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There was once a noble prince, set to be the next heir to the throne of a powerful nation. The one to whom the wind bows, hearts still at his presence, and only the whispers of nature are heard in his wake.
A sharp, undefeated young man. The one to cleanse the world from darkness.
The one who’ll bring glory to this kingdom.
And I, a simple servant… Found myself face-to-face with his highness.
It happened so, so suddenly.
Amy Rose, a castle servant who had been facing cruelty & judgement, and yet she smiles brightly every day, believing one day she’d find the cure to her everyday routine. A boring, sloggish list of tasks. She thought castle work would bring about excitement, but it was just more… Boredom!
If only something exciting could happen…
Though when you wish for something, a monkey’s paw curls, doesn’t it?
It was one boring afternoon, on her way to her quarters after a long day of cleaning. A bucket of water-soaked cloth in hand. A sigh escaped her, her half-lidded gaze locked onto nothing in particular. That was until something caught her attention.
Murmurs in the dark that shouldn’t be heard.
Discreetly, she put down her tools. Tiptoeing to the source, deep within some dark halls she never knew existed. Back against the cold, hard-stone wall. She leaned in as much as she could, catching glimpses of the forbidden whispers…
“... Forget not… You are indebted to the underworld… Be rid of him, lest you wish for death… The prince mustn’t be crowned…”
Her heart dropped, piecing together whatever clues she could find. Stealing a glimpse behind the wall, she bit her lip to suppress a gasp: councilmen, sitting around an orb of darkness. The figure it was shaped into was a powerful wizard from the underworld, one the legends spoke of.
The one to drown the world in darkness.
Heart raced, an uncomfortable clench within her very being. The pinkette felt her walls shrink around her. (“They want to kill the prince before he is coronated… To ensure the wizard wins?!”)
Such treason would end up in catastrophe. She felt as though the weight of an entire kingdom fell onto her, a simple maiden.
She was the only one who knew this secret: the fate of many innocent lives dropped so suddenly onto her lap.
Instinct kicked in, she rushed to take her bucket & broom & walk the opposite path. Palms sweaty, arms shaky.
Thoughts raced like frightened horses. What… Can she even do with whatever it is she had learned?
One idea came to mind: reach the crown prince, somehow.
But how can she? She leaned against the door of her quarters as her running halted, chest heaving.
(“I don’t even know who he is! No one does. He’s never around, and rumors have it that he’s so… Closed off! Would he even believe me?”)
Looking down at her pale reflection in the waters, she clicked her tongue in frustration before pounding a fist at her door.
“There… Has to be something I can do!” She muttered to herself, determination burning. She will find this prince, no matter what!
And so, as days passed, she only grew more & more anxious. The coronation was set to happen two months from now, and she hadn’t the slightest clue of the prince’s whereabouts.
This discomfort & uncertainty were like chains shackling her every step. She felt like every step was dragged, moving through the motions. Her steps were clumsy, unfocused, warranting looks of disapproval.
It was all too much, the weight of the unknown.
Withdrawing herself from her duties, she ran & ran; unsure where, why, just followed the rhythm on an unsteady heartbeat until her legs gave out.
And when her gaze focused, she found herself within the royal gardens. A rose such as herself walked among the rest, resting on a nearby bench. Her hands were clutching at her dress.
(“I had wished for excitement, but not like this…”)
For a moment, the world seemed dark & bleak, if only a light as bright as the sun could shine down & clear this confusion-
“Are you alright?”
A voice. As smooth as silk, as gentle as the wind. Her emerald eyes shot upwards, and before her face was a blue-quilled hooded hedgehog bearing a similar shade. His smile was soft & unworried. A gaze so tender yet so aloof.
It felt like a red tug at her pinkie. Her cheeks flushed.
“I-I… Who are you?” She asked, breathless, eyes wide & alit, “Do you work here? I’ve never seen you before…”
He blinked twice at her question, as if it was supposed to be obvious. Grinning, he broke into a chuckle.
“Something like that,” He replied, sitting next to her. Amused, and somewhat relieved. For what, she didn’t know.
Propping a knee up, an elbow rested on it, his cheek leaning on his palm.
“You haven’t answered my question, though…” He said.
His gaze… Those apple-green eyes set her soul on fire: a pleasant kind, actually. What’s with him?
“O-oh! That’s… I…” She trailed, biting the inside of her cheek. (“Could I trust him with this? What if he works for those councilmen?!”)
She cringed, feeling his gaze bore into the back of her head. She was certain he wouldn’t leave her be lest she spit it out, and so she did… Vaguely.
“Suppose you saw something you shouldn’t have, and you wanted to make a change, but… You can’t, not the way you are. And it ate at you for days… How do you go on?”
She huffed out, gloved hand clutching at her chest, hoping to squeeze the unease out of her heart somehow.
He blinked, a soft hum escaping him before a gloved hand rested atop her head.
“You spring into action,” He said, certainly, as if it were some well-known fact.
She blinked twice at just how simple he had come to this, as though he was insane or something.
“H-huh?” Was all she let out before stuttering to follow up, “But I’m not-!”
“So what if you can’t do much? Doing nothing at all is worse, isn’t it?” He said, getting up with a stretch, and turning around, his hood falling from his head. The sun shining behind him, illuminating his silhouette; a confident smile, a courageous stance. He was everything all at once, like a deity before a mortal.
How can someone be so majestic?
“If there’s a call to action, take it no matter what! Isn’t that just exciting?”
Exciting…
Her world exploded all at once, the tightness in her chest suddenly so, so light. Her heart was beating a steady, warm rhythm. Yet it raced, making her muscles burn, forcing her to her feet.
“... Who are you?” she muttered, this time breathless; her very soul taken away into his grasp, and held oh so gently.
He grinned, a hand on his hip.
“I’m Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog!” He announced confidently, as though the universe knew his name.
And all at once it hit her, and she felt the light she had wished desperately would find her engulf her. (“Sonic… Isn’t that-!”)
“-The prince?!” She gasped out, stumbling to bow down, “Y-Your highness!”
Her expression of utmost respect was met with his face contorting into a frown, cringing at her display. He hurriedly helped her to her feet.
“Sonic,” he corrected, clearly not fond of formalities.
“S-Sonic,” she repeated. His name was so sweet on her lips, so warm in her heart. In that moment, she knew she wanted to protect him, to care for him, and to see a smile on his face every day. This cold prince that everyone made him out to be was the sweetest soul she's ever met!
Frankly, there was no denying it: the universe had tugged their strings close.
She had fallen in love.
And she’d be damned to let anything or anyone snuff out this light.
“... I have a secret. One you should know.” She whispered.
He gazed back at her, and it was only a glance that told him all he needed; he was a runaway prince, not fond of this royal life or its duties. He had longed for adventure, so he’d leave the castle cloaked: an adventurer roaming his kingdom, helping along the way.
And before him stood a maid, the words uttered from her lips a call to excitement he had longed for. For so very long.
His heart skipped a beat.
And so, gloved hands rest upon her shoulder, pulling her close.
“Yeah?” He whispered back at the call for adventure beconing them closer, forehead upon hers, “Do tell…”
They both had a feeling they’d get along just fine…