"But your highness, you must marry to become king!"
A young male hedgehog, sighed as he paced back and forth in his medieval abode. He wore an armor suit of pure gold, but with his helmet eye-piece positioned away from his face, revealing his muzzle, nose and emerald-hued eyes.
He also wore a long red cloak which draped behind him as he turned to the person who spoke to him and frowned in his direction.
"For the last time, my Lord... I will not do this. I cannot force a female to marry me... it is immoral."
The young hedgehog, named Sonic, noticed the noble, named Ganix, lower his head in defeat as he heard his answer. Sonic sighed as he walked over to the window of his bedroom.
"I am sorry, my Lord... I do want to become king but only once I am married with someone I truly love. Forgive me, but I would like to be alone to think about this."
Ganix sighed, almost inaudibly, as he bowed before Sonic's presence.
"As you wish, your highness."
As Ganix left and closed the door behind him, Sonic sighed as he leaned against his window sill and looked out upon the kingdom from his balcony. He noticed a young couple happily walking through the village and lowered his ears, feeling slightly envious.
"What am I going to do? I wish I could just live a normal life like them... or to be able to at least marry a woman I love. Perhaps even have children too..."
<i>"Y-Your highness? May I come in?"</i>
The blue-furred hedgehog felt his ear twitch from beneath his armor suit and looked back to the door. He smiled as he recognised the voice and leaned against the window sill, in a casual yet regal manner.
"Please, do come in, Miss Sterling."
Sonic watched as the door slowly opened and a young female hedgehog, shyly, peeked her head around it. The female had dark purple fur, long flowing bangs and bright sapphire-hued eyes. She wore a long burgundy-coloured dress with a white veil and burgundy-coloured shoes.
The young female pushed the door open fully and closed it behind her before curtseying and crossing her hands shyly in front of her.
"M-my apologies, your highness. I heard some shouting coming from here just now and I wanted to make sure that you were ok..."
Sonic chuckled and walked over to the young female, gently taking her hand into his own metallically-gloved one. He then placed a gentle kiss upon it and bowed his head slightly.
"I am truly honoured that you came to check on me, Miss Sterling..."
The young female, named Kirana, smiled and blushed as she used her free hand to cover her now pink-hued muzzle.
"P-please, you do not need to bow before me, your highness... only you deserve to be bowed to."
Sonic chuckled once again as he continued to hold Kirana's hand and lead her over to his bed, allowing her to sit upon it before following her lead.
"Miss Sterling, you have been in my services for many years... you deserve as much respect as I receive from others."
As Sonic smiled at the young female, she felt her blush become more noticeable and turned her head away slightly, trying to avert her gaze from his emerald-hued eyes.
"T-thank you, your highness... I am very gracious of your comment."
Sonic smiled in a charming way, which made Kirana blush even more. The young prince noticed the blush on her muzzle and chuckled softly.
"Aw, you're welcome, Miss Sterling. But there's no need to be shy..."
"I... I am not shy, your highness. I am... merely at awe of your appearance."
After realising what she had just said, Kira let out a small gasp and covered her mouth with her hand. Sonic chuckled from her response and gently wrapped his arm around her, bringing her into a gentle embrace.
"You are very charming when you are embarrassed, Miss Sterling..."
Kira, who felt comfortable in Sonic's grasp, gently yet non-intentionally leaned her head against his armored chest, attempting to hide her blushing muzzle. Sonic blushed from this sudden action and opened his eyes widely but soon smiled softly as he held her close.
"I had no idea that you were so fond of me, Miss Sterling~"
After snapping out of her rash action, Kira gasped once again and immediately pulled out of the hug, bowing her head slightly.
"P-please forgive my hasty action, your highness! I do not deserve to do such an action with you!"
Sonic smirked a bit as he pulled her back into another embrace.
"What are you talking about, Miss Sterling? We have been friends for many years... you can embrace me whenever you wish to."
Kira smiled a bit as she felt the cold, yet somewhat soft, metal of Sonic's armor against her skin, feeling safe within his grasp.
"T-thank you, your highness..."
Sonic blushed a bit as he held Kira close and looked towards the window.
"You are the only person who truly understands me, Miss Sterling. You see, I have to marry a woman before the end of this week but I do not like the idea of forcing a woman to wed me, especially when I do not know or have feelings for her."
Kira lowered her ears as she looked up at Sonic and made a sympathetic expression.
"I am sorry that you have to go through this, your highness. Is there a way to get out of it?"
Sonic sighed as he looked down at Kira, his eyes meeting hers.
"I wish there was, Miss Sterling... but it is a rule set by my father. What's worse is that many of the females are already arranged to be engaged to others."
Kira felt Sonic release her from his grip and she looked down at the ground, a sympathetic expression still present upon her face.
"E-even the maids, your highness? Perhaps they are available..."
Sonic chuckled a bit as he stood up from the bed and leaned against the window sill once again.
"I would but some of them are... how you say... big 'fans' of mine and they often give me too much attention. I also do not think that it would be wise for me to marry them just because of their admiration of me. I would rather go with my heart, not my head..."
Kira smiled as she stood up from Sonic's bed and walked over to him, gently taking his hands into hers. Sonic blushed a bit from this action but watched as she bowed her head and smiled up at him.
"I think that is the right choice to take, your highness. You are not like the previous rulers. You are kind and compassionate to others and you do not allow rules to overcome you. And... you gave me a home when I needed it most."
Sonic smiled softly and watched as Kira released her grip on his hands.
"You are too kind, Miss Sterling... and I wasn't going to leave you in that situation, you needed a place to be."
Kira smiled up at Sonic but soon blushed and moved her face away as she realised how close their faces were.
"I-I must apologise, your highness! I shouldn't have moved so close to you!"
Sonic chuckled as he used his hand in order to lift Kira's chin. He looked into her eyes and smiled softly as he noticed her blushing muzzle.
"You don't need to apologise, Miss Sterling... besides, the closer we are, the easily I can see how beautiful you are~"
Kira felt her muzzle become warmer and soon gasped as she noticed Sonic's face slowly moving closer to hers. She closed her eyes, awaiting a kiss and felt her heart skip a beat as she felt Sonic's warm breath against her muzzle.
Sonic nervously approached Kira's lips until--
"Your highness!"
--they were interrupted.
Sonic sighed angrily as he moved his face away from Kira's and drew his attention towards the door. There, stood at his doorway, was Ganix, looking somewhat nervous.
"What is it, My Lord?"
Kira sighed softly and lowered her ears as she looked over to Ganix also.
"Forgive the intrusion, your highness... but your mother and father request your attention!"
Sonic sighed once again and mumbled to himself before turning back to Ganix.
<i>"Of course they would right NOW, of all times...</i> Ok, my lord... please tell them that I'll be with them soon."
"Very good, your highness."
Ganix nods and bows before closing the door.
Once he had left, Sonic turned to Kira and stood up, walking away from the bed and towards the door.
"I apologise, Miss Sterling... my parents can be pretty persistant."
Kira, who was noticeably upset about the interruption, simply nodded and lowered her head, staring at her feet. Sonic noticed this and lowered his ears as he walked over to her. He then gently placed his fingers under Kira's chin and lifts it slightly. He then begins to whisper.
<i>"Don't worry, Miss Sterling... we will meet later. By the lake at sunset to be more precise, there is... something I wish to give you~"</i>
Sonic then winked and Kira soon blushed and wagged her tail, smiling shyly. She then nodded her head as she understood his message and felt much happier.
"Y-yes, your highness. I will be there..."
<i>*A few hours later...</i>
Kirana smiled as she sighed softly and leaned forward so that her chest was resting against a nearby wall. She then held her chin in her hand before proceeding to lean her elbow against the wall.
<i>"I never realised how beautiful it was here at night..."</i>
There, in front of the young female, was a large forested area, full of tall chestnut trees and a sapphire-hued river flowing through the middle. All of this was surrounded by a vibrant star-filled sky, which created a glowing effect to form around the water.
Kirana continued to daydream from the beautiful sight ahead of her and let out another content sigh, too distracted to hear the footsteps of a figure approach her from behind.
<i>"Enjoying the view, Miss Sterling~?"</i>
The purple-furred hedgehog let out a small yelp as she jumped from the sudden and unexpected voice. She turned around and felt a small blush appear on her muzzle as she saw a blue-furred male stood behind her with his arms crossed and a cheeky, yet charming smirk plastered across his face.
Kirana waved her hands around in an embarrassed manner before bowing her head.
"F-forgive me, your highness... I am easily spooked!"
Sonic let out a small chuckle and uncrossed his arms before walking over to the young female. He gently took her hand into his own and placed a small kiss upon it, bowing his head slightly.
"I apologise, Miss Sterling. I now realise that you were simply in awe of the view to notice my presence."
Kirana used her free hand to cover her blushing muzzle and smiled down at the blue-furred male, feeling somewhat shy from his charming demeanour.
"Once again, you do not need to apologise to me, your highness..."
Sonic smiled softly as he gently pulled on Kirana's hand, signalling for her to walk beside him. The young female nodded in response as she began to walk beside the young prince.
As the two hedgehogs walked along a path, which lead to the forest, Sonic exchanged a glance with Kirana before nervously looking down at his feet as their eyes met, a light blush now present on his muzzle. Kirana noticed this and smiled softly as the young prince began to speak.
"M-Miss Sterling, you are so kind and honest. You've been like this ever since we first met... do you remember that day?"
The young female smiled and nodded as the two halted their walk. She turned to face Sonic and looked up at him, looking deeply into his emerald-hued eyes.
"How can I forget? You saved my life that day... If it wasn't for you, your highness, I would have gotten iller by the day and probably would not have made it through the night. I am forever in your debt."
The young prince watched as Kirana curtseyed and nervously rubbed a finger against his nose, feeling his muzzle turn to a darker shade of pink.
"Aw... it was no problem, Miss Sterling."
Kira noticed this action and giggled softly, subtly tightening her grip on the blue-furred male's metallically-gloved hand.
The young prince noticed this and gently tightened his grip also, though this time allowing his other hand to take Kirana's free hand. The young female blushed from this but soon looked deeply into Sonic's eyes as he exchanged a glance and gasped as the young prince slowly walked towards her, causing her to feel a slight bump as her back hit a tree trunk.
Kirana looked up at the young male and let out a small purring sound as he gently ran a hand down her cheek before cupping her chin within it.
<i>"Miss Sterling?"</i>
The young female began to sweat slightly as she noticed that the young prince was moving his face closer to her own. She half-closed her eyes and felt her heart beating much faster than before. This was no doubt due to the feeling of Sonic's warm breath on her muzzle.
Kirana gulped and spoke with a strained voice, unsure of what the prince was going to do next.
<i>"Y-Yes, your highness?"</i>
The blue-furred male grinned as he gently rubbed his finger against Kirana's chin, a small blush appearing on his muzzle as he spoke in a gentle tone.
<i>"You are sparkling this evening... more so than the stars above us."</i>
The young female continued to purr and smiled, shyly, as her gaze met with the young prince's, causing her sapphire eyes to meet with the male's emerald ones.
"T-thank you, your highness... y-you are so very gracious."
The young prince smiled nervously as he turned his head away, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"F-forgive me if that did not sound charming... I am not as good as I used to be, when I was a teenager."
The young female giggled softly as she crossed her hands and shyly looked down at her feet.
"I thought your comment was very charming, your highness..."
Sonic smiled as he gently lifted Kirana's chin with his finger.
"Miss Sterling... you always know how to make me happy and you have always been so kind to me. I-I have always loved those qualities in you."
"P-Please, your highness... it is the least I can do. For you have always been so kind to me and... you have also always made me happy."
The young male wagged his tail, happily and reached one of his hands behind his back. He took out a small item from the back of his armor suit and held it behind him.
The young prince then cleared his throat and began to sweat, nervously.
"M-Miss Sterling, I-I have something I wish to ask you. But you may decline this request if you wish..."
The young female noticed Sonic's nervous behaviour and worriedly looked up at him, fearing what he was going to ask.
"Y-Yes, your highness?"
Sonic gulped as he took Kirana's hand into his own and began to stutter as he spoke.
"Y-you see, it is like this... e-ever since you arrived here at the palace, I have always felt that you belonged here... with me. You are a gentle, kind and beautiful woman and you have always been there for me when I needed you. Your mere presence always brings me such joy."
Kirana smiled softly and placed a hand to her face, attempting to cover her blush. Sonic noticed this and blushed also, clearing his throat once again as he tries to stay confident.
"A-anyway, w-what I'm trying to say is um... I-I... have feelings... for you. V-very strong ones... in fact I... I love you. F-forgive me, I was so foolish for not telling you sooner."
The blue-furred male gulped as he looked down at Kirana, nervously awaiting her answer. He noticed her blush become a darker shade of red and her eyes become softer as she proceeded to look up at him.
"Y-your highness, I... I had no idea that you felt this way about me. The truth is I... I have always had these feelings for you too."
The young prince blinked and tilted his head to the side, feeling somewhat shocked by her answer.
"Y-you have?"
Kirana shyly nodded her head and looked up at Sonic, wagging her tail, happily. Sonic noticed this and let out a small chuckle before gently pulling her into an embrace. Kirana lets out a small gasp but smiled as she rested her head against the young male's armored chest.
The blue-furred prince let out a small sigh as he leaned his head against the young female's and closed his eyes, smiling contently.
"You have no idea how happy that makes me, Miss Sterling..."
The young female let out a small purring sound as she emerged her head from Sonic's chest and looked up at him, staring into his emerald-hued eyes.
"I... I love you... Sonic."
Sonic wagged his tail as he held the young female close, feeling happy that she had finally called him by his real name and let out a small contented sigh as he whispered into her ear.
<i>"I love you too... Kira."</i>
After a few seconds pass by, the two hedgehogs released from each other's grasp and Sonic soon begins to sweat, nervously, as he reached behind him and took out a small box from a pocket within his cape.
"T-There is something I wanted to ask you before we head back to the castle..."
"Oh?"
The young prince gulped and cleared his throat before kneeling down on the grass with one knee, holding the small box in his hand.
"K-Kira... will you..."
Kira gasped as she noticed the small box in Sonic's hand and covered her mouth.
Sonic blushed a pale shade of pink as he smiled up at her and slowly opened the box, revealing a silver ring with a small purple gem nestled within it's grooves.
"W-will you... accept my marriage proposal?"
Kirana beamed an excited smile as she admired the beautiful silver ring with a small purple amethyst within it. She then looked down at the young prince and nodded her head as her eyes began to fill with tears.
"Y-yes! I-I will!"
Sonic wagged his tail and beamed a large smile as he gently slid the ring onto Kirana's finger before leaning forward and kissing her hand.
"I'm so happy that you've accepted my proposal, you've made me the happiest king in all of Avalon~!"
"But you're the ONLY king of Avalon~"
Kirana giggled from Sonic's previous outburst and soon began to blush as the young prince placed a hand on her cheek before tenderly rubbing his nose against hers.
The young female giggled and smiled sweetly as Sonic gently took her hand and stroked it tenderly with his finger.
"I love you, Kirana... my beautiful queen~"
Kirana smiled sweetly as she linked her finger with his.
"I love you too, my handsome prince~"
The two hedgehogs purred lovingly as they leaned closer to one another and overlooked the star-filled sky.
