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shadamyheadcanons · 2 years ago

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Knight and Day

Shadow, the head knight, has developed feelings for Princess Amy. He’ll do anything to keep her safe and happy, even if it means embarrassing himself in the process.

Cross-posted on AO3

This was my Secret Santa gift for @presidentdrawss. I hope you like it! Special thanks to @killingthecringe, Mozie (AO3), and @shadowsfascination for organizing the event, and huge thanks to @w0lp3rtinger and shadowsfascination for beta’ing for me.

This story is completely unrelated to The Crown’s Shadow by @make-me-senpai, but if you like princess!Amy and knight!Shadow, check that one out, too!

Shadow adjusted one of his gauntlets and shifted his helmet. He ran his claws through his quills once more to straighten them out.

“Almost done primping for the princess, Sir Shadow?”

Shadow flinched and immediately dropped his hands to his sides. “I’m merely trying to look presentable for Her Royal Highness. Perhaps you should do the same, Sir Knuckles.”

Knuckles’ smirk didn’t fade. He leaned against his spear. “Whatever you say. So where are you two headed tonight?”

Shadow folded his hands behind his back to resist the urge to mess with his quills again. “I’m bringing her to the royal gardens by the hedge maze.”

At this, Knuckles looked hesitant. “The hedge maze? That’s pretty closed-in. Be careful.”

Shadow snorted. “As if I’d bring her through a confined space like that. One of the other knights showed me a passageway around the back that’s far safer.”

Knuckles sighed in relief. “Should’ve known you’d have everything covered.”

Shadow nodded curtly. “Only the best for our royal family.”

Only the best for her.

Their conversation was cut short when they heard light footsteps coming from the other side of the door Knuckles was guarding. A bubbly voice mumbled from behind it, making Shadow tense up in anticipation. He straightened up automatically and swiftly scanned the castle grounds, eyes darting around while his fine-tuned ears twitched. Sensing no danger, he nodded at Knuckles. The guard chuckled and rapped his knuckles lightly against the door. “Princess? When you’re ready, the coast is clear.”

An excited little noise made itself heard from behind the door. Shadow’s heart pounded immediately.

I haven’t even seen her yet, and my heart’s already racing. How can she do this to me so easily?

The door started to creak. It opened wide enough to allow a tiny nose to poke out, followed by a head of vibrant pink quills. Soft green eyes scanned their surroundings, and they lit up when her gaze landed on him. “Sir Shadow!”

Shadow just froze for a moment. After a few seconds, he shook it off and dropped to one knee. “Good evening, Your Highness.”

I leave for three months, and just seeing her again paralyzes me on the spot. What kind of knight am I?!

Judging from her quiet giggle, the princess didn’t seem to mind. “You may rise.” He stood, and she turned to address Knuckles. “Thanks again,” she half-whispered. “I can’t wait to get out of this stuffy castle! It’s been far too long. Are you sure it’s alright?”

Knuckles bowed. “As always, it’s my pleasure. Just so long as you return before my shift ends, it’s no trouble.”

“Of course. We won’t let you down!” She turned back to Shadow. “Are you ready to go?” He nodded. His heart throbbed when she took his hand and snuck toward the secret exit they’d found years ago, the one only she, Shadow, and Knuckles knew about. She threw occasional smiles at him over her shoulder, whispering as they went. “Where are we headed tonight? No, wait—surprise me!”

“Y-yes, Princess.”

Knuckles grinned fondly after them.

Shadow led Amy toward their destination, keeping an eye out for the guards as they went. They stepped lightly over the soft grass around the castle wall. Once they slunk past the last guard, Amy walked closer and whispered in his ear.

“Do you think we’re all set now?”

Shadow’s ear flicked. He cast one last glance over his shoulder. After a few more steps, he exhaled in relief. “We’ll be fine if we keep our voices down.”

A relieved smile spread across Amy’s face. She stood up straight and strode lightly alongside him. “I can’t wait until we get there. Being cooped up for so long was driving me crazy!” she lamented under her breath.

Her tone and posture bore the same relaxed manner they always did when the two of them were alone together. Shadow knew he’d never get used to someone feeling so at ease around him. The fact that it was her made it all the sweeter.

Amy clasped her hands in front of her. She looked away for a moment, then peeked up at him through her eyelashes. “I’ve missed you. I’m happy to see you again.”

Shadow’s heart pounded. “These past few months have passed slowly for me as well.” He hesitated for a moment, then packed up his courage and hastily added, “I’ve missed you, too.”

The shy smile that bloomed on Amy’s face was well worth it.

Shortly thereafter, a brisk wind swept through, making her shiver in response. She held herself for a moment, then shuffled closer to him. “It’s a little chilly, isn’t it?”

He nodded. She started to loop her arm with his, but then she paused.

“Can I...”

He swallowed his nerves and linked their arms. “Of course, Princess.”

“Thanks.” She rested her head on his shoulder as they walked. “You can call me ‘Amy’ when it’s just us, you know. Haven’t I said so?”

“I—of course, Princess.” He cringed. “I mean—Am—” He stalled out, unable to break the habit.

She bit back a giggle. “I really don’t mind. Does it bother you when I call you ‘Shadow’ instead of ‘Sir Shadow?’”

“Of course not...” He froze. She looked up at him expectantly, an amused half-smile gracing her face. He took a deep breath and tried again. “I don’t mind...Princess Amy,” he forced out.

Shadow could feel her gaze on him without even looking. He started to sweat. After a moment, his favorite laugh rang out next to him.

“We’ll work on it.”

He nodded.

As they rounded one last corner, Shadow recognized their surroundings and perked up. He scanned the open area, then gestured to the extensive, well-maintained castle gardens with his free hand. “Here we are.”

Amy gasped. She let go of him and pranced ahead. “Oh, this is wonderful! I haven’t been here in ages. I had no idea this path led here!”

Shadow jogged over to join her. “I haven’t visited in quite some time myself.” He remained a few steps behind her so he could admire the way she hopped giddily from one flower bed to the next.

“The springtime flowers have finally come in. I haven’t seen most of these since last year!” She stooped down in front of a patch of eye-catching purple roses, and he knelt down to join her. “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

Amy’s emerald eyes sparkled as she met his gaze expectantly. He couldn’t tear his attention away. Her quills hung down to frame her face. Ordinarily, those quills were arranged in fancy styles, held up to keep them out of her face, not a strand out of place. Shadow was sure most people would choose the classic, well-kempt manner she typically maintained, but he much preferred the wavy, slightly messy style she was unafraid to wear around him. He could tell how much more comfortable she felt this way.

It was only when her nose wrinkled in confusion that he remembered she’d asked him a question. He shook it off.

“Y-yes! Beautiful.” He snapped his gaze forward. “The flowers are beautiful.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Amy hide her smile.

“Mhm. The flowers.”

Her tone made him feel transparent. He clenched his hands to keep them from shaking and hurriedly changed the subject.

“Roses can have a variety of meanings depending on their colors. I’ve always thought purple ones suited you.” Shadow’s eyes snapped open, and his jaw clenched. “Because purple is associated with royalty, of course! It’s a nice color.”

He chose not to mention that purple roses symbolized love at first sight.

Amy was regarding him with an emotion that Shadow would almost have described as admiring, if only it had come from someone less expressive than her. “I’ve always wondered how you know so much about flowers and their meanings,” she mused.

“My mother,” he answered easily. “Whenever she goes into town, she loves seeing the flowers that decorate the square. She used to bring me along and tell me everything she knew about them.”

A small gasp caught his attention. Amy’s eyes were wide. “No way!”

“Pardon?”

“My mother was in charge of those! She’s always loved flowers, too!” Amy gestured around them. “She’s adored these gardens ever since she was a little girl. She wanted the rest of the kingdom to enjoy them, too, so she ordered the planting of small gardens all over the kingdom, just like the one you—!” She interrupted herself with another gasp. “Oh, wow!”

“What is it?”

Amy reached down and held onto one of his hands with both of her own, careful to mind his gauntlet. “That was the first day I met you! She brought me with her to that square to check how the gardens were coming along. We met because both our moms love flowers!”

Shadow gazed at her for a moment. Feeling shy at her bright eyes, he averted his gaze. “That’s...quite the coincidence.”

Amy shrugged one shoulder and half-smiled bashfully. “I’d say it was more than that, wouldn’t you? You’re very important to me.”

It was more than just a coincidence.

You’re more than just important to me.

My whole life changed that day. I’d never have grown into who I am today if I’d never met you.

But of course he couldn’t quite say that. He just nodded seriously, keeping his eyes on hers. “I...think you’re right.”

She met his serious expression with a gentle smile.

Past her, another patch of flowers caught his eye. “Ah.” He rose to his feet.

Amy followed his gaze. “Hm?”

“I was told a new batch of flowers had been planted this year. I can see them now.” He reached out a hand and helped her to her feet. She linked their arms once more as he led them across the garden.

When they reached the flowers in question, Shadow dropped to kneel in front of them on one knee, while Amy sat down on the grass and leaned forward to inspect them. “They’re so pretty! What are they?”

“Night gladiolus. They only bloom after sunset.” She made an interested noise, so he continued. “They’re known for their sword-like shape,” he said, dragging his finger along the tall stalk of pink flowers, “and they symbolize loyalty, strength of character, honor, and sincerity.”

Amy leaned into his field of vision. Her smile was brighter than ever. “They’re just like you!”

Shadow glanced back between her face and the flowers, perplexed. “How? I’m not pink. If anything, they match you.”

She shook her head, amused. “No, silly! I don’t mean their color. Loyal, principled, honorable, sincere...they’re even sword-shaped! They’re perfect for someone like you!”

All the air left Shadow’s lungs. He choked at the blunt flattery. “I...th...thank you, Princess. Princess Amy.”

She bobbed her head happily, then sighed. “I’m really lucky to be by your side again. These last few months have been exhausting! All these meetings, organizing, diplomacy, etiquette, tutoring, UGH!” She held a hand to her face and laughed. “It’s been torture. I thought I’d never make it through.”

“But you did! You would! Of course you did,” Shadow insisted, his intensity making her lean back in surprise. “You are strong, Princess Amy. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Amy just stared at him for several seconds, eyes wide with surprise. She shook it off after a moment and poked his nose. “Not without you. Without our talks, I was exhausted. It’s thanks to nights like these that I can finally relax and recharge. I haven’t been myself without you.”

Her expression was more tender than ever. The words caught in Shadow’s throat, but he swallowed his emotions. “I’m honored to be of service. I’d gladly spend every night with you if you asked.”

At that, Amy’s eyes widened. She opened her mouth as if to reply, but all that came out was a soft squeak of embarrassment. She hid her face and turned away.

He tilted his head, confused, and then his own accidental implications hit him. “N-NO! Apologies, I—! It was not my intention to be uncouth! Of course I didn’t mean—that would be improper—! I merely meant—”

“IT’S OKAY, IT’S OKAY! I figured!” she reassured him, waving her hands defensively. “The phrasing was just odd. I knew what you meant!”

She laughed nervously, and he looked down. Times like these made him wish his helmet extended far enough down to cover his cheeks, as he was sure his face was beet red. She chuckled quietly and moved on.

“Soooo...I’ve always wondered...how do the other knights react to you knowing so much about flowers? I bet they tease you, don’t they?”

Shadow looked back up and frowned at her from the corner of his eye. “What do you mean? I’ve never told any of the knights about it. Why would I?”

Amy paused. She cocked her head cutely. “Really? Not even Knuckles?”

Shadow scoffed. “Especially not Knuckles. If any of the others knew, they’d be insufferable.” He looked down at his hands. “The only ones who know about my interest in flowers are you and my mother.”

“Oh. I...didn’t know that.”

He looked back up at Amy. “Of course. Why would I share this with anyone else?”

He kept eye contact, expecting a response, but she remained silent. He must have been staring too intensely, because she started fidgeting, then opened her mouth.

“...Shadow, I...”

He waited several seconds for her to continue, but the words seemed caught in her throat. She peeked back up at him and bit her lip. Shadow’s pulse raced.

I’ve never seen her so nervous. Did I say something wrong?

Amy opened her mouth again, only for the words to die in her throat once more. Nothing met Shadow’s ears apart from the breeze and the low hum of insects.

Unable to take the silence any longer, he swallowed. “What is it, Princess?”

Once he spoke her proper title, though, she wilted and looked down at the grass. “Nevermind.”

Shadow waited in hopes that she’d finish, but she didn’t.

Not wanting to push her, he set his curiosity aside and averted his gaze. He spotted a tiny orange spot in the distance, flickering way down in the valley below the gardens. He narrowed his eyes at it, then quickly turned his attention back to Amy. “Regrettably, I must escort you back to your room. We mustn’t keep Sir Knuckles waiting.”

“Is it that time already?!” Amy sighed and allowed Shadow to help her to her feet once more. “That’s too bad! I really would’ve liked to see more. Can we come back another time?”

Shadow linked their arms, happy for the excuse to keep her close by his side. He glanced over his shoulder one more time before replying. “Of course, Princess Amy. I’d be honored.”

“Oh! I know what we should do!” Amy piped up, continuing with a spring in her step. “We should take a trip to the village square! It’s been far too long. I’d love to see your mother again.”

“As would I,” he added, feeling his spirits lift. “I will speak to the commander. I cannot guarantee he will agree, but it is likely he will. After my three months of training, it is doubtful he will demand much more from me in the near future.”

“That’s a relief!” Amy turned to look up at him, and she pointed a finger at his nose. “You’re not allowed to take another training journey that long ever again, okay? It’s against the law.”

“The law, is it?”

“Yup. I just decided.”

A quiet laugh built in his chest. “I train solely to learn new techniques and grow stronger so that I may protect you more effectively, Princess Amy. Your safety is of paramount importance to me.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She sighed, but she wore a wry smile.

He pursed his lips, mulling it over. “...To be fair, I must agree that three months feels a tad excessive. Perhaps that can be your first decree as queen.”

“Hmph. That’s right. I can do anything I want to!” He held back a laugh.

After that, the two of them fell silent. They snuck past the guards again, planning each step carefully. Just before they turned the last corner, Amy held onto Shadow’s arm to stop him. After a quick look around, she bit her lip, hesitated, and pulled him into an affectionate hug.

“P-Princess?!”

“I really have missed you,” she whispered into his chest. “Thank you.”

Slowly, Shadow wrapped his arms around her as well, grateful his armor hid the rapid pounding of his heart. “I missed you as well, Am—Princess Amy.”

Though he still wasn’t quite able to move past her official title, Amy still smiled as she looked up at him. She pulled away, almost looking regretful.

It was moments like these when Shadow could almost convince himself that she might feel the same way he did, that she also harbored feelings she wouldn’t share, but he knew it was impossible, not to mention improper.

Amy’s one of the bravest people I’ve ever met. She’s never hesitated to share her feelings before. If she had any interest in me, she’d have mentioned it by now. Not to mention she’s a princess. I have no right to feel this way about her. The two of them rounded the last corner and rejoined Knuckles by Amy’s door.

“I can’t thank you enough, Sir Knuckles!”

Knuckles bowed. “Anything for you, Your Highness. I trust you had a pleasant evening?”

“Naturally.” She turned to face Shadow, and he dropped to one knee immediately.

“Sleep well, Princess. It was an honor.”

“Thank you, Sir Shadow.” She curtseyed to him and ducked back inside the castle. The bounce in her step was obvious. Shadow sighed, caught between pride at having made her happy and sadness that the night was over.

Being her loyal knight is the best I could ever hope for. There’s a side of her only I know. I couldn’t possibly ask for more.

Knuckles cleared his throat, snapping him out of his reverie. Shadow scrambled back to his feet and dusted himself off.

“Enjoy your time with the princess, Sir Shadow?”

Knuckles’ knowing gaze and smug tone made Shadow bristle. “The gardens were lovely. As always, I was honored to escort her.”

“Boooring,” Knuckles teased. “Was that really all?”

Shadow fidgeted with his gauntlets. “Of course. Anything else would be inappropriate.”

He was met with another exaggerated sigh. Growing tired of Knuckles’ antics, Shadow tried a different approach. “You know, most guards would strive to protect their charges from such advances. If you’re truly under the impression that I have...impure motives, why are you so eager to send me off alone with her?”

A distant look crossed Knuckles’ face. He shrugged. “It’s the best strategy to keep her safe.” At Shadow’s inquisitive look, he explained. “We both know the Princess hates being cooped up. Always has. If I try to keep her in, she’ll find a way out. If she’s going to be wandering the grounds at night, I’d much rather it be with someone who I know can keep her safe. Someone who cares for her.”

Shadow nodded in response, satisfied, but then Knuckles’ expression turned mischievous once more.

“After all, who wouldn’t put their life on the line for the one they lo—”

“ANYWAY,” Shadow hissed through gritted teeth, “I have one more observation to report.”

Knuckles’ muffled laughter died out. “What is it?”

“When we were visiting the gardens, I saw something flickering in the distance near the outskirts.” He narrowed his eyes and cast a fervent glance over his shoulder. “If I had to guess, I’d say it was a campfire. Were there any signs of bandits in my absence?”

Knuckles’ brow furrowed for a moment. “Nnnno...oh!” His face brightened. “The king and queen invited a troupe of performers to come by tomorrow night to put on a show. There’ll be acrobats, jugglers...that kind of thing. You must’ve seen their camp.”

Shadow exhaled swiftly. “Good.” His ears perked up at the sound of distant footsteps. “I should take my leave before your replacement arrives. Thank you and goodnight, Sir Knuckles.”

“No problem, Sir Shadow. Sweet dreams!”

He winked obnoxiously. Shadow ignored it and instead looked forward to the day he’d soon spend by Amy’s side.

The new day brought an unusual level of activity to the kingdom. The castle courtyard was always more hectic than the charming village square Shadow had visited in his youth, but now, it was downright overwhelming. In preparation for the upcoming performance, the courtyard had been decked out in garish decorations. Ribbons were strung from rooftops. Those from the farther reaches of the kingdom and the surrounding towns had gathered in anticipation of the festivities, overcrowding the space with faces both old and new. Colorful tents had popped up along the streets so vendors could sell their wares. The myriad of smells from the food stalls made Shadow’s nose twitch. The vendors’ loud offers competed with the conversations of families and couples crowding the streets. Children laughed and shouted as they chased each other around, only adding to the clamor that battered Shadow’s eardrums.

Shadow’s jaw clenched as he mingled with the crowd in his casual clothes, scanning his surroundings. Crowds, strangers, distractions, noise...I must be particularly careful tonight. He took note of every dark corner where an invader could hide. It was harder than usual through the chaos. When it comes to protecting a noble, this environment is about as dangerous as they come, and yet... A tiny, bittersweet smile crossed Shadow’s face. It’s truly a shame. Amy would love this.

After a moment of deliberation, Shadow nodded and strode over to the stalls with determination. He walked past the food vendors, lingering reluctantly at a stall for sweets. Cakes, custards, pies, and funnel cakes were laid out, piping hot and lovingly decorated. The plump woman behind the counter beamed proudly up at him over her creations. Regrettably, he kept walking.

Amy would love one of those pies, but there’d be no way to transport it or keep it warm. He dismissed the displays of cloth and jewelry as well. All of this pales in comparison to what she wears every day. He sighed. And none of it is a substitute for actually being here.

He heard a set of familiar footfalls just behind him and to the left. He didn’t need to look to know who’d just joined him. “Rouge.”

His companion whined quietly. “I’ll never be able to sneak up on you, will I?”

“Not with loud shoes like those.”

Rouge clicked her tongue in disappointment, picking up the pace to walk alongside him. “If that’s the price of looking fabulous, I guess I’ll pay it.” She looked Shadow up and down and wrinkled her nose. “Especially if the alternative is looking like that,” she muttered. “Not so dapper without all that armor, are you, Sir Shadow?”

Shadow straightened his plain olive tunic. “It’s called blending in. Something most spies would be familiar with.”

“And yet I get the job done anyway.” She grinned when he couldn’t deny it. “So what are you up to? I’m guessing you’re not on duty.”

“Scouting,” he muttered. “A fair like this one is practically an open invitation for bandits, thieves, and worse.” His eyes drifted past an old man selling woven baskets out of a wagon. “One can never be too careful.”

“You know we already have scouts planted, right?” Rouge muttered.

Shadow nodded.

“I’m here,” she reminded him. “And Espio’s hanging around, too.”

“Good. I’m glad we have someone who knows how to blend in.”

Rouge rolled her eyes. “It’s a festival. Most knights would kick back and relax for a change, you know.”

He spared her a brief glance. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not most knights. One doesn’t reach the top by being complacent.” He continued scanning the stalls, taking note of a tent where three birdlike Mobians were bickering over the rugs they were supposed to be selling. “Caution is of the essence for an event like this one. The royal family will need our utmost vigilance today.”

“The royal family, hmm? Any member in particular?”

Rouge’s teasing tone tore his attention away from the birds. She grinned, easily able to tell she’d gotten to him. His eyes narrowed. “Protecting the royal family is my job, in case you’ve forgotten. I’d give my life for them without hesitation.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that. Especially one of them.” He rolled his eyes. When he didn’t deny it, she smirked and kept talking. “You should have seen her these past few months. She was practically pining in your absence.” Rouge sighed dramatically and held a hand over her heart. “Poor thing spent half her time in the library, gazing longingly out the windows and poring over books about divination and fortune-telling, of all things.”

Shadow growled. “Were you spying on her?”

Rouge held up her hands defensively. “It wasn’t anything personal, just an extra glance here and there. Someone had to keep an eye on her while you were out.”

Shadow kept his eyes narrowed, but he relaxed, reluctantly grateful. “Did she run into any trouble?”

“Aside from an acute case of cabin fever, she was fine. You’re welcome, Sir Shadow.” She gave a smug smile and bowed dramatically. He grunted and gave a small nod of gratitude. Rouge glanced around the courtyard, then pouted. “I’ve lingered too long. I should get back to scouting.” She pointed a finger at his forehead. “And you should enjoy your time off. Live a little. You deserve a break after all that training.”

He paused. His expression tightened, and then his shoulders dropped. “Perhaps in a little while. Good luck, Rouge.” With a nod, she flew off.

Shadow kept walking, examining each stall’s wares while keeping an eye on the vendors themselves. Perfumes...wood carvings...furs...crafts... His impatience grew. They’re all nice, but none of them are perfect.

Eventually, he reached a table with a crystal ball on it. He squinted at the individual behind the counter. A dark green hood obscured the vendor’s seemingly enormous head.

“Care to take a glimpse into your future, good sir?” the vendor invited in a gravelly voice, holding his hands over the crystal ball. “You may like what you see...”

Shadow’s fists clenched, and his eyes narrowed. “Show yourself.”

The man laughed nervously. “Sorry, sorry!” He pulled off the hood. Shadow was met with the sight of a sheepishly smiling silver hedgehog. A mass of quills popped out, having been barely contained by the hood. “Didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just part of the aesthetic, heh.” Shadow’s muscles loosened a bit, and the man sighed in relief. “So do you want a reading done? It’s only a few bits.”

Shadow scoffed. “I won’t be needing that.” My life is already the best I can hope for. Even if he can actually do as he says, I can’t imagine I’d see much of interest. His eyes lit up as he remembered what Rouge had said about Amy’s books. “Are you selling anything else?”

“Oh, you bet!” the hedgehog piped up. He reached under the table and pulled out a few items...but he was somehow levitating them above his hands.

Shadow’s eyes bugged out. He frantically searched around the table, but no strings or tricks jumped out at him. “How are you...?!”

“Heh heh. The act is put-on, but the magic is real,” the hedgehog said with a cheeky wink. He laid the items out in front of him. Shadow tried to shake off his disbelief as the vendor gestured to each item. “I’ve got some magic runes here, star charts, cards, kits for tea leaves...”

The cards immediately caught Shadow’s eye. “These. What are these for?”

“These are tarot cards!” The hedgehog lifted a hand to levitate several of them in a line in front of him. “If you learn to read them, you can predict the future!”

Shadow wasn’t so sure about that, but the artwork jumped out at him. Each card featured intricate designs and a surprising variety of colors. “These are high-quality, and the artwork is unusual. Where did you get these?”

The man cycled through some more cards. “They’re from my homeland. I’m from Soleanna.”

“Soleanna...” Shadow’s eyes widened. They’re one of our allies. Amy’s always wanted to go there, and I think she writes to the princess, too. “The princess there is...Elise, correct?”

The vendor scratched his chin and thought about it for a moment. “Right now? I think so...”

Shadow side-eyed him. “How do you not know your own princess?”

The man took a quick look around, then held a hand up next to his mouth. “Heh. I’m from the future.” He gave Shadow a goofy grin.

Shadow just stared, caught between confusion and exasperation. He sighed and pinched the skin between his eyes. “Right. How much for the cards?”

“Twenty bits.” When Shadow cringed, he gave a sympathetic smile. “How about a 10% discount? Eighteen bits.”

Shadow’s expression tightened. It’s a little steep...but she’s worth it. He nodded. “Eighteen bits.” He handed over the money, and the vendor happily gave him the cards and levitated the other items back under the table. Shadow shook his head, still flabbergasted at the trick. “If you can do that, why bother selling wares at all? Surely there’s a way of monetizing a talent like that.”

“Oh, I do! I’m Silver the hedgehog. I’m a magician who travels with the troupe. We have a performance tonight. I can’t wait!”

“Hm. Makes sense.” Seeing an opportunity for more information, he asked, “Is the rest of the troupe...like you?”

Silver tilted his head. “Like...oh! You mean, weird?” Shadow nodded, and Silver grinned sheepishly. “No. They’re normal.”

“Good.”

Gift secured, Shadow returned to the castle keep. He stopped by the kitchens for an early meal in preparation for the night ahead. After returning to his quarters, he stretched and went through the arduous process of donning his heavy armor. Noticing his greaves had gained some tarnish since he’d last checked, he polished them, and he meticulously sharpened his blade just in case. For the finishing touch, Shadow groomed his quills longer than usual to look his best.

Even with his lengthy preparations, though, the wait felt far too long for Shadow’s taste. He stood in place ahead of the other knights in the expansive dining hall, lining the wide double doors that led to the nobles’ quarters. He kept his posture immaculate to set the standard for the others.

At last, a strident bugle cut through the noise. All went silent when the bugler finished the fanfare and announced the arrival of the nobles.

One by one, the ranks were introduced, increasing in importance as they went – from the lords and ladies to the barons, the count, all the way up through the duke – all dressed in their finest dress clothes and gowns.

“At last, our esteemed royal family –” Shadow straightened up. “The valiant King Crimson...the devoted Queen Lily...and their daughter, the compassionate Princess Amy Rose!”

All three hedgehogs entered the room to applause and bows of exaltation, looking regal as ever. Shadow hardly noticed the others as Amy waved happily to those in the crowd. Sincere fondness was plain on her face. It warmed Shadow’s heart.

How many monarchs truly care for their subjects the way she does?

Finally, Amy’s gaze landed on him. Her expression lit up with joy. He struggled to hold back his own smile and remain professional. When Amy and her parents reached the front of the line of knights, Shadow dropped to one knee. “Welcome, Your Majesties. Our forces have spent all day scouring the castle. No threats have been detected.”

“Thank you, Sir Shadow. You may rise.”

“Thank you, my Queen.”

The queen smiled graciously. The king spoke up as well. “Your services are much appreciated once more, Sir Shadow. It’s thanks to your dedication that we can truly relax during events like these.” He started walking, and the rest of the entourage followed.

“As always, it is an honor to be of service, my King.”

Amy leaned in and murmured, “We should be thanking you. It’s the least we can do.”

Shadow almost froze up at her kind smile. He nearly responded with some variation of ‘it is an honor’ again, but that felt too dismissive. Instead, he replied, “I...am happy to hear that.”

It felt awkward to say it, but all three members of the royal family smiled in approval. He relaxed. Amy shuffled over to walk closer to him. While the king and queen spoke to one another about the decorations, Amy leaned up and whispered to him. “I’m so excited! This is the first time I’ve ever worn this dress. What do you think?” She gave a quick twirl as she walked to show it off. She smiled up at him expectantly.

The dress was woven with the finest purple silk that wealth could buy. It featured a flattering yet refined off-the-shoulder cut and a sequined, form-fitting bodice that led into a floor-length skirt. It was tailored perfectly to fit her frame. A purple pendant was draped around her neck. A matching adornment was tucked into her perfectly-styled quills to complete the outfit. Shadow gulped and opened his mouth.

You look absolutely beautiful.

Of course, you always do. That’s not because of the dress. But the dress helps.

Your fur always looks beautiful, but especially so when set against that color. Your eyes always shine, but even more so beside the sparkle of your jewelry. The dress is cut perfectly to flatter your every feature. It must have cost a fortune to make – not that it’s a problem! No one is more worthy of such apparel than you are, and it makes me happy that you have access to such things, because you deserve it, and...and...

He looked away shyly. “It suits you.”

Maybe it’s best that I can’t say anything more. I’d surely make a fool of myself.

Amy stared at him with an odd look in her eye, almost as if she were disappointed, but it was soon replaced with a half-smile of understanding. She nudged his elbow with her own. “Thanks.”

He nodded once and held back the urge to link arms with her as he had the night before.

They reached the long table at the top of a short set of stairs overlooking the dining room and wide ballroom in front of them. Shadow reluctantly left Amy’s side to stand against the wall behind the monarchs along with the other knights. Everyone remained standing while the king said a few words. As he did so, Shadow diligently scanned the room. All was in order as usual, aside from a shorter table that was set in the far corner. It was surrounded by a group of Mobians Shadow didn’t recognize. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

Just then, however, the king gestured to the table and finished with, “...and after the meal, we will be treated to the comedy, talent, agility, and expertise of the renowned Traveling Mobius Players. We hope you enjoy!” The rest of the room applauded, and Shadow relaxed. Upon taking another look, he recognized Silver in the same dark green cloak as before, though he’d wisely left his hood off this time.

Shadow kept an eye on the troupe while the nobles’ conversation drifted past his ears. All seemed well, though the older noble to Amy’s right had gone overboard with his wine and was making a nuisance of himself. He wasn’t making any inappropriate advances or anything of the sort, but his excessive chattiness and raucous laughter were a source of secondhand embarrassment to those around him.

As always, Amy maintained an air of graciousness while she conversed with him. Shadow admired her patience.

In time, though, the wine overtook its host, and the noble excused himself. A maid stepped in to take his dishes. Shadow sent a knight to escort the noble back upstairs – not for fear of bandits, but for fear that he’d trip on the way back to his room. The other knights valiantly held back laughter.

Shadow could hear Amy giggle. After a moment, she leaned to her left and whispered something to her mother, whose eyes brightened. “Good idea!” the queen whispered. She looked up over her shoulder at him. “Why don’t you sit down, Sir Shadow? There is a spare seat, after all.” Hearing the suggestion, the king looked up and nodded in agreement.

The other knights looked up at Shadow in confusion. He stiffened. “Ah...”

“We’d like it if you did,” the queen pressed. “And would it not be better for Amy’s protection? No one would harm a quill on her head with the head knight sitting right next to her.”

Shadow hesitated at the unconventional suggestion. She’s not entirely wrong, and it is something I’d dearly love to do, but... He glanced among the other knights, unsure of how they would react. None of them dared to speak for now. He gave in and threw caution to the wind. “As you wish, my Queen,” he replied with a bow. I can’t very well disobey a direct order from the queen, can I? He could feel the stares of the knights and nobles on him as he lowered himself into the seat next to Amy. He ignored them, instead focusing on her bright grin. He allowed himself a tiny smile in response.

The conversation continued. Shadow mostly kept quiet, but Amy and her parents brought him into the discussion here and there. It was hardly the first time Shadow had spent time with the royal family, but it was rarely in such a formal setting, and he was always flattered at how much the king and queen tried to make him feel welcome. He kept his voice down so the knights couldn’t hear him. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of gossip as is. No need to give them more fuel.

The time passed far more quickly by Amy’s side. Shadow was surprised when the king stood up for another announcement. Is it that time already?

“Many thanks to our wonderful chefs once again! They’ll be passing around dessert next. As they do so, please enjoy the stylings of the Traveling Mobius Players!”

There were more cheers before the lights went low. The audience gasped. Shadow looked up in alarm, only to find that a lemur was hanging from the rafters by her tail and holding a large square of fabric under the chandelier to dim the light. He squinted up at her. When did she get up there? He whipped his head back to the troupe’s table, only to find that it was entirely empty. His blood went cold. They’re all gone. When did they leave? I can’t believe I let myself get so distracted!

While he was chastising himself, a small flame ignited in the center of the room. Shadow watched while it split into two. The flames started to rotate and spin around each other, gaining speed as the seconds passed. Their light flashed, intermittently illuminating long limbs. Shadow tore his gaze away to glance around the room in search of the others. Through the dim light, he spotted two figures seemingly hovering high in the air. He rested a hand on his sword.

“Ladies and gentlemen...”

Shadow winced when a strident voice made itself heard, echoing around the hall.

“...welcome...to the show of a lifetime!”

The figure in the center of the room became completely engulfed in flames. The figure leapt up high and cast its flames outward for an effect that wowed the crowd and set Shadow on edge. At the same time, the lemur yanked away the fabric covering the chandelier. The sudden light temporarily blinded Shadow. He gritted his teeth and tensed up in preparation for an attack.

Instead, he was met with an exuberant entrance from the now visible troupe members. A bright blue hedgehog dove and somersaulted underneath the figure in the air, a purple cat who was still surrounded by heat haze. A two-tailed fox and a rabbit with enormous ears flew in from above, crossing paths as they dove and stopped to hover a foot above the ground. Silver launched into the air with his unseen powers and hung around sideways in the air next to the cat, as if he were lounging on a couch, and the lemur landed nimbly among her friends. The blue hedgehog posed proudly. A cheeky smirk crossed his face, and he finished with a quick wipe of his nose.

Shadow’s own nose wrinkled in displeasure, but the rest of the crowd ate it up. Laughter and applause filled the room.

After taking a moment to let the cheers die down, the blue hedgehog called out once more. “How about I introduce you to the best crew in the world?” He leapt backwards with a nimble flip, earning some impressed noises from the crowd. “First off: we have the lovely, talented, pyrokinetic princess hailing from the Sol Empire, Blaze the Cat!” She sprang toward the crowd, executing a perfect front handspring and performing a nimble aerial cartwheel over the hedgehog’s head to land lightly on her toes, all the while cloaked in flames.

“Oo!” the onlookers chorused.

Shadow was skeptical, though. He crossed his arms. “A princess? He’s pushing it with the stories already.”

“No, he’s not!” Amy grinned brightly. “She really is the princess. I wrote to her all the time before she left.”

Shadow did a double-take. Really?!

The leader wrapped a friendly arm around Blaze’s shoulders. “Heh. The king and queen weren’t too happy when I snatched her out from under their noses. Didn’t help when I told ’em they could just make another one.”

There was a pause before the audience burst out into raucous laughter at the raunchy joke. Blaze scoffed and shrugged off his arm. Unfazed, he leaned toward the crowd and held up a hand next to his mouth as if he were whispering. “They calmed down once I reminded them they’d be getting a break from her cooking. She burns more than just her enemies!”

This prompted more laughter from the crowd, but it turned to a collective gasp when Blaze growled in apparent irritation and summoned a ring of fire above her head. She launched it in the hedgehog’s direction. He didn’t seem surprised, though. He bravely leapt right through the center of it, spinning deftly to fit. There were sighs of relief throughout the hall at the realization that it was all part of the show.

He was lifted back up before he could touch the ground, but not by any physical means. Sounds of confusion met Shadow’s ears, but he wasn’t surprised. Just as he’d expected, Silver stepped into the foreground, easily – somehow – levitating the leader with just one of his hands from a distance. Shadow shook his head, still impressed.

The leader shifted in the air, lying back with his hands behind his head. “Yeah, we have no idea how he does this, either.”

While the audience laughed in disbelief, Shadow searched the man’s grin for any signs of deception. He couldn’t find any.

“Hailing from Soleanna, we have Silver the hedgehog, arguably the brains of this operation!” Silver waved with his free hand, grinning proudly. The crowd was endeared, but the blue hedgehog shook his head. “Don’t get too excited, that’s not saying much.” Silver flipped him over, pretending to be offended. Even while hanging upside down, however, the leader still smirked. “Before this guy joined up, we got lost and ran into trouble every other day, and ‘Silver’ was the best nickname we could come up with for him. It’s not exactly impressive.”

Soft giggles were coming from the seat to his left. Although Shadow wasn’t amused, Amy apparently couldn’t help but laugh. His muscles relaxed at the endearing sight.

Maybe this show is good for something after all.

Just as Blaze had, Silver faked irritation at the minor slight. He held his leader in place with one hand and started spinning him like a top with the other. As the speed increased, the man made a show of sounding disoriented.

“Whoaaaaaahhhh!” he wailed. The crowd gasped once more.

Shadow rolled his eyes. Do they honestly still think he’s in danger? He’s done this already.

Silver made a show of rotating his own body, swinging his leader all the way around before flinging him toward the center of the room. The blue hedgehog skidded to a stop and stumbled around as if dizzy. He was staggering worse than the tipsy nobleman from earlier.

His act didn’t fool Shadow, though. He narrowed his eyes. He’s not really dizzy at all, is he? How... He thought for a moment, and then his eyes widened. When Silver threw him, he spun him in the opposite direction. It cancelled out. That’s why he’s not disoriented. He frowned, reluctantly impressed. That’s...actually kind of clever. He scoffed. If his jokes were that clever, maybe he’d actually be worth watching.

The rest of Shadow’s companions didn’t seem to agree. They cackled at the troupe’s antics. He could tell the knights were struggling to hold back laughter, and Amy’s giggles were louder than ever.

The leader’s act of dizziness reached its peak when he groaned and tripped over his own feet. Just when he was about to hit the floor, the two troupe members hovering overhead swooped down and caught him, each holding him up by an arm. They flew higher to lift him back to his feet.

“Thanks, guys!” The leader addressed the crowd, nodding up at both of them. “This is Tails the fox and Cream the rabbit. I found them at the Kingdom of Acorn!”

Amy squealed quietly. “Now I remember! This is Sonic the hedgehog! Sally wrote to me about him.”

Shadow was once again charmed by the way Amy phrased her communications with the other princesses. Most monarchs would call such communications ‘diplomacy.’ To Amy, though, it was friendship.

“Knothole endured a harsh war back when she was little. They won, but at great cost. A lot of the adults were...” She bit her lip and trailed off, her previous joy fading. Without thinking, Shadow covertly reached over under the table and took her hand in his. He squeezed it comfortingly. Her expression softened, and she continued. “A lot of kids needed help. Tails followed him around until they were practically brothers. I guess Cream followed him, too.” Her eyes sparkled in admiration. Shadow looked back at Sonic’s grin, easily able to see the fondness behind it as he looked between the two kids.

Well, he may be annoying, but perhaps he’s not all bad.

As if he’d heard Amy’s words, Sonic stood back up properly and held out his upper arms so Tails and Cream could rest on them. “Good thing they’re so talented, too. What was I gonna do, leave them behind?”

His young charges posed cutely for the audience, the fox waving his tails while the rabbit held her hands in loose fists under her chin.

“Aww!” the crowd cooed, Amy included. Shadow couldn’t help but agree this time.

“Aaaaand...” Tails and Cream got into position when Sonic spoke. “Here we goooo!”

In perfect sync, they flung him into the air. Tails launched himself upward to follow him, spinning his tails like a propeller. He grabbed onto Sonic’s ankles and flung him across the room, only for Cream to grab his wrists and toss him higher. She and Tails flitted around the room, tossing Sonic back and forth like flying trapeze artists.

Tails flung him into the air one last time. Sonic performed several aerial acrobatic tricks before straightening out. He fell feet-first toward the ground. Yet again, the crowd gasped as if he were in any danger. Shadow rolled his eyes.

The lemur swiftly sprang into position, holding her large tail out like a ramp toward the floor. Sonic landed on it and slid down it sideways. He hopped one more time at the end of it and landed back on firm ground, transitioning smoothly into an intricate dance move. He ended the move lying down on his side and gave a casual thumbs-up, beaming at the audience.

He made it look easy. Shadow knew it wasn’t.

The cheers were deafening. Sonic waited for them to die down, then sprang to his feet. The lemur hopped up to land on one of his shoulders, using her tail to hang onto him.

“And this is our latest member, Tangle the lemur from Spiral Hill Village. She’s new, so I won’t roast her too much...yet.” He winked up at her. She waved happily at the cheering crowd, then hopped off his shoulder so he could take center stage.

“And I’m Sonic. Sonic the hedgehog!” He rolled up into a ball and started spinning in place at high speed, emitting a high-pitched noise as he did so. Shadow tensed and gripped his sword more tightly. The ball shot forward and sped in circles on the floor at an impressive speed.

Things got worse when the ball bounced up and shot forward. Sonic bounced off the walls, ceilings, and floor, ricocheting all over the hall. Shadow immediately wrapped an arm around Amy and pulled her to his chest. He held her close and growled, ready to draw his sword to defend her at a moment’s notice.

Thankfully, the trick – or attack, as Shadow would have called it – ended shortly thereafter. Sonic unrolled and skidded to a stop in the middle of the room. He posed proudly and waved to the crowd. “We hope you enjoy the show!”

The tension in the room died down, leaving sighs of relief and nervous laughter. Shadow huffed. After a moment, he loosened his grip, allowing Amy to look back up at him and take a look around. He held her by the shoulders and gazed at her seriously, not caring who might be watching. His only priority was Amy.

He stroked her shoulders reassuringly with his thumbs. “Are you alright?” She nodded, and he relaxed. He glared at the troupe in the middle of the room.

“Are you alright?”

Shadow tore his gaze away from the troupe. Amy’s eyes were shining with sympathy. He nodded. “I...didn’t like that.”

I don’t like him.

He didn’t say that, but he could tell she knew. She gave him an understanding smile. “It was a bit much, wasn’t it?” She looked over her shoulder at her mother. “This is really fun so far, but could we maybe send a messenger to ask them to tone it down a bit? That last move was...”

“It did feel a tad dangerous, didn’t it?” She mostly looked at Shadow when she said it. She wore a knowing smile. He hastily removed his hands from Amy’s shoulders and sat up straight again, quickly scanning the room to hide his embarrassment. He heard the king agree and send for a messenger.

Shadow could feel Amy’s gaze on him. His eyes flicked over to her, and he muttered, “Thank you...Princess.”

“Of course!”

Luckily, the dessert arrived at that moment, sparing Shadow any further embarrassment. He kept his eye on the performance, trying not to be distracted by the charming sight of Amy enjoying the dessert. Pudding was always her favorite.

For a time, the troupe members continued with their acrobatics and engaging movements, all highlighted by Blaze’s flames and Silver’s telekinetic powers. During a lull, however, Sonic started making the rounds, seemingly entertaining his audience with his charm and his wit. He moved from one table to another, leaving laughter in his wake.

Finally, he reached the king’s table. He strolled over with no regard for ranks, an arrogant smirk still fixed on his face. Almost as an afterthought, he gave a quick bow for the king. “Thought I’d save the best for last, Your Majesty. How are you liking the show?”

“It’s been quite the performance. Your troupe has a great deal of talent.”

Sonic threw a brief grin at them over his shoulder. “Best in the world, if you ask me. None like ’em.”

“Those fire effects are amazing!” Amy enthused. “And how is that one hedgehog lifting people without touching them?”

Sonic leaned down and winked at her. “If I told ya, it would ruin the magic.” Amy giggled. Shadow’s eye twitched.

A grumpy baron in a flat feathered hat snorted. “Hmph. It must be a trick of some kind. Nothing but smoke and mirrors.” He held his nose in the air.

“Hmm, I dunno about that,” Sonic teased. “Y’know, I happen to be a bit of a magician myself.”

His body twitched almost imperceptibly, and he pulled three pins from behind his back. He instantly started juggling them with no seeming effort. Everyone at the table gasped and applauded – except for Shadow. He narrowed his eyes and looked closer.

“Juggling, acrobatics, jokes...you can do a little of just about everything, can’t you?” the queen asked.

Sonic shrugged in false modesty. “I’ve been running this show for a while. When you have to look after all these kids, you wind up juggling a lot of things.” In the blink of an eye, several juggling balls and even a few plates had appeared in his hands. He deftly tossed them around – over his shoulders and behind his back, even looping a few between his legs and hurling them over his head from behind. “Not to mention how flexible you have to be,” he joked smartly as he bent over backwards and continued, still not dropping a single item.

Shadow pretended not to be impressed, but Amy didn’t hide her enthusiasm. “How is he just making things appear out of thin air like that?” she whispered to him, still clapping.

“He’s not. He’s just that fast.”

Amy’s mouth dropped open. “Whaaaat? No way!” She nudged Shadow with a grin. “He’s as fast as you are!”

“Almost as fast,” Shadow corrected automatically.

Sonic’s limbs visibly blurred with how quickly he was juggling. Shadow’s jaw clenched.

Or maybe it’s the other way around...not that I’ll ever admit it.

Sonic freed up one hand so he could hold his fingers up to his mouth. He gave a loud whistle. On cue, the troupe members all perked up. Without looking, he started tossing items casually back over his shoulder at them. One by one, the troupe members caught them, combining their talents of flight, climbing, and telekinesis to excite the crowd. Sonic waved smartly over his shoulder at them.

“You must pick up a lot of things on the road, huh?” Amy asked, bringing his attention back to their table. “I bet it’s a lot of fun!”

“It’s a blast! I’ve learned a ton out there. Tricks, stunts, how to keep your friends from being eaten by a bear...” He chuckled. “I wear many hats. This one’s my favorite.”

He twitched just slightly again, and a feathered cap seemingly appeared on his head. He tipped the brim back and smirked. Everyone chuckled a little at first, but then the baron who’d challenged Sonic earlier fumbled around and slapped his hands to his head in an effort to hide his conspicuous bald spot, and the table erupted in joyous laughter.

“Th-that’s my hat!” the baron shrieked.

“Oh, you’ve got one, too?” Sonic started twirling the hat on his finger, feigning innocence. “You should’ve worn it. We could’ve matched!”

The others kept laughing, but the baron wasn’t amused. His face was beet red. “No, that’s mine! Give it back!”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. It looks better on you anyway.” He tossed the hat back over. The baron scrambled to catch it and shoved it back on. Sonic met his grumpy glare with an innocent smile that set Shadow on edge.

Someone that fast can be awfully dangerous. If I see any sign that he’s a threat...

“But there really is a lot to see out there if you ever get the chance,” Sonic continued. He sat sideways on the table in front of Amy. “We’ve always got room for one more, y’know.” He winked at her again. Shadow’s blood boiled.

What are the chances I could convince the other knights that ‘flirting with the princess’ counts as a threat?

Thankfully, Amy just waved him off. “No way! I can’t leave. I’m the princess.”

“Didn’t stop Blaze,” he reminded her with a smirk. He rubbed his chin. “I’m sure we could find a place for you. I bet you’ve got a hidden talent in there somewhere.”

The king and queen laughed quietly, and Amy balked in embarrassment. Shadow’s fists clenched under the table.

How much longer are we going to be stuck listening to this guy?!

As if he’d heard the angry thoughts, Sonic turned his attention to Shadow. “What’s your deal? I’ve never seen a knight sit at the king’s table.” His tone was playful, but it still made Shadow’s muscles tense. “Maybe you should ditch some of the armor. Take a load off like the rest of us.”

Shadow’s hackles rose, and a growl rumbled in the back of his throat. “Is that a threat?”

“No, no! It’s alright,” Amy cut in, resting a hand on Shadow’s shoulder. “I’m sure that’s not what he meant.”

She looked back and forth between the two. Sonic smiled sheepishly and hopped off the table. He held up his hands to placate Shadow. “I didn’t mean anything by it, I just wanted you to relax and have a good time with us!”

When Amy nodded and smiled back at him, Shadow let his shoulders drop. He drummed his fingers against the pommel of his sword. “Fine. But the armor stays on.”

“No worries!” Sonic bent down and squinted at Shadow. “So what’s the deal, then? You the princess’s guard hog or something?”

The laughter around them was subdued, but it was there. Shadow swore he could even hear some of the knights snickering behind him. Mercifully, the queen cut in.

“Sir Shadow is special. He’s a friend of the family,” she explained, smiling reassuringly at Shadow.

“A ‘friend of the family,’ hmm?” Sonic was scratching his chin thoughtfully. His expression looked slightly smug. Shadow didn’t like it.

“The princess and I are childhood friends,” Shadow clarified before Sonic could get any ideas. “We met when we were seven.”

Shadow was hoping it would end there, but he had no such luck.

“Oo! Can you tell the story?” Amy asked, grinning up at him.

“Ah...me, Princess?” he stuttered out.

She bobbed her head happily. “I always like when you tell it.”

The royal family all smiled expectantly. Shadow sighed. Even without a direct order, he never could say no to Amy.

“I hail from a small village not far from the castle. My mother and I paid a visit to the market in the nearby square one day. Unbeknownst to us, the queen also planned to visit that day to check in on a new addition to the square.”

He almost mentioned the flower beds, then changed his mind when he remembered when Amy had told him about them. Probably for the best that the queen doesn’t know about my nighttime outings with her daughter.

“I’d wandered a little ways off while my mother bought food for the week. As I did, I heard a quiet cry from the edge of the woods and decided to investigate.”

By now, all the nobles were watching him with rapt attention. He took a deep breath and continued.

“I wasn’t too far into the woods when I reached a small pond. There on a small island in the middle stood the princess, stranded and upset.”

“It’s embarrassing, but I couldn’t stop crying,” Amy added. “I’d gotten separated from my mother and our escorts.” She pouted and shrank down. “I was really scared.”

Shadow held off the urge to hold and comfort her. He kept going. “I couldn’t just leave her there, so I waded into the middle of the pond and carried her to safety. I brought her back to the square and helped her reunite with her entourage.”

“Aww, how cute!” Sonic interrupted, clasping his hands in exaggerated fondness.

Amy didn’t pick up on the sarcasm. “He even got bitten a few times, but it didn’t stop him!”

“Bitten by what?” Sonic asked, now legitimately curious.

“Snapping turtles. It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Wow, snapping turtles?” Sonic’s eyes went wide with apparent shock. “Did you survive?”

After a moment, the nobles all laughed. Shadow just fixed Sonic with an unimpressed stare.

Still laughing, the queen said, “You should have heard Amy. All the way back, she kept going on and on about her little hero!”

“M-MOM!”

The nobles laughed fondly. Sonic’s face gained a mischievous air to it once more, one that made Shadow nervous.

“Her ‘little hero,’ huh? Trying to get a leg up on the princess, hmm?”

Shadow choked at his implication while the nobles cackled once more. “Of – of course not! Th-that would be inappropriate! A-and I wasn’t even aware she was the princess at the time,” he sputtered. He lifted his shoulders in humiliation, refusing to look at anyone. He waited until they quieted back down a bit before explaining. “All I knew was that she looked sad and scared, and I never wanted her to look that way again.” The nobles stopped laughing. He straightened up again. “Once I learned she was the princess, I joined up with the knights. I fought my way up through the ranks until I reached the position where I am today so I could stay by her side and keep her safe and happy from then on.” He could see Amy’s admiring gaze out of the corner of his eye. It warmed him to his core.

This time, Sonic actually looked sincere. “Wow. So you changed the course of your whole life, just for her?”

Shadow froze and panicked. “A-along with the rest of the royal family, of course. It is both my duty and a privilege to serve them.”

Sonic’s resulting chuckle made Shadow feel transparent. Luckily, Sonic didn’t press him further. “Couldn’t be me. I’d hate to be tied to just one thing forever like that. No offense, Your Highness,” he finished with a comical curtsy. Amy giggled. Sonic looked over his shoulder at his troupe, then gazed off into space. “I’d rather be out on the road, entertaining people and spreading laughter wherever I go.”

Shadow tried to ignore the way Amy’s eyes sparkled as she gazed up at him.

Sonic peeked back down at Shadow. “Y’know, that was quite a story, and we could use a bard. You could join the troupe, too! Maybe pick up a lute while you’re at it.” He grinned, mirth in his eyes. The others at the table laughed at the image, but Shadow immediately gave a curt shake of his head.

“My place is here with the royal family. I could never find fulfillment elsewhere.”

Sonic chuckled under his breath. “Only a joke. I couldn’t.”

With that, Sonic rejoined his troupe so they could continue their athletic feats and tricks together. Shadow let go of his sword and leaned back in his seat. His ears perked up when the duke spoke up from the king’s other side.

“Seems like someone took an interest in our princess.” He chuckled. Shadow stiffened in fear, afraid he was the one being called out, but then the duke nodded toward Sonic. The king and queen shot teasing smiles toward Amy as well. For her part, Amy just scoffed and rolled her eyes.

The duke wasn’t done, though. “Heh. Perhaps you should give him a chance, Princess. Who knows?”

Amy coughed awkwardly, apparently unsure of how to respond. The duke hunched down over the table and muttered, “You’re not getting any younger, you know.”

Shadow almost growled. How dare he—! Amy’s parents seemed just as affronted.

“Excuse you, but I have standards,” Amy shot back. She kept her tone light and wore a patient smile to keep the mood up, but the message was clear. “I’m in line for the throne. I need someone who’s actually going to be here by my side, not a wandering showman who flirts with every princess he sees.” When the others stayed quiet, she answered their curiosity with a quiet chuckle. “I’ve received letters from Princess Sally and Princess Elise that mentioned a certain blue hedgehog who acts a lot like this one,” Amy explained, nodding to where Sonic was bowing to kiss the hand of a pretty baroness. The woman was giggling and holding a hand over her heart. Amy smiled. “He’s charming, but I need someone loyal and patient. Someone steadfast who cares about the Rose Kingdom just as I do, who’ll always remain to rule by my side.”

The queen tucked her white quills aside so she could mutter in Amy’s ear. “Don’t forget that your father and I can always arrange something for you. Haven’t we told you our idea?”

Shadow’s heart stopped.

“And haven’t I told you I have it under control?” Amy hissed back.

“Alright, alright...but don’t forget we’re here to support you.”

Shadow barely heard the end of their conversation, the words becoming muffled and distant in his head.

What idea?

What arrangement?

Who is it?

His palms started to sweat under his gauntlets. I should be prepared for this by now. I’ve always known Amy would marry someone else, it’s just—!

“...dow?”

“Sir Shadow?”

Shadow jumped at the feeling of a hand shaking him by the shoulder. “Huh...?”

Amy was there, staring at him in concern. “Sir Shadow, are you alright?”

He looked around. Past Amy, Shadow could see the queen giving him a subtle look of concern, but the others were watching the performers. He let out a deep breath.

“Yes, Princess. I merely...lost my focus for a moment. Many apologies.”

She nodded back, but worry was still etched onto her face.

Shadow cringed. I never lose focus on the job. I must not allow it to happen again. He concentrated on the performance once more, diligently tracking down each member of the troupe to make sure he knew where they were. He could see Amy turning back to the show as well.

He focused on their surroundings as best he could for the remainder of the performance, but the queen’s suggestion kept returning to him.

I have no idea who she might be talking about. There’s no one remotely her age in the ranks of our nobility. The closest is a count who’s twenty years her senior, and I know the king and queen would never do that.

Then, his throat went dry.

What if they intend to marry her off to someone outside the kingdom?

His heart raced. He made a conscious effort to keep his breathing regular.

Amy doesn’t want to leave the kingdom, but what if there are no other options? What if she runs out of time or grows lonely? I don’t want her to be alone forever, but if she has no other choice, and she gets sent away...

I could lose her.

His chest tightened.

If she’s sent to another kingdom, I likely wouldn’t be sent with her. I would never see her again.

The laughter and applause around Shadow didn’t reach him. He clenched his fists and locked his jaw.

No. I cannot let that happen. Whether she remains in the Rose Kingdom or goes somewhere else, what can I do so that she’d never want us to be separated? We’re important to each other, but is it enough...?

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Amy howl with laughter and clap along with the others. She kept laughing until there were tears in her eyes, her face more beautiful than ever for how much joy she was feeling.

I’ve never seen her so happy.

With that, he made his decision.

Amy was still wiping her eyes and letting out a few giggles when he walked her back upstairs to her room. “I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun!” She nudged him and whispered, “And I’m glad I got to spend the time with you, too, Shadow. I hope you didn’t feel too uncomfortable sitting with us like that.”

“Not at all, Princess...Amy,” he managed with difficulty. He took a deep breath and squinted his eyes shut in preparation. Here goes... “It was fun to see so many colorful characters. Although I’d say you’re quite a card.”

Silence. He cracked one eye open. Amy was staring at him in complete confusion. “Wha...?”

Shadow thought back. What did I miss, what did I miss—oh!

“Right, that doesn’t make sense. I forgot. I—” He paused while trying to reach under his armor. He cringed and sighed when he remembered they were inside with guards nearby, not alone outside on the ramparts. Of course I can’t give them to her now. Perfect. He shook his head. “I...promise that will make sense tomorrow. Will I be escorting you to the village square as we planned?”

Amy gasped, and her eyes lit up again. “The commander said yes?” He nodded, and she squealed quietly in delight. “I can’t wait!”

“I am looking forward to it as well.” He knelt at her feet. “Goodnight, Princess.”

“Goodnight, Sir Shadow.”

He could hear the smile in her voice as she bid him goodnight. When he heard the door shut, he stood and returned to the castle keep.

Okaaay...first attempt was a failure, but it should be no trouble. If that buffoon can make her laugh, then surely I can, too.

Shadow stood stiffly just outside the castle that morning, trying not to show the guards how nervous he was.

Alright, Shadow. Breathe. You can do this.

Amy came into view as she rounded a corner, chatting amiably with the guard who was escorting her. Her expression brightened up when she saw Shadow, and she waved and hurried over. The guard had to jog to keep up.

Shadow knelt as she approached. “Good morning, Princess.”

“Good morning, Sir Shadow! You may rise.”

When he stood back up, he could see her face had a healthy glow. Her smile was brighter than usual, too. “You seem well-rested, Princess.”

“Mhm!” She nodded to the guard. “Thank you! You’re dismissed.” The guard bowed and left. Amy walked out into the courtyard with him. Her face fell a little as she gazed at their surroundings. “This place looked so festive yesterday from the window. I wish I could’ve been here. It looked like a lot of fun!”

The rows of tents from the night before had already vanished. The gentle spring breeze was blowing a few leftover streamers along the ground, but other than that, there was no sign of yesterday’s excitement. A handful of residents milled about, but it was practically a ghost town compared to the day before.

“It was uncomfortably crowded yesterday. It was too harsh on the ears,” Shadow pointed out, trying to make her feel better.

Amy smiled wryly. “Thanks. I’m still surprised at how quickly this all got cleaned up.” She idly kicked a stray piece of flagging that had been left behind as they walked. “Well, most of it, at least. How early did you have to wake up this morning to do all this?”

“About an hour before sunrise, though I was only responsible for surveying the grounds and ensuring the security of the perimeter. Rest assured that we left not a single stone unturned, Your Highness.”

Amy just made a pained noise. “That’s way too early! Aren’t you tired?”

Shadow opened his mouth to reply, but then he perked up. This is it! I can do it now! “Hmph. It was terrible. Most of the men cried.”

Amy looked horrified. “They actually cried?! What happened?”

Here it is—!

“You see, they were mourning the morning.”

Again, his attempt was met with dead silence. Amy looked at him sideways. “Morning the...what?”

He waited a second or two longer in the hopes that it would land, but it didn’t. He winced. “Nothing. It was just a routine procedure. I don’t believe any tears were shed.”

She just kept staring at him. “Uhhhh...okay...”

Dammit! I spent all night thinking of that one!

He shook it off. “Right...so would you prefer to take a wagon or walk to the square?”

“I’d love to go for a walk if you don’t mind,” Amy replied, regaining her cheerful demeanor. “I need some fresh air!”

“Good. I’d like that as well.”

They proceeded along the path toward Shadow’s village. Amy happily caught him up on what he’d missed while he was gone, and Shadow told her about some of the techniques he’d learned. He kept an eye out for anything suspicious, but the way was mostly quiet, a relaxing departure from the hustle and bustle of the day before. The only danger that occurred was when Amy’s foot caught on a rock.

She latched onto him, and he caught her easily. “Are you alright, A—Princess Amy?”

She gazed up at him for a moment, just a couple inches away. Then, she shook herself off and laughed a bit. “Yeah. Thanks.”

He nodded. As they kept going and she continued the story she’d been telling, though, something occurred to Shadow.

Rocks...rocky...I can do something with that, can’t I? Just a second...hah! I’ve got it!

“...so then I said—”

“You got off to a rocky start, didn’t you?”

“I—wha...” Amy shook her head and stopped. “What are you talking about?”

Shadow stopped beside her. “Well...you know. There was a rock back there, and...”

He trailed off, and she cocked her head. “But what does that have to do with what I was talking about?”

Shadow’s jaw clenched. I’m not getting any better at this. He looked down and sighed. “I...suppose it doesn’t relate. I apologize, Princess.”

Amy just kept staring at him. “Are you alright? You’re not acting like yourself.”

He sighed. “I’m alright. What were you saying?”

She opened her mouth, then pursed her lips and frowned. After a few seconds, she sighed and kept walking. “I don’t remember.” Shadow’s heart stung with guilt.

Luckily, it wasn’t too much longer before the path connected up with the square. Amy practically skipped over in excitement, and Shadow hurried after her. Before long, the two of them were mingling with the townspeople. Shadow’s mood brightened when Amy’s smile returned.

While the two of them were taking a look at a small farm stand, Amy seemed to spot something behind Shadow. Her eyes went wide. Shadow turned to see a slender, middle-aged hedgehog with black fur and brown eyes waving at them.

Amy scurried over to her first to say her greetings. By the time Shadow caught up, the other hedgehog was halfway through a polite curtsy.

“You know you don’t have to do that,” Amy implored, smiling down at the woman.

“And you know I always will anyway.” Both of them laughed. The woman straightened back up and gave him a warm smile. “It’s good to see you, Shadow.”

Shadow took both of her hands in his. “Thank you, mother. It’s good to be home.”

The three of them took a stroll around the square. Shadow’s mother pointed out some flowers that had just bloomed, and he bought her the groceries she’d need for the week. After a while, she stopped by a bench at the edge of the square, saying she needed to take the weight off her feet for a while. Shadow sat down with her. Likely wanting to give them some privacy, Amy walked a little ways away to play with some of the children.

The village square was one of Shadow’s favorite places to bring Amy. It was never crowded, and the community was small enough that both of them knew every resident there. Shadow could let her have some space for once, and he didn’t have to worry nearly as much. He sighed as he watched her play hopscotch with the children.

“What’s on your mind, Shadow?”

He didn’t even have to look up to picture the knowing smile on his mother’s face. “This is...probably blasphemous, but...” He leaned back and muttered, “Sometimes I wonder if Amy would be happier if she weren’t a princess.”

Rather than disagreeing, his mother hummed quietly. “Why do you say that?”

Amy was bending down to chat with one of the smaller children. One of the kid’s parents stopped by, and she happily talked with him for a while. Her quills were looser than usual and her dress, while more plain than the one she wore the night before, looked light and comfortable.

“She never seems stressed when she’s here. She’s safer. There’s more privacy. She likes the people here.” His fingers tightened on the bench beneath him. “I wish she had that all the time. She deserves it.”

“Do you think her role makes her unhappy?”

Shadow looked up at his mother. She was leaning back against the bench, hands clasped in her lap. Her expression was unreadable, though not unfriendly.

He frowned. “No, not exactly.”

His mother nodded in agreement. “She seems like a very happy person to me.”

“But she said she’s been very stressed for the past few months. It’s...a lot.”

“Well, she has a very important job to do,” his mother pointed out. “You would know a thing or two about that, wouldn’t you? Why did you choose something so stressful?”

“To protect her,” he replied instantly. “She needed me. I did what had to be done.” His ears flattened. “I always have.”

“And I suspect Amy feels the same way.” She pointed to where Amy was helping an old man pick up a basket of food he’d dropped. “She’s a princess of the people. She’s happy to be a princess because of how she can use her power to help others.” Amy patiently helped the man to his feet, and Shadow’s mother smiled. “She’ll be a wonderful queen someday. I’m sure of it.”

Shadow nodded slowly.

After a moment, though, his mother’s smile turned mischievous. “Would you be happier if she weren’t a princess?”

Shadow sputtered. “I—!” She chuckled under her breath, and he pouted. “I know she’ll be a great queen, but I don’t like it when she’s in danger. I just wish she could have a simpler life sometimes. An easier one.”

“We both know there’s more to it than that, Shadow.”

He didn’t deny it.

She sat up to look at him more directly. “Shadow, Amy isn’t one to follow others’ rules for no reason. If she knows something is right, she’ll make it happen, no matter what the rules say now.”

He squinted at her out of the corner of his eye. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you should tell her,” she laughed. “Don’t you think it’s about time?”

“I...” His voice died out. Amy was wandering back over to them. He looked back and forth between the two of them.

“If she didn’t want you by her side, you’d know by now, wouldn’t you?” She winked. He didn’t have a reply for that.

Amy’s chipper voice broke the silence. “Hey, you two! Did you have a nice talk?”

Shadow grunted, and his mother nodded warmly.

Before Shadow could say anything, Amy had put an apple in each of their hands. He choked. “Princess, you didn’t have to—”

“Shhh!” Amy held a finger to her lips. She peeked back over her shoulder. “I talked to the apple seller’s grandson earlier. Apparently, he’s been having a tough time recently. I figured he could use a few extra bits.”

Shadow’s heart softened. His mother stood and curtseyed once more. “You’re too kind, Princess.”

Amy waved it off. “It’s nothing. I hope you don’t mind.”

She mostly looked at Shadow while she said it. He almost said ‘you’re the apple of my eye,’ but he lost his nerve. “Thank you, Princess. I appreciate it.” She smiled back, but he mentally kicked himself.

That’s the only decent joke I’ve had all day, and I couldn’t even say it!

The three hedgehogs said their goodbyes soon after, and Shadow brought Amy back to the castle so she could be back before sundown. His mother’s words weighed heavily on his mind.

“Do you mind if I take you to the back entrance instead?” he whispered.

“Sure. Is everything alright? You’ve been acting off today.”

The concern on her face was apparent. He just nodded, not trusting himself to speak past the lump in his throat.

They walked along the base of the castle wall near Amy’s room. When they reached the point that he knew was just out of earshot of the two closest guards, he stopped walking and held onto her wrist. “Wait.”

She stopped as well, looking more confused than she had all day.

“Princess Amy, I...”

He stalled out, then gritted his teeth.

Who am I kidding? She’s a princess, and I’m just a knight! Even if she does want me by her side, it can’t possibly be the same way I want it to be.

Amy waited for him to continue, but he just let go of her and looked away.

I can’t risk ruining what I have with her just to chase a fairytale. This means too much to me.

Amy huffed, sounding concerned and frustrated. “Shadow, why won’t you tell me what’s wrong? I want to help!”

“You can’t!”

The words left his mouth before he could stop them. She shrank back, visibly hurt. “Why?”

“It’s...it’s just something I have to deal with on my own. I’ll be alright.”

Her eyes searched his, desperate for an answer. It wasn’t long before she found one.

She winced. “Is it me?”

Her voice, so small and hurt, cut him to the core.

“No! Of course not!” he sputtered immediately.

As always, she saw right through him. “Did I do something wrong?” Her tone was quickly growing shrill.

“No! Just because it involves you doesn’t mean—”

Her eyes went wide.

His blood went cold.

Shit.

“It is because of me!”

“No! You didn’t do anything wrong, it’s my problem!”

“Shadow!” she cried, voice strained. “First you act strange all day and pretend nothing’s wrong. Then, you interrupt me, and now you won’t tell me why you’re upset? This isn’t like you!”

His heart raced in panic. “Because it’s my problem! You shouldn’t have to deal with it!”

Amy went quiet. Her eyes watered. She shook her head and held herself. “Take me back.”

Shadow choked back a whine. “But...Princess...”

He just barely saw her flinch. She held herself more tightly. “I want to go back to my room.”

Both were silent for several seconds. Shadow’s shoulders dropped in defeat. “As you wish.”

Neither said a word as they climbed the stairs to Amy’s room. She stared at the ground most of the way back. Before they could reach the afternoon guard outside the door, though, Amy met Shadow’s eyes again. Even with his helmet in the way, he must have looked pitiful, because her eyes softened once more. She walked a little closer so he could hear her mutter under her breath.

“I just need some space for a bit. Come talk to me once you’re feeling like yourself again, okay?”

She’s too kind.

“Of course, Princess Amy.”

Once they were outside her door, he knelt to her as always. With a silent curtsy, she went back inside. Shadow barely nodded in acknowledgement to the guard before departing, weighed down by shame and guilt.

Shadow stopped by the kitchens to try and choke down a late dinner, but he found he couldn’t do much but push his food around on his plate. He could feel the curious gazes of the other knights on him, so he retreated to his quarters to sulk in private instead. He stewed for the next few hours.

Soon enough, though, his anger at himself overpowered his melancholy. Always a man of action, Shadow picked up the tarot cards he’d bought and set out to fix his mistake.

As he approached Amy’s door once again, his face twisted with indecision. She said she needed space, but she didn’t say for how long. It feels like I just left.

He gritted his teeth and shook it off, deciding it didn’t matter. I’ve put this off for years. I’m not waiting another day.

By that point, night had fallen and Knuckles’ shift had begun. When he saw Shadow approach, he glanced at the door next to him. “Hey, do you know what’s going on with the princess? The afternoon guard said she was crying.”

Shadow’s heart clenched. He cringed, then straightened up. “I need to see her. I have something important to discuss with her.”

Knuckles side-eyed him for a moment. His eyes narrowed. “Did you hurt her?”

Shadow wanted to stand his ground. Instead, he slumped. “I...made some mistakes today. I need to see her so I can apologize and make it up to her.”

Knuckles’ protective glare remained for a few seconds, but it slowly faded. “You’d better.” Shadow nodded. Knuckles gazed at the door again. “I don’t know if she’ll want to talk to anyone right now.”

“Try.”

Knuckles stared at him blankly, then scoffed and grinned wryly. “Won’t take no for an answer, will you?”

“The princess’s wellbeing is of utmost importance to me. Her state of mind is part of that.”

Knuckles clearly wasn’t fooled by his reflexive response. He just smirked and knocked on the door. “Princess? Sir Shadow is here to speak with you if you’d like.”

Silence.

Shadow leaned in and tried himself. “Princess...I’m here to apologize. You can take as much time as you need, but I truly wish to make it up to you once you’re ready.”

Again, there was no response. Shadow sighed. I should’ve known. Of course she needs more time. He perked an ear toward the door. “I don’t hear any crying, at least. How long did that last?”

“Don’t know. She must’ve been done by the time I got here. Haven’t heard a single peep from her.”

Shadow’s muscles locked up. A feeling of dread dropped into his stomach. He turned to Knuckles with trepidation. “You haven’t heard anything from her the whole time? Have you seen her?”

Knuckles cocked his head. “No, I—” He stopped, and his eyes went as wide as dinner plates. “You don’t think...”

“Check her room. If she’s not there, then gather the knights. I’m going to track her down.”

Knuckles nodded and rushed off to follow Shadow’s orders.

Shadow sprinted through the castle grounds. A shiver made its way down his spine, both from the chilly nighttime air and the cold fear in his stomach.

No matter how fast I get, I never feel quick enough when she’s in danger.

His eyes darted around every corner, over every hill, behind every tree and rock, but he couldn’t see a thing.

Of course this had to happen at night, too! Even with night vision as good as mine, I can’t...

He perked up when his ears picked up the sound of muffled arguing. He made a beeline for it.

“Look, kid, it’s up to you,” a voice squawked. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll drop everything you’ve got and back off.”

“No way!”

Amy’s voice, brave but scared, spurred Shadow on.

A snide female voice made itself heard next. “In case you haven’t noticed, pinky, there are three of us and one of you. Not the best odds for a pampered princess.”

Shadow rounded a corner of the castle until he reached the edge of a high wall. He looked down to see the three bickering birds from the rug stall at the festival. They had Amy backed against the wall below him and looked ready to strike, but she stood tall.

“You’re foolish if you think you can get away with this in my kingdom. When the head knight gets ahold of you, he’ll—”

“What head knight?” the last bird, a bulky albatross, taunted. “No knight in shining armor’s here to save you this time!”

He lunged forward. Shadow caught sight of a knife in his hand. Fear and rage peaked in his chest.

“AMY!” he roared, drawing his sword and diving off the castle wall. He landed right in the albatross’s path, making him flail and panic. With two swift swings of his sword, he knocked the knife out of the bird’s hand and sheared off half the feathers on his head. The bird yelped and scrambled backward to join his friends, a green hawk and a purple swallow. Shadow glowered at the three of them, tone dripping with malice as he snarled, “This head knight.”

Shadow gave a quick, loud whistle to alert the other knights from a distance. He could hear Amy let out a relieved, breathless laugh behind him. The bandits in front of him were visibly trembling.

The hawk cackled. Terror was obvious in his tone. “Ah, heh, hey! W-we didn’t want any trouble, just trying to make a living!”

“You have made a grave mistake.”

The birds all gulped.

“Let’s get out of here!” The hawk cried as he grabbed onto his friends and fled.

Shadow immediately bolted after them. They tried to duck into the forest for cover, but he anticipated and overtook them. He dashed into their path, skidding to a stop in front of the woods and brandishing his sword.

“Stand. Down.”

They shrieked in alarm. The hawk scrambled back the other way, and his lackeys followed. They didn’t get far before Shadow headed them off again.

“You’re only making things worse for yourselves.”

They backpedaled once more, stumbling away from Shadow as best they could. The pattern continued as Shadow steered them toward the castle and away from Amy.

The hawk changed tactics. He started fumbling through the pack on his back as they ran, yanking out supplies and desperately throwing them into Shadow’s path to slow him down.

Shadow easily dodged them, leaping over discarded tools and sidestepping extra food they’d packed. A dark, bitter smile crossed his face.

“This doesn’t have to end in bloodshed...but I won’t mind if it does.”

The albatross panted and whined nervously to his leader. “Jeeeeetttt, hurry up!”

“I’m tryin,’ I’m tryin’!”

The swallow hazarded a glance over her shoulder, only to find Shadow was gaining on them. Her face turned pale. “Let me do it!” she snapped as she reached a hand into the pack. After a few seconds of digging, she let out a cry of triumph and yanked out one of the rugs they’d been selling. “HAH! Got it!”

“Gimme that!” Jet ripped the rug out of her hands, unrolled it, and tossed it into the air. To Shadow’s shock, it hovered in front of them, and all three of them hopped onto it one by one. It quickly soared high in the air, lifting them out of Shadow’s reach.

All three of them laughed. The swallow made a few taunting gestures. “Too bad you can’t fly!”

“Well, he can’t, but I can.”

“Wha—”

The birds were blindsided by a series of kicks to the face when someone dive-bombed them out of the darkness, knocking them clean off the carpet to land hard on the ground in a tangled heap.

Rouge landed just behind them, trapping them between herself and Shadow. “And I don’t need an ugly rug to do it.”

The carpet fell after them. Shadow leapt and intercepted it in the air, swiftly slicing it right in half, much to the birds’ horror. Jet spoke up again, his pitch going up an octave in panic. “W-we weren’t going to hurt the princess or anything! Honest!”

“Yeah! We’re just common thieves, not kidnappers—ow!”

“Shh!” the swallow hissed.

“That sounded like a confession to me,” Amy chimed in, having caught up to them during the scuffle. “What do you guys think?”

“Yup! We heard ya loud and clear,” Knuckles replied, jogging onto the scene flanked by rows of knights.

The birds looked around frantically, wilting as they realized they were cornered.

Shadow kept an eye on the others as they apprehended the thieves. He rested a hand on Amy’s shoulder. “Are you alright, Princess?”

She sighed and gave a tired nod. Despite her brave face, he could see her limbs were still shaking. His expression pinched, and he called over to the knight ranked just below him. “I’m going to get the princess out of here. Can you handle those three?”

“Yes, Sir Shadow.”

“Good. We’ll regroup later.” He held his hands out for Amy. “May I?”

She nodded. He picked her up and swiftly carried her away to safety.

Shadow stopped in the secret passageway they always used to sneak out at night. He lowered her down onto one of the steps and sat down beside her. Only then did he allow himself to relax.

Amy had lifted her knees up under her chin. She was staring off into space. Most people wouldn’t be able to read that look, but Shadow knew it well. He wrapped an arm around her to hold her close. Instantly, her tears fell.

“Th-thank...y...” She tried to mumble through her tears, but the words got stuck.

“It’s fine.”

They remained like that for several minutes while Amy’s tears subsided. Once the adrenaline and fear wore off, subtle irritation filled Shadow’s mind. He exhaled tersely.

“Are you okay?” Amy croaked, voice hoarse from crying.

He stared down at her in disbelief. “Am I okay?! You were nearly—” He stopped and exhaled, holding a hand to his forehead. “Physically, yes. I’m fine.”

“...But...mentally...?” she ventured.

He shook his head. “No. I’m...angry that you ran off. I’m angry at them for trying to hurt you. And more than that, I’m angry at myself for not doing a good enough job checking the grounds beforehand! Those birds were at the festival. I should’ve been paying more attention. And I should’ve been here with you tonight to begin with.”

“You shouldn’t feel guilty! It wasn’t your fault,” Amy insisted, taking one of his hands in her own. “I’m the one who snuck out.”

“Yes. And I should be angry with you for that, but...” He raked his fingers through his quills in agitation. “But you’ve already cried enough today because of me.”

She gazed up at him. “I still don’t want you to blame yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, and you saved me. Nothing happened.”

“But it very easily could have.” He took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “I didn’t check the grounds well enough. I drove you away by hiding the truth from you. You shouldn’t have snuck out, but that’s what you do, and I should know that by now.” He peeked up at her out of the corner of his eye, then looked away shyly. “The woman I love almost got seriously hurt today, and it was partly because of me. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

She didn’t reply. Shadow’s eyes squinted shut.

When he dared to look up, her eyes were filled with tears. He made a choked noise and held onto her shoulders awkwardly, wishing he had a way of wiping her tears away. “Shoot, I—! I knew I shouldn’t have said it! Now I’ve made you cry again...some knight I am—!”

Much to his confusion, Amy started laughing. “Shadow, I’m not sad!” she managed through her tears and giggles. “I’m happy!”

“...You are?”

She nodded and wiped away the tears. “Of course I am. I’ve been waiting years for you to say it. I love you, too! I always have!” She clung to him happily.

Shadow felt his heart lift. “You...really?”

“Mhm!”

Shadow was stunned for several seconds, able to do nothing but stare at her bright smile. It was warm with fond sincerity. Joy and relief flooded his body, loosening what felt like years’ worth of tension in his muscles. He let out a huge breath. It ended in a hesitant chuckle. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Amy snorted and looked up at him. “Because I’m a princess, silly! I was afraid that if I told you I had feelings for you, you’d feel obligated to reciprocate because of our ranks. I never wanted you to feel that way about it.”

Shadow let out a slow, tired laugh. “That’s...ah. Yeah.” He tilted his head. “You know, you could have anyway. You knew I liked you.”

“Mmm...” She shrugged one shoulder. “That’s what my parents thought, too. They’ve been trying to set something up for ages, but I didn’t want it to be like that. I wanted us to start off on even footing.”

“I knew your parents liked it when I spent time with you, but I didn’t know they wanted...” Shadow squinted. “Wait, so when your mother said something about ‘arranging something,’ what did she...”

“She and Dad have been trying to work out a way to grant you some high title so it’d be easier to ‘put us’ together, y’know?” She squinted. “Wait, what did you think she meant?”

Shadow cringed. “Well, now it sounds...less than intelligent, but I was afraid she was going to send you off to some other kingdom so you could be arranged with someone your age.” He lifted his shoulders.

“Shadow...” Her gaze was rife with sympathy. “Is that why you were so upset today? I had no idea!”

He nodded slowly and looked down at his shoes. “I was afraid that I was going to lose you.”

Before he knew it, Amy had pulled him into a tight hug, armor be damned. “You will never lose me. I’m not leaving this kingdom, and you will always have a place by my side. Understand?”

Amy’s eyes shone up at him. A rare smile spread its way across his cheeks. “...I do. I guess I always have.” She smiled back. His own grin turned wry. “It’s a good thing, too. The jokes weren’t working.”

It was Amy’s turn to be baffled. “What jokes?”

“Ah, well...the comment about rocks, and mornings, calling you a card...”

She kept staring, still confused. “Those were jokes?”

“I never said they were any good.”

She hid her face behind one of her hands and snorted. It soon grew to uproarious laughter as she thought back on his clumsy attempts. She shook her head fondly. “Shadow, you’re not a jester. You don’t have to make me laugh.”

“Good, because I’m terrible at it. That does remind me, though...”

He shuffled around in his tunic under his breastplate. She pulled away, curious, as he extracted the cards he’d bought the day before.

“Are those...?”

“Tarot cards,” he confirmed. “I knew you would’ve loved the festival. I felt sad that you couldn’t be there with me, so I got you these. I thought you might like them.”

Her eyes went wide as she took the deck and shuffled through it. Her smile grew with every intricate picture. “Shadow, these are beautiful! How did you know?”

“Ah...a little Flicky told me.”

Technically it was a bat, but that sounds creepy.

She kept flipping through the cards for a while. Her eyes watered, and she gazed up at him fondly. “Shadow?”

“Yes?”

“This is the you I love. You’re thoughtful. Kind. Sweet. Dedicated. And you don’t have to be anything else, okay?”

He took both of her hands in his and relaxed. “Thank you, Amy.”

Her tail wagged. “So it really is ‘Amy’ now, then?” she teased.

“It’ll take some getting used to, but I’ll admit it’s growing on me.”

Amy smiled. She slowly leaned in, then stopped. She grinned shyly. “So, um...I want to kiss you, but...it’s a little tough with the helmet on. You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but...” She bit her lip and looked up at him hopefully. “I haven’t seen your face without a helmet since we were kids! I’m kind of curious...”

Shadow’s heart pounded. He checked their surroundings, then slowly, carefully pulled his helmet off. He met her gaze and waited.

Amy’s mouth hung open. Her eyes were wide and shining. She laughed in disbelief. “Who in the world decided to cover a face like that with a helmet?!”

“Forgoing a helmet in combat is foolish. If I were to lose an eye, my depth perception would be—”

Amy interrupted him with a bark of laughter. “Maybe you’re funnier than you think!” She eagerly kissed him, taking him off guard. He recovered and returned it, taken aback but undeniably happy.

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