eyes full of disdain and a weary arrogance, the old monarch gazed down, his foot planted dominantly on Lancelot’s body. The dark knight now looked like nothing more than prey, his prize, the proof of his power and glory. No one could rise above the King of Camelot, not the fiercest beast nor the strongest magic.

"No one has ever defeated the King of Camelot," he said, gripping his bloodstained sword with both hands and lowering it toward Lance’s neck. "And just to make sure your dark figure never flies across my sky again like some carrion crow..." He raised the sword high above his head, gathering his strength for the final blow.

And the blade came down, sharp, swift, merciless.

The beast took the hit.

But in a flash, Lancelot turned his head, jaws snapping open to reveal gleaming fangs. Though they resembled those of any ordinary hedgehog, they were sharper, deadlier. His powerful jaws clamped down on the sword, stopping it mid-swing, then crushed the blade in two as if it were a cheap trinket. It was like watching a wolf fight for its life, driven purely by instinct.

"You were pretending, you damn creature!" the king gasped, his face twisting in terror. His weapon was broken, his body battered, his lungs burning, he knew, deep down, there was no way he could win this time.

"Your arrogance and pride will be your downfall," Lancelot growled, rising to his feet. The sound of bones and muscles snapping back into place filled the air, as if he were merely stretching after a long rest. "I knew the idea of victory would lure you in, that you’d lower your guard. That’s your greatest flaw, old man. You underestimate your enemies."

With a fierce snarl, Lance lunged forward, jaws wide, sinking his teeth deep into the king’s neck. He bit down with precision, crushing the jugular like a beast that had finally caught its prey and wouldn’t waste another second.

Then, with a brutal twist, he tore through flesh and hurled the monarch’s lifeless body against a wooden wall. The king hit the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

That stormy afternoon, the ruler of Camelot met his end, slain in battle by the beast.

Halfway down the trail of destruction in the arena stood Sonic, eyes wide, heart pounding, watching the exact moment Lance took his father’s life.

“What… did you do?” Sonic’s voice was barely audible.

“I saved Camelot from a heartless tyrant. I did this miserable place a favor.” Lance’s words came out flat, empty.

“So you really… do want to kill me?” Tears once again blurred the prince’s vision.

“Are you deaf?” Lancelot’s expression showed clear irritation. “I told you I’m the beast that would rip out your heart. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Sonic choked back a sob, straightened his posture, and drew in a deep breath; this time he knew he’d have to fight for his life.

Unexpectedly, he bolted in the opposite direction, as if his life depended on it.

Lancelot was about to make a joke about Sonic’s cowardice, but then he understood immediately: Sonic wasn’t running away. He was going for Excalibur.

With a powerful thrust of his wings, the dark knight shot forward, trying to reach the spot where the sword had fallen before Sonic could. But he hadn’t counted on the prince’s incredible speed.

By mere seconds, Sonic reached the blade first. He snatched it from the ground and swung an attack behind him, striking Lance’s armor and sending him crashing sideways into wooden structures, debris collapsing over him.

“Lance, please!” Sonic’s breathing was ragged, his stance trembling. “I know you don’t really want to kill me, you’d never hurt me. I know you better than anyone. The kind of kindness you have could never be faked!”

After a moment, Lance rose from the wreckage with a growl of anger, trying to regain his footing.

“If you’re doing this because of the curse, just tell me!” A few tears escaped Sonic’s eyes. “Please, just this once… trust me.”

Lance said nothing. Instead, he lunged at Sonic, claws outstretched, aiming to sink them into him. Sonic took the hit head-on, slammed to the ground with the dark knight on top of him, struggling to choke him with his own sword. Excalibur, instead of acting as a shield, now felt like nothing more than a strip of iron threatening to strangle him.

But for a moment, Sonic saw it, the look in Lancelot’s eyes softened, a faint glimmer of concern shining there. His push weakened. His gaze almost seemed to say, Do it now!

Confused but determined, Sonic seized the moment of weakness and kicked Lancelot in the stomach, sending him flying back and giving himself room to scramble to his feet.

“Lance, I know you’re in there! I don’t know what’s happening, but I saw you, you really saw me!” Sonic panted, but a flicker of hope had sparked in his heart.

Lancelot tried to charge again, but immediately, as if something had short-circuited inside him, he collapsed to his knees halfway, clutching his head as if in agony. His groans of pain made Sonic’s heart lurch.

“Lance!” The prince, forgetting entirely about his battle stance, ran toward the knight.

“Stay back! Don’t come any closer!” With a single shout, Lancelot stopped Sonic in his tracks, his face twisted in pain.

“What’s happening to you?!”

“She…” he exhaled with difficulty. “She’s trying to kill you. She was supposed to spare you, but she hasn’t.”

“Who are you talking about?” Sonic crept closer, slowly.

“My mother… my mother is the witch your father killed.”

The young hedgehog froze. It all made sense now. That was why Lancelot had become Shadow, the beast of the curse, born of a young witch’s hatred.

“You’re being a bad boy, Lancelot.” Lance’s voice turned venomous and hostile again, as if his body were caught in a torturous battle between two souls fighting for control.

“Agh!” Lance writhed on the ground again. “Sonic, listen.” He regained control of himself for a moment, but not for long. “She has control over my body. I thought if I died, she wouldn’t be able to possess me anymore, but if that happens, it’ll only hand my body to my mother completely. So I need you to destroy me.”

“Destroy you?! What are you talking about?”

“Burn me, crush me, blow me apart, anything! But don’t leave a single piece of my body, or she’ll use it to kill you.”

“Are you insane?! I’m not going to kill you, I’ll find a way to save you!” Sonic’s heart pounded desperately; the mere thought of losing Lancelot in such a visceral way terrified him.

“Ha! I told you, Lance, the prince would never be able to complete his mission. His useless love for you will be the very thing that kills him.” His mother’s voice returned, spilling out through Lance’s body.

“Sonic, please!” Lance appeared again, as if in a sick, twisted game of split personalities. “She wants to kill you! I’m begging you…” Tears, long held back, began to spill from his eyes. “Don’t do this to me, don’t torture me this way. If my hands take your life, I’ll lose my mind from the pain… You’re the only thing in this world that matters to me… You’ve always been my purpose.”

“Have you thought about what it would do to me if I had to kill you? I’m your king now, my duty is to protect you and the whole nation. My life is the last thing I care about. I’ve already lost my mother and my father… I refuse to let you go. I will never let you go.”

“Soni…!” His body twisted violently again.

“Enough!” With effort, his mother regained control of the body, rising to her feet once more. “This play has dragged on long enough. I didn’t even take this long to kill your father.”

“Give me Lancelot back, now!” Sonic’s hands gripped Excalibur firmly, ready to fight.

“Please, don’t pretend you’ll fight with real strength. You and I both know you’re incapable of killing Lancelot,” she sneered. “Besides, I don’t plan on giving this body back until the debt owed to me is paid.”

Without warning, Lancelot spread his wings, propelling himself forward at full speed, slamming into Sonic’s chest and sending him crashing straight through a wall. Sonic tried get up, but Lance flew high and landed on top of him, punching him in the stomach so hard it knocked the air from his lungs and likely cracked a rib.

Lance looked at Sonic with satisfaction, until his own body suddenly moved on its own, hurtling at full speed toward one of the arena’s walls and slamming into it.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?! You’re going to kill us!” A weak cough made him spit out flecks of blood as he tried to stand.

“I won't let you kill him!” Lancelot was back in control of his body. “If Sonic can’t destroy me, then I’ll do it myself, even if it tears me apart.”

The knight staggered to his feet, his skull throbbing with a splitting headache, a clear sign his mother was trying to take over again. But he refused to let her win; he would take any advantage he could. He spread his wings again, one visibly damaged, shredded by blows and cuts, the other unable to move freely because of pain and blood loss, yet still, he could fly.

When Sonic regained his breath and his senses, he looked from a distance and saw Lancelot twisting and crashing into objects again and again, pausing only to scream at nothing, surely arguing with his mother. He didn’t understand exactly what he was seeing, until finally, it hit him.

Lancelot was trying to kill himself, and destroy his body in the process.

“Lancelot, please stop!” Sonic’s cry tore from his throat like a plea of pure anguish. He couldn’t stand seeing the man he loved torturing himself like that. Lancelot had always been mistreated, beaten, and humiliated for as long as he could remember. He’d almost never known kindness, love, warmth. He’d always been alone, at the mercy of everything, with no home in the darkness, believing he wasn’t worthy of love, compassion, or care. His world had taught him he had no value if he had nothing to offer.

But he was the one Sonic loved most in the world, the most precious thing in his life. If only he could see himself the way Sonic saw him, he would understand.

“There you are, my dear hedgehog!” Lance’s gaze was murderous now, clearly his mother had control of the body again. With all the speed his battered form would allow, he lunged, jaws open, ready to tear Sonic’s face apart in one bite.

Sonic raised the sword to block Lance’s bite, praying he wouldn’t hurt him by accident, while the knight, desperate to cause injury, extended his claws and slashed the prince’s face, forcing him to stagger back and turn his head aside.

Lancelot took a step back, holding his head with one hand, struggling to stay upright. “Sonic, stop this!” Tears threatened to spill from his eyes again. “I’m trying to save your life, I don’t want to hurt you anymore. Seeing you like this is killing me!”

“I’m trying to save your life too, you idiot!” Sonic turned to face him, one hand covering the scratches on his face. “Do you think it’s fun watching you try to kill yourself?! I don’t want my fiancé to die!”

“Your… what?” Those words seemed to stun Lance for a second, as if suddenly his wounds didn’t hurt anymore.

“I…” Sonic tried to breathe despite the pain. “I was going to propose to you after the tournament. It was going to be my last attempt to stay by your side, because I thought you were afraid my feelings weren’t reliable enough. If you rejected me, I would have let you go forever. But now… now I understand why you kept rejecting me.”

“You doubted that I believed your feelings were real?”

“Well, you turned me down so many times I started to believe you didn’t even trust me.”

“I would never doubt your word, my lord… not for a moment. In fact, I’ve always believed I was the one unworthy of your love.”

“That’s why you have no idea how much you hurt me, Lance.” His voice was now a tortured whisper. “You’re one of the most precious people in my life. I love you so much that watching you hurt yourself like this is what will truly kill me.” With gentle steps, Sonic began moving closer to Lancelot.

“You don’t understand. I betrayed you, I hid things from you, I manipulated you and not only did I nearly destroy the entire kingdom, I killed your father. After everything I’ve done to you, and yet you’ve never once hurt me.” Tears streamed freely down his face now. “I would have endured your hatred, your blows, your curses, I would have accepted it because I deserved it. But despite it all, you still smile at me.”

The knight’s legs began to tremble until he finally collapsed to the floor, his face, covered in wounds, bruises and blood, radiating a pain and regret that called out to Sonic’s heart.

And at last, what Lancelot had always dreamed of, always longed for, happened: in the middle of his attacks of deep sorrow and fear, Sonic was there to hold him. Someone was finally not leaving him like a small child alone in the dark. Yet every other time, he had never been able to ask Sonic for help, always trying to protect him from the truth. But this time, nothing held him back.

The prince knelt and gathered Lancelot in his arms, careful not to hurt him, finally able to hold him close, to let him feel for just a moment that he was safe, as if Sonic truly had control of the situation, even if it was only a fleeting illusion.

“Please, don’t hurt yourself anymore.” Sonic’s words were soft against Lance’s ear. “My happiness, my fortune depends on your well-being. I told you my heart was yours, if I have to tear it from my chest and give it to you, I will. But please… never believe you are unworthy of love, because you hold the heart of a king in your hands… my love.”

Sonic held Lancelot for a few seconds longer before finally breaking the embrace, painfully, looking into his beloved knight’s eyes and caressing his cheek.

“Never forget that my body, my heart, and my soul will always be with you, that you mean more to me than all the gold and land of this nation. And promise me you’ll take care of yourself the way I always have.”

“Sonic, you’re scaring me.” The dark hedgehog’s eyes began to search the prince’s desperately, as though something wasn’t right, as though something terrible was about to happen.

With the sweetness that had always defined him, Sonic cupped Lancelot’s face in his hands and kissed him softly, as if afraid he might break something fragile in the knight. For a few moments, Lancelot’s body relaxed; his stance melted, and he allowed himself to feel Sonic again.

When the kiss ended, the prince looked at Lancelot with tenderness, wiped away his tears, and said softly, “Now you can take control.”

Immediately, Lancelot’s mother was back, staring at Sonic with surprise.

“I never thought you’d do that to Lancelot, relax him so much he’d forget to fight for control of his body. What is it you want?”

Both of them brushed the dust from their clothes and stood up.

“What will it take for you to let Lancelot live and disappear forever?” There was no doubt in his voice.

“Oh, that’s simple. The prophecy just has to be fulfilled, you have to die.”

“And is it necessary for you to literally rip my heart out?”

“No, I think piercing it with a sword would be enough. After all, from the moment you were born, I claimed your life and swore you would die by my beast.”

“Then I think I can give you that.” Sonic glanced for a moment at Excalibur. “I offer my life and my heart in exchange for Lancelot’s freedom. Is that possible?”

“Well, well.” Lancelot’s mother laughed cynically. “Who would have thought you’d end up loving my pup so much. But fine, that works in my favor anyway, so I’ll agree. That would fulfill the curse, which means you’d both be free of me and I could disappear in peace, like it should’ve been all along.”

“I only have one condition.” His gaze was firm.

“You nobles are always so greedy.” Lancelot’s mother sneered. “Go on, say it.”

“I’ll be the one to pierce my own heart with the sword.”

“May I ask why?”

“If Lance finds out it was his hands that killed me, I’m sure he’d never be able to live with it. I want him to have a peaceful, happy life, free of guilt and chains.”

The woman who inhabited Lancelot’s body thought for a few minutes before finally replying, “Alright, do as you wish. Either way, I’ll get what I want.”

Sonic took a deep breath and looked around at what was left of Camelot. The gentle drizzle that still lingered tried to ease the flames surrounding the kingdom, while in the distance he could hear the cries of villagers being aided by the knights, doing their best to help after the storm had unleashed all its fury upon them.

The beloved land his mother, the queen, had worked so hard to nurture and make flourish… At least now he knew he would be able to put an end to this disaster. But most importantly, he would save Lancelot and his friends from danger.

At last, he had become a worthy king. It was a shame he’d only managed to be one for a few hours.

He moved forward with slow, steady steps, standing tall. His eyes softened as he noticed the necklace Lancelot had given him still hanging around his neck, close to his heart, as if even in his darkest hour, his beloved knight remained with him.

He inhaled deeply, calmly, closing his eyes as he took the sword with both hands and placed it before him, right by his heart.

With certainty, without hesitation, he thrust it through his chest. At first, it was difficult, he hadn’t expected his initial strength to be insufficient to pierce through his muscles. The pain grew suffocating, so using what little strength remained, he pushed again, this time driving the blade all the way through. His body convulsed; his eyes shut tightly as the full weight of the wound struck him, and a cough forced him to spit blood onto the ground.

Sonic fell to his knees, feeling his heart struggle to pump blood through his body while the iron blade wreaked havoc within him.

“You have honored your word, new King of Camelot. Now it is time for me to honor mine.” The woman’s soul looked upon Sonic one last time, as if something she had long awaited had finally come to pass before her eyes. At last, a golden aura burst from Lancelot’s body, rising toward the heavens and scattering into countless shimmering fragments of light.

The curse had been broken.

Lancelot staggered at first, trying to adjust to having full control of his body again, struggling to focus his sight.

“Welcome back, sleeping beauty,” Sonic’s voice said softly, grounding him completely.

“Sonic…?” Lance lifted his gaze toward where Sonic stood and what he saw shattered him. “Sonic!”

The knight rushed forward in desperation to catch the prince in his arms. Sonic let himself fall, giving in to the pain and weakness threatening to pull him into sleep, but he knew that once he closed his eyes, it would be the end. Lancelot held the young king’s body, watching in horror as the sword pierced through his chest, blood flowing uncontrollably down his form.

He was desperate, terrified, willing to do anything to save Sonic, but with all the pain in his heart, he knew there was nothing left to do.

“Easy, my love… easy… I’ll fix this. I just need to stop the bleeding and tell my mother to help you, she’ll surely…”

“She’s gone, Lance… your mother is gone.” Sonic struggled to speak, his voice barely audible. “I offered my life to fulfill the prophecy, in exchange for yours and for the kingdom’s forgiveness. And the prophecy was fulfilled… You’re free now, my beloved knight.” Even then, Sonic offered Lancelot a gentle smile.

“No, no, no! There must be a way to fix this! You’ll be fine! Please, don’t go, don’t leave me!”
Lance’s voice broke into a desperate plea as tears streamed down his face and his hands trembled, feeling Sonic’s fragile body grow weaker.

“Trust me… I’ll never leave you.”

And Sonic’s eyes closed peacefully.

“Sonic?” Lancelot froze, searching for any sign of life. “Arthur?” No response. “You said you’d propose to me, didn’t you? You can’t go without keeping your promise!”

It was useless. Sonic could no longer hear him.

“You said you’d marry me!” Lancelot pulled Sonic’s body against his chest, a trembling mess of tears and grief. “You promised… you promised… please, my love, come back… I swear I’ll never reject you again… just don’t leave me.”

At that moment, the drizzle faded away, as if the heavens had decided to honor Lancelot’s pain, to accompany him instead with the calm that comes only after the storm has finally passed.

That was the day when the roses, once blooming in abundance and beauty across the kingdom of Camelot, became forever stained with the vivid red of their beloved young king’s blood.

Chapter Text

Everything moved fast and blurry through Lance’s tortured gaze; he had forgotten that he still carried two deep wounds, one at his side, blood streaming down his leg and pooling beneath him, and another, a wide gash across one of his wings. Though the wings on his back could vanish, being a creation of his mother’s magic, he would still be left with a gaping hole that nearly revealed his bones.

His wounds were just as fatal as Sonic’s.

But the broken knight didn’t care. His despair and grief at seeing Sonic lifeless kept him awake, a cruel, cynical torture mocking him to his face. Lancelot no longer had the strength to stand; his arms had gone numb from holding Sonic, as if he were the very image of a tragic Greek statue.

Amidst the ruin, Lance caught sight of figures rushing toward him. He knew one of them was Princess Amy Rose, her pink quills were unmistakable, but the rest appeared as a blur of color, running frantically in their direction. The knight knew that before long, he would faint; delirium was already creeping in, a final prelude to death.

“The prince…” Lance lifted his head with a titanic effort, forcing a few coherent words past his trembling lips. “Princess… my husband…” He saw a pink blur beside him, Amy, he thought vaguely.

“Lancelot’s losing too much blood!” Amy cried out to the knights in the distance. “Get him out of here before it’s too late!”

“Princess Rose… save Sonic… he still…” Lance began to collapse sideways, consciousness slipping away.

Amy turned her horrified gaze to Sonic, tears spilling freely. “Knuckles, help us!” she pleaded, her voice breaking.

Amy supported Lancelot’s body as several knights rushed over. Lance could no longer make sense of what he saw; the voices around him were distant echoes, and he only felt hands all over him, trying to lift and move him. His fading instincts kicked in, he clung to Sonic with what little strength he had left. In his delirium, he couldn’t tell if those trying to take his beloved away were friends or foes.

After a brief struggle, he felt the weight of Sonic being lifted from his arms, carried away from him, from his grasp, from his world.

The dark knight wanted to fight back, to protect the one he loved from anyone who dared take him, but his body had reached its limit. Broken, bleeding, and heavy, he could no longer resist. A soothing, numbing drowsiness began to overtake him; though he fought to stay awake, his will finally gave way.

“Wait for me, my love… I’ll be with you soon.” Those were the dark knight’s final thoughts before he fell into the void.

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There was something in the autumn air that afternoon, a strange stillness. Two months had passed since the partial destruction of Camelot, and the villagers had slowly learned to adapt to hardship and loss. The first few weeks had been brutally hard: hundreds of wounded, homes reduced to ash, farmlands burned, and knights working double shifts to help rebuild the kingdom.

Yet the kindness of Princess Amy and the support of Queen Blaze made things a little easier. Both monarchs sent aid to Camelot, food, medicine, clothing, building materials, and as many healers as possible. Though the people of Camelot would eventually have to stand on their own, the extra help made the days bearable.

With no direct monarch left to lead the troops or citizens, Am, Sonic’s betrothed, took on the temporary command, treating Camelot as her own realm. For more strategic matters, Blaze worked from the shadows, guiding the young princess with the wisdom that came from years of experience.

“Did you sleep well last night, Amy?” Tails walked beside the young lady through the halls of one of Camelot’s first new constructions, an improvised hospital where all the wounded were being treated, far from the noise and chaos of the rebuilding efforts.

“I think so,” Amy replied, her eyes tired. Her resolve was unbreakable, but fatigue was something she could no longer hide. “At least I got seven hours of sleep today. Lately I’ve been getting only three. I have to be the first one awake and the last one to sleep.”

“Does Blaze know?”

“Oh, Chaos, no!” Her posture stiffened immediately. “And don’t you dare tell her! If she finds out, she’ll start coming here more days each week and she already has enough on her plate, ruling two kingdoms is too much for anyone. I can dedicate myself fully to Camelot because I haven’t inherited the crown yet, but she’s a queen; she can’t do both at once. Still, I’m sure that if she knew, she’d come running.”

“But you need help,” the little fox said, truly concerned for Amy.

“Don’t worry, Tails,” she replied with a genuine smile. “I just need to endure a little longer, and then things will ease up, especially now that we’ve all finally started to adapt. Change always comes abruptly, it never warns you and it’s natural that the first times it knocks us down, especially when the changes aren’t positive or aren’t what we want. But sometimes it’s necessary for things to shake up, so we can face other stages in our lives.”

With tenderness, Amy stroked Tails’ head, just as Sonic used to do. “It’s true we’ve lost many things along the way, but nothing in life is permanent. We are ever-changing beings; our lives are constantly transforming. That isn’t good or bad, it just is. We are simply navigating the flow of things. And even if it scares you or seems hard at first, remember one thing: everything will always be okay, sooner or later, because we all have the natural capacity to adapt.”

Tails smiled.

Amy had seen how hard the past months had been for the poor boy. Fortunately, he hadn’t seen what had become of Sonic’s body after the battle; if he had, he would likely never have forgotten it. A child should never witness the horrors of war.

With that said, Amy and Tails continued on their path. Occasionally, Amy was approached by healers asking about medicinal herbs that needed to be imported to the kingdom, and at other times, the guards themselves requested additional personnel for certain stations. Eventually, they reached the last section of the facility.

There was a slightly larger room, guarded by a soldier on each side, a restricted area with access only for a few select people.

When the guards saw Amy approaching, both bowed and opened the room for her and Tails. They stepped inside cautiously, and the door closed behind them. The room was spacious yet rather bare, decorated with a few vases of flowers to make the atmosphere more pleasant. A practical window allowed light and a gentle breeze in. At the center lay the reason for their visit: a bed with white sheets, next to a table with herbs and bandages for the injured person resting there.

Lancelot was there, recovering from his wounds.

“What did the healers say about Lancelot?” Tails asked, curiously eyeing Lance, who seemed to be in a deep sleep.

“He’s supposed to be awake today,” Amy said, sitting on the edge of the bed beside Lance. “They said it’s no longer necessary to keep him sedated to force him into permanent sleep. His wounds are a little better now, and the discomfort is tolerable for him.”

“And what if you try waking him? Maybe he just fell asleep again because no one was around.” Tails approached cautiously; to be honest, Lancelot intimidated him a little.

“Young Lancelot…” Amy gently moved his shoulder, but there was no response. “Lancelot, please, wake up.” She shook him again, yet the knight didn’t move immediately.

After a few seconds, the hedgehog’s eyes began to open lazily, a little irritated. The light was blinding, and regaining consciousness after so long felt abrupt and harsh to his senses.

“You’re awake!” the princess smiled. “Hello, young Lancelot. It’s a pleasure to have you back.”

“Huh?...” Lancelot tried to focus, struggling to move his arms clumsily and gather his senses, trying to understand where he was, who he was, and what had happened.

When Lancelot attempted to sit up abruptly, he let out a sharp groan and immediately collapsed back onto the bed, writhing in place.

“Calm down, champion!” Amy said, trying to soothe him, wrapping him with the sheets and instructing him to stay lying down. “You still have a terrible cut on your back that tore through your muscles, and one of your legs was sliced almost to the bone. You’ve been asleep for two months, kept alive by medicinal herbs and liquid potions. You’re far too weak to attempt sitting up.”

“Princess…” Lancelot’s gaze was lost and weary, his face visibly thinner and haggard, a clear sign of lack of solid food, movement, and physical activity. Anyone who saw him would know he no longer resembled the strong, athletic knight he once was. Now he was just a weak hedgehog with tired eyes, a frail body, faded quills, and multiple bandages covering him; even the simplest movements caused him intense pain.

“Relax, brave knight. You don’t need to speak right now. You’re far too injured and weak. Take one thing at a time.” Amy stroked Lance’s head gently. “When you were wounded, you were still a mutated creature with magical abilities. It was difficult for the healers to treat your injuries; sometimes your body refused to accept the medicine, or you would automatically enter a defensive state and attack anyone who tried to help you. In the end, they had to sedate you completely.”

A heavy smile touched Amy’s lips as she recalled those hard moments. “Ideally, your wounds should have been treated by other healers skilled in magic, but because of Camelot’s reputation for executing witches and sorcerers, no one dared to come. But after much effort, and with the help of my girlfriend’s magical emeralds, we managed to heal you gradually, though the process was slow and difficult.”

“They should have let me die…” Lancelot turned his head toward the window, his eyes reflecting a clear lack of enthusiasm for life.

“Come on, Lancelot! Do you know the work it took to protect you from the angry mob of villagers?” Tails said, now a bit more confident, joining the conversation.

“What mob?” His gaze remained lost at the window, as if he were answering out of obligation.

“Well, when we took you to treat your wounds, almost the entire village of Camelot demanded your execution. They knew you had killed the king, destroyed the kingdom, and betrayed Sonic,” Tails said, a gesture of concern and sadness appearing on his face. “Convincing hundreds of enraged citizens that you were just another victim in all this chaos wasn’t easy. While many forgot their hatred toward you, some still wait for the slightest mistake to hang you.”

“Let them do it. I deserve it for not being able to protect Sonic.”

“But Lance…!”

“Leave it, Tails,” Amy’s gentle hand rested on the fox. “He’s depressed, hurt, and confused, that’s normal. But I know I can cheer him up a little. Help me with that, alright?”

“Oh…” The boy straightened immediately, like a soldier attentive to his commander’s orders. “Of course.”

Tails hurried out of the room, obeying Amy without question.

“You’re only wasting time. I wanted to die with the prince. Without him here, I no longer have a purpose.”

“Lancelot…” Amy took the knight’s hand. “None of us are just tools, something only useful if we serve others. While we all have duties to fulfill, we also have dreams, desires, aspirations, and the right to live and experience what makes us happy. Sonic always pursued what he wanted, even if it went against what a prince would do. He knew he had responsibilities to his kingdom, but he also knew he deserved his own happiness.”

“And that’s why he followed me… and his life ended.” There was so much bitterness in those words.

“No. Sonic followed you because you made him happy. Do you think he would have been happy if he had married me?” Amy looked at him, but Lance didn’t respond. “Neither he nor I would have been happy, because that’s not what we wanted. Stop thinking you’re someone who only brings misfortune or is unlovable. It’s not fair to believe the only way to know love is through losing it.”

“That’s ironic,” the knight said dryly. His words carried no sarcasm, only raw, blunt truth.

“Sonic wanted you to choose your own happiness, to be with him because it made you happy, not because anyone else ordered it. He wanted your love to be a free choice, because he would never allow you to live thinking you were just a tool. He wanted you to live feeling loved, valuable… and free.”

“So we’re going to talk about what we want?” His voice grew hoarse and rough; his posture stiffened, and his gaze sharpened.

Amy knew Lancelot was about to pour out everything he had been holding in his heart for so long. Perhaps his physical wounds had been cleaned and healed, but now his emotional wounds were about to be exposed and bleed.

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

“I loved Sonic more than anything in this world, my honor, my strength, my life, every small good thing that could come from me, I wanted it to be for him. That’s why I also protected this kingdom, because I knew he loved it, and anything important to him would be important to me.” His eyes scanned the ceiling, a furious glare as if the sky were responsible for his misfortunes. “I wanted a life by Sonic’s side. I didn’t care if it was as his husband or just his servant. Having him close, where I could protect him forever, was my dream. At first, I thought I would be just any monarch, even an irritating prince, but it turned out to be completely the opposite.”

Immediately, as if the memories were a sweet cure for the bitter loss he had endured, his expression softened, giving way to a melancholic, almost sorrowful look, where his feelings seemed to get stuck in his throat. Amy knew Lancelot was making one last declaration of love.

“I always had my protective walls up. I never trusted anyone, because losing my mother had killed me while I was alive. For me, loving someone was preemptive mourning. If I grew fond of someone, when that person left, what remained of my heart would die.” Subtle hints of tears glimmered in his eyes. “However, day by day, gently and kindly, he started surrounding me with attention and honesty. He offered his heart first because he knew I was terrified to do so. Without fear or doubt, he gave himself to me completely, letting me do whatever I wanted, as long as I felt safe.”

Amy smiled faintly, pressing Lance’s hand gently, encouraging him to continue freely, like a beacon guiding him safely along the path.

“And he asked me so many times to stay by his side… and I…” A strangled sob broke his voice. With a mixture of joy and pain, he tried to keep speaking. “I rejected him… I did it so many times. Each and every one of them was painful, because I would’ve given everything to be with him. But I wasn’t good for his life, or his happiness, or his home… I even genuinely wished that he’d find love in someone who was free, someone who could be everything he deserved. Now what hurts the most is that he died believing he wasn’t loved, when I loved him more than anyone. He was my first love.”

With difficulty, he raised one of his numb hands to hide the shame of his tears.
“If I could have a second chance, now that I’m finally free to love, now that I have the strength to be honest, I’d tell him that every single thing he gave me, every night we spent together talking about our wounds, even all those small things that seemed meaningless… all of it made me so happy. It made me feel special, wanted, unique, and not alone… because for the first time in my life, I let my heart live. And what a beautifully agonizing feeling it was… to love.”

There was something bitterly melancholic about that realization of love. It was almost poetic how, for Lancelot, only after complete devastation did he finally become aware of his feelings, finally able to voice them aloud. At last, after having served body and soul to all those who demanded every possible sacrifice from his heart as if he were a puppet, he could finally recognize himself as a living being with the right to choose, to seek his happiness, to decide whom to love, and what to dedicate his life to. All those things Sonic had tried to teach him so many times, he now saw as clearly as the finest glass.

But that clarity was what tore him apart. He had lost Sonic.

What purpose did freedom have now, if the one person he wanted to share it with was gone? It filled him with rage. Why had fate been so cruel, to give him all the love he ever dreamed of right into his hands, yet never the freedom to hold it, and once he finally had that freedom, to take the love away?

“Then…” the princess’s voice pulled him back to reality, “you did love Sonic?”

“More than anything in this world,” a tear slid down his cheek, though his expression showed only resignation.

“You did want to marry him, didn’t you?”

“If he were here right now, I’d say yes. I never doubted having a life with him, being his, and he being mine alone.”

Amy sighed softly, a tender smile forming on her lips, as if everything Lancelot had just said was the sweetest, most satisfying poetry she had ever heard.

“Was that enough for you then…” Amy turned toward the door, “Sonic?”

“You’re cruel, Ames. Why didn’t you wait until I could come in and visit him myself?”

Lancelot froze.

His eyes showed him the most beautiful sight he could ever imagine, but his mind refused to believe it, because he remembered watching the love of his life fade in his arms.
Sonic had died, pierced by a sword, but he was there, standing, smiling, with a few visible bandages and leaning on a silver cane to walk. But there was no doubt, it was him. His beloved fiancé.

Those radiant green eyes, those bright electric-blue quills, that smile, God, that beautiful smile. The love of his life was standing there, looking at him as if nothing had happened, as if everything had been nothing more than a terrible nightmare from which he had finally awakened.

“So?” Sonic walked to the edge of the bed, followed by Tails, who had guided him there.
“You recite an entire love confession and now you’ve got nothing to say?”

Lance stared in total shock and wonder.

“Marry me.”

“Whoa! I thought I’d be the one to propose that,” Sonic laughed, genuine delight in his voice.

“Arthur…” Lancelot reached out weakly, his trembling arms extended toward him, a silent plea to come closer.

Sonic obeyed immediately, sitting gently beside him, allowing the black-quilled hedgehog to cup his face with desperate hands.

“It’s you…” Lancelot finally allowed himself to cry freely. “It’s really you, my beloved fiancé. But… how? I saw you die in my arms.” His eyes scanned Sonic intently, as if fearing he was losing his sanity.

“Do you remember the main trait of my sword, Excalibur?” Sonic stroked one of Lancelot’s hands. ‘Whoever wields the sword shall always be victorious.’ That’s why I chose to pierce my own heart, because if I was the one holding it in the fight, no matter what happened, I’d always win. And since we were facing a magical enemy, a magical sword was the best option.”

“But a curse never ends until it’s fulfilled…”

“That’s true,” Sonic explained, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “But you have to be very specific when creating a curse, otherwise, anything even slightly literal can fulfill it. I think the night you rejected my love, you tore my heart out. I offered it to you, and after taking it, you ripped it apart. That hurt a lot more than stabbing myself in the chest, so, in a way, you fulfilled the prophecy.”

“But what about the part of living and dying for each other?”

“We already did that, my love” the prince said, a smile of complete satisfaction spreading across his face.
“When you swore loyalty to me, you offered to live for me. And when I sacrificed myself, I died for you. That is ‘living and dying for each other’”

“But your wounds…” Just the memory of seeing Sonic covered in his own blood was enough to make Lancelot cry. “There was no way you could have survived that.”

“As I said, I have a magical sword that grants me victory, so my heart healed its wounds quickly. I can’t say the same for the rest of my body.” A grimace of pain crossed his face. “Damn it, Lance, you fractured two of my ribs.”

Without warning, Lancelot pulled Sonic’s face toward him with every ounce of strength he had left. Their kiss was intense.

Sonic immediately felt Lance’s desperation. This was the first time the knight allowed himself complete freedom with the prince. This time, he could do whatever he wanted, and nothing could stop him. After so long of having to resist Sonic, so many nights keeping his hands away and settling for just allowing Sonic to act freely, now he could claim the man he loved, body and soul, as he should.

Lance was impulsive, desperate. His mouth opened immediately, diving into Sonic without hesitation or questions, as if the prince’s tongue were the elixir to heal all his pain. At first, Sonic was startled, he had never realized how much the knight had restrained himself. A small, muffled moan escaped him, but then he surrendered completely. This time, the prince allowed Lance to do as he pleased, he was completely submissive and devoted to the knight’s desires, letting him explore as much as he wanted. The kiss was hungry, desperate, filled with passion, but at the same time… comforting.

Once Lance was satisfied, he pulled back from Sonic, trying to breathe normally again, looking at him as if he were the most beautiful jewel in the world.

“I love you, but your taste is awful, you taste like bitter herbs and seawater,” Sonic said, laughing sweetly.

“Doesn’t matter, you’re marrying me, so I can do whatever I want.”

“I don’t remember saying yes.”

“I don’t care, you’ll be mine anyway.”

“Okay, I think you’re still a little drugged from the medicine.” The prince’s cheeks flushed at seeing such a bold Lancelot.

“You always told me being selfish was good sometimes, so for the first time, I’ll be selfish and take you for myself. I desire you, I need you, and I love you. I will make you my husband and build a life by your side. I’ll explore every part of your soul and memorize every part of your body. I’ll take what you said was mine, and in return, I’ll give you all of me. Today I claim you as my husband, King Arthur of Camelot, and I swear to protect you with my life and wield my sword against anyone who dares harm you. So no, I don’t care what you say now, you are my husband.”

Sonic was speechless. That was everything he had ever dreamed of hearing, yet now that he had it, he didn’t know what to do with it. He felt like a teenager in love again, twisting with happiness every time something sweet reached deep into his bones.

“Amy, can we go? I’m starting to feel sick.” Tails stood near the door, as if afraid he might vomit on the bed at seeing such a personal act become awkwardly public.

Amy let out a loud laugh. “Come on, Tails! This is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. And even though I don’t like men, I like seeing them like each other.”

“Amy!” Tails covered his face in embarrassment.

“Alright, you’re right. Better leave them alone.” Subtly, Amy stepped aside, moving toward the door and leading a thoroughly flustered Tails away from the scene.

Once the room door closed, Sonic spoke.

“Good. Now we’re alone. At this pace, I think you’ll want to honeymoon here,” Sonic joked with a laugh.

But Lancelot didn’t respond. Instead, the knight continued to gaze at him with tenderness from the bed, a trace of pain in his expression, as if he still wasn’t sure what he had in front of him.

“What’s wrong, darling?” the prince asked, lying down beside Lance to bring him closer, almost trying to curl up together.

“I almost lost you, Arthur… I almost lost everything.”

“But now everything is fine.” Sonic gently caressed his cheek. “I’m here with you, out of danger. You don’t have to fear anymore. I’m not going anywhere.”

“It’s just… I’m afraid I might not be able to protect you again. What if there isn’t a next time? What if there isn’t a magical sword to save you?”

A compassionate sigh escaped Sonic. Even after winning this battle, there was Lance again, the insecure, fearful side. It wasn’t that Sonic didn’t love how protective and careful his knight was, but sometimes it made it impossible to fully live moments like this.

“Lance…” the prince cradled the knight’s face in his hands. “Someday, you and I will die. Most likely, one of us will go before the other, so you can’t live worried about things that are normal and bound to happen. Worry about problems when they’re in front of you, not before. Because if you try to protect me from everything, there will come a point when you’ll push me so far away you’ll never find me.”

Lancelot’s eyes shone with a pleading brightness as he looked at Sonic, as if waiting for confirmation that everything would be okay.

“So, how about instead of living in fear, you choose to live despite the fear? Besides, I can take care of myself too, which means I’ll take care of you and your heart. Agreed?”

Lance hesitated for a moment, then, as if the whirlwind of emotions had finally worn him down, he surrendered.

“Alright… I’ll trust your word, my lord.”

“Don’t call me that anymore. Don’t call me ‘prince’ or ‘your highness’ either.”

“Then… how should I address you?”

“You can say ‘Sonic,’ ‘Arthur,’ or… ‘darling.’” Sonic’s cheeks flushed with excitement and a hint of embarrassment.

Lance, however, seemed more concerned with propriety than the implications of Sonic’s request. “But I don’t want to disrespect you in front of others… after all, I’m still your servant. Some might think it's wrong for you to dispossess a common hedgehog, especially since you and I couldn’t…”

“Stop worrying about nonsense,” Sonic interrupted, pouting slightly. “What you and I do should only matter to us. Besides, I’m the king now, I can do whatever I want,” his eyes sparkled with excitement. “And what I want right now is to know just how much you’ve been holding back all those times you rejected me…”

At first, Lancelot didn’t understand, but after analyzing Sonic’s expression for a moment, he realized.

“Believe me, I wish I could do so many things right now, majest… darling…” The last word required enormous effort from the knight, but he knew he would get used to it in time. “But at this moment, I’m completely shattered and weak. The most I can manage is to kiss you a few more times.”

Sonic smiled gently. “I know, my beloved and daring champion. I was just joking. Besides, I have plenty of broken parts too, walking long distances is torture for me… but you…”

It was only then that Sonic noticed just how deteriorated Lance had become. Spending so much time in a near-constant coma, immobile, losing muscle mass, surviving on brews and infusions, had left him fragile, pale, and convalescent. It would take months for the dark knight to move normally again, let alone regain the strength to be a warrior.

It would be a hard road.

“Is something wrong?”

“It hurts me to see you like this too.” The prince gently caressed Lance’s face.

“I’ll be fine… don’t worry. When my mother died and I scavenged for scraps and leftovers, I looked worse than this, and I still managed to become an attractive knight, according to you.” Lancelot tried to lighten the mood, but it didn’t work.

“I hate that you have to go through this again. I was completely useless.”

“You’re not. You are the reason I want to be alive again. Without you, I would have wanted to die.”

“I already told you, you must live for your own happiness, not for me.”

“I know… you are my happiness. As long as I know you’re with me and need me to be okay, I’ll do my best to be. You give me more strength than you can imagine.”

“Alright, I guess I’ll take that as progress.” A small, satisfying hope ignited in Sonic’s chest. Maybe not everything had gone as he wanted, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t be fixed along the way.

“What do we do now?”

“Rest. Take it one day at a time. Let Amy handle the world. Right now, I just want to exist beside you and take a nap. Every bone in my body hurts.”

Sonic moved closer, holding Lance and covering them both with the sheet. It was almost comical that they had to be near death just to comfortably cuddle in the same bed. Although the prince could feel Lance’s fragility, he still felt protected and calm. Lance, for his part, though unable to fully embrace Sonic due to pain and weakness, could finally sleep peacefully knowing that what he loved most was by his side, where he could watch over him and ensure nothing would happen.

It was the most beautiful rose season Camelot had ever seen. Hundreds of rose bushes grew and spread through every crack, every rubble, every new construction. Each one bore vivid red petals, as if fed by the hearts and strength of the kingdom’s inhabitants, reflecting the king’s strength toward his people and those he loved.

Or perhaps it was also a gift from the late queen, after all, she had loved roses.