Thorns and Roses 7
by ~Animegirl300
"Hell. No."
Two words. That was it. Shadow was NOT about to do this.
He loved and respected his parents, and he usually honored their decisions for him even if he did so grudgingly.
But this time he refused.
"Shadow. We are not going to argue about this: you HAVE to do this weather you like it or not. And I may not be able to control what you do at your own home, but I will NOT tolerate that type of language in my house."
Shadows mother sighed as her son sat there glaring at her silently.
She had expected him to act like this.
"Look. We really try not to butt into your life as much as possible: but this is a decision that we have got to make for you."
"Why the hell would you HAVE to decide who the heck I marry! And why now!"
"Language Shadow. And you know very well why. If you had it your way you would be a bachelor for life, and as distasteful as it may be for you; you are our only child and as such it's up to you to carry on our name. Plus there's the small fact that I want grand kids."
"No. I refuse. I am NOT getting married."
"Yes you are. You have to. We made this decision back when you were still a child! We cant possibly back out of it now."
Shadow turned his head away from his mother, placing his forehead in his hand and glared outside the window.
He was not going to do.
He didn't care how much legal authority his parents had over him, and he didn't care how long ago this arrangement was made. He was NOT going to do it.
He would go to this girl's house right now and cancel the marriage if he had to.
And the girl herself.
He didn't know her yet, and he didn't care to know her.
He did NOT have the time or patience to worry about some woman he barley knew clinging on to him. In his minds eye he imagined an ugly lady face smeared in make up laughing stupidly, touching his stuff and bothering everything in his life from his home to his personal life.
Who ever this girl was she could just go and stuff it for all he cared.
"Do I even know the girl?"
"Yes, you've met her before and I'm sure you'll remember her when we visit."
"Wait? Visit?"
"Yes, we are to go and meet your fiancé in a couple of days when Lawrence arrive with the rest of your stuff."
This was happening too fast.
First his parents tell him he his betrothed to some mystery woman, and then the next minute they were telling him he would be meeting her in a few day's time.
"Can you tell me who they are?"
His mother laughed and smirked.
"Ha! So you can run off to meet with her and cancel your engagement ? I think not. Everyone has been told explicitly not to inform you on who this person is.
He snarled clenching his fist, anger coursing through his veins.
His mother looked at him with a mixture of pity and sadness.
"I'm sorry Shadow, but you're going to get married. So please just suck it up and we can get it over with."
Oh he would meet her all right… he would meet her and tell her right to her face that he had no intention of getting married and she could rot in hell.
"And you are under no circumstances say anything to this girl that might upset her in any way. She is in the very same boat that you're in. And who knows; maybe she'll be the type to leave you alone to your own devices during your marriage. That's becoming very common these days."
He snorted and glared out the window again.
This was just great.
He stood up and stomped out the room angrily.
He was heading to the library.
He WOULD find a loop hole out of this engagement if it was the last thing he did.
~~~~~~
Amy giggled as she sat talking to her new friend.
A couple of days ago her parents had hired this young man, Max Lockheed, as their gardener, and they'd hit it off from the moment they met.
He was currently kneeling along the garden path, taking care of the pretty purple morning glories. Standing up he stretched out, taking the straw hat off his head and rubbing his face with the back of his hand.
"It's a hot day today, isn't it?"
Amy laughed.
"Not for you maybe, but I'm fine."
Max glanced over to where Amy was sitting in the shade. At that moment a breeze came through blowing her long pink hair majestically.
"So, what's your favorite type of flower?"
Amy cocked her head as she pondered.
She liked way too many…
"I really don't know petunias are always pretty, but I like wall flowers too."
Amy could never say how pleased she was to finally have someone to hangout with.
Max was only 3 years older than her, so it was easy to have a conversation of an equal level, and after her months of isolation it was good to have a friend.
"Heh, I would'a thought you would say roses or something."
"Oh my gosh! Everyone says that to me. I get that my last name is rose, but I don't know, you would think they could find a new pun for it."
Max grinned at her, about to respond when Amy heard her mother calling.
"Whelp, I'll see you later Max. Thanks for keeping me company"
He smiled.
"No problem; I enjoyed it!"
--------
In the study of the Rose's Castle, Amy's father sat behind his desk, his reading glasses on his face, flipping through and signing papers, as his wife stood in front of the window watching the pleasant weather.
"So, when are we expecting them?" He called, not looking up from his work.
"If the weather stays as nice as this, then on Friday; that'll give Amy a couple of days to calm down after you tell her."
"Wait! Why do I have to tell her?"
"Because, you're her father of course; plus Amy will be more willing to listen to you: she's a daddy's girl through and through."
"Humph! You just don't want her coming after you with that hammer of hers. Please tell me again why your mother decided to give her that thing?"
Amy's mother shrugged.
"I don't know. Something about a young lady needing to protect herself or something, and I actually agree with her."
"Only because she hasn't hit you yet."
He rubbed his head as he remembered the day he had the misfortune to cross his daughter. He would never forget the feeling of having that 300lb mallet crashing down on his skull.
It was a wonder how he lived through it, and how that girl could even carry the thing.
He glanced over to his wife.
Then again… his wife DID hit pretty hard herself… and her mother before her was a lot worse.
He sighed and felt his sweat drop.
Why did he always end up surrounded by very strong women?
"Why didn't you just give her those tarot cards of yours? See; there's something completely unviolent!"
His wife smirked.
"Who said they were always unviolent…?"
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"Well~ you do know what tarot cards do right? They tell the reader the past the present and the future. But it's also common knowledge that tarot card readers are able to change the future as well."
"Umm… do I want to know where this is going?"
She continued to smirk at him evilly, and he decided he needed to watch his back a bit more.
'Oh Amy; WHY do you have to go and get married and leave me here with her?!'
~~~~~
Shadow glared angrily outside the window of the carriage he shared with his parents.
Who ever this person was, why the heck did their family have to live so friggin' far away? If he was already getting forced into a marriage, why did the world insist on making it as tedious as possible?
The group had left five days before on the way to wherever they were going.
And to his dismay; his parents had been completely thorough in keeping their destination a secret.
He wasn't even sure when they would arrive, or how long they were staying.
Lawrence had packed everything for him, so he couldn't figure it out in how much was packed.
He glanced around the carriage.
To his right his mother sat on one end of the chessboard that lay on the table between his parents, and across from him to the left sat his father, who was reading the news as he moved his pieces.
Shadow huffed.
He was bored.
He wished he'd brought more books to read for the trip.
He glanced over to the pile of books that lay across from him under the seats.
His parents wouldn't even let him ride outside for fear of him running away; not that he could complain seeing as that was the plan when he asked.
He thought about this mystery girl and his glare became more pronounced.
He still wasn't sure what type of girl she was; but he really didn't care.
As soon as they were married he would leave her to her own devices.
She could live wherever the hell she wanted, sleep with whoever the hell she wanted, and she would leave him alone or else.
That might have been cruel, but he really couldn't bring himself to care, not even a little.
At least he wasn't going to lock her up in a dungeon somewhere and starve her to death; it's been known to happen around the country: especially since women in general did not have the same rights that men had.
He wasn't exactly sure if he agreed with it though.
On one hand, it was nice to be dominant.
On the other, his sweat dropped, there were women like his mother who he knew he would never consider himself above.
He glanced over to the chess game.
"King me" His mother was saying.
His father had put the paper down and was now staring at the board, completely interested in it.
He moved his hand over to a piece to his right and his mother smirked, causing him to hesitate and move his hand to a different piece to the center.
His mother smirked more and so he moved to a different piece, making his move when his mother didn't respond. But it was the wrong move.
"Mwahaha!" Immediately she captured all of his pieces and the game was over. "I Win~, pay up!"
Shadow's father gritted his teeth as he took out his wallet.
"You tricked me"
"Hee, hee; all's fair in love and war sweetie~"
"Peh! I demand a rematch."
"Ohh~ Anxious for another beating I see"
Shadow felt his sweat drop as they set up the chess board again.
Yes.
Women like his mother scared the crap out of him sometimes…
~~~~~~
Amy stood stalk still, her arms down in front of her, her hands pointing to each other, and she took a deep breath her eyes closed.
With the grace a ballerina she stepped forward bringing her left arm up and in front of her, and her right up behind her in a wide sweeping motion, and leaned forward bringing her right leg up as she balanced on her toes.
She was dancing.
Keeping her face straight she brought her feet together and turned on her toes putting her arms to her sides pointing her hands outwards and behind her, and she made small tip-toed steps to her left, pivoting on her right foot again, bringing her arms up again like wings.
She leaped gracefully, turning and swaying to the music that played in her mind.
She wasn't sure what tune she was recalling, but it spoke to her subconsciously; as if it were something important: like a piece of a puzzle.
She stopped as the song in her head ended and gave a start as she opened her eyes and in the huge mirror that covered the walls she saw her father as he appeared through the doorway clapping.
"Bravo Amy! And what dance is that one called?" He smirked mischievously "Clumsy swan or graceful hippo?"
Amy crossed her arms angrily.
"Nah; I was thinking of calling it 'lifeless father'."
Her father grinned at her and ruffled her hair playfully.
"You know I was joking Amy~ you definitely dance better than your mother at least."
They laughed.
"Don't let her catch you saying that! You remember last time you insulted her."
"Ugh! Don't remind me; my back has never been the same ever since. She did make up for it the next night but still"
"Eww! Dad! I don't need to know what you and mother do at night!"
He chuckled, giving her a one armed hug as they walked out into the hall.
"At least we don't have to pretend it was the stork any more."
"Oh yea; for the first 15 years of my life you tell me a huge bird dropped me on your doorstep, then for the next 2 you put all your business out there."
"Hee, hee, that's the way it goes. And if memory serves, it'll be 3 years soon."
"Yea; can you believe it? I'm almost 18!"
"Hmm. I know what you mean. It feels like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms meeting my little baby girl. You were so tiny when you were first born. And NOW you're almost all grown up!… I miss those days when you used to cling on to me all time. "Daddy come play with me!" "Daddy, see what I did?""
"Aww~ I feel so loved now. Heh, heh."
Smiling she gave him a warm hug, and he ruffled her hair again feeling bitter-sweet.
He supposed he should tell her about the whole engagement thing. But. He simply couldn't do it.
He looked down at his daughter's face, as a wave of protectiveness and sadness washed over him.
Maybe he could postpone it for now; until he was better prepared.
Although, and he knew, nothing can prepare a parent to let go of their child.
~~~~~
The day came sooner than expected for Amy's father.
Only three days later Amy walked along the path of the garden towards the voice of her mother's calling.
She had just been in the back talking with Max.
He was really starting to grow on her.
"I'm coming Mom!"
She said as she turned the corner, and she raised an eye brow as she saw both her parents standing in the front, along with several of the staff.
Something was happening.
"Hey mom, what's going on?"
Her mother looked around at her and gave a sigh of relief.
"Ah, there you are Amy."
She walked swiftly over, flicking at parts of Amy's hair.
"Our guests will be here any moment now."
"Guests? What guests?"
Her mother stepped back and looked at her.
"You mean you don't know?"
"I don't know what?"
"Ah there you are Amy~ looking lovely. Are they here yet?"
"No they aren't; and wait just a second; I thought I told you to tell Amy days ago!"
"Tell me what?"
Amy's parents looked at each other.
"Dad? Who are these guests?"
Just then from around the corner came the sound of horse and carriage as the long awaited guests arrived.
But Amy was still preoccupied trying to figure out what was going on to notice, even as the family had stepped out.
"Ah there they are!" Her father said. "Amy, come and meet,"
Amy finally turned, and she felt her heart sputter and stop.
Because there standing in front of her house was a person she least expected to see;
It was a very familiar face.
The face, of Shadow the hedgehog.
"Shadow?"
"Shadow; your fiancé."
~~~~~
Shadow couldn't take it anymore and he sat, pinching his eyebrows, in the carriage.
Today would mark a week of being cramped up in the darned thing every day.
"Are we there yet?!"
"Actually honey, we ARE almost there." His mother replied happily.
"Wait what?"
He leaned over to the window looking at his surroundings.
Well; for one thing he knew they were in the country.
He could see the white mansions sitting gracefully centered in the middle of huge fields separated each by over grown forest, the odd gigantic tree breaking the space between the woods and the houses.
He wasn't sure how he felt at the moment.
He was relived to finally be getting out of this stupid contraption, but he was definitely not looking forward to meet his betrothed.
Exasperated he sighed.
"Do I really have to do this?" He asked for maybe the 13th time in the last 24 hours.
"Yes Shadow."
Shadow's father smirked as he set down the newspaper and packed it in the small duffle bag by his foot.
"It won't be you know; maybe you might even learn to like her"
"Humph! I doubt it!"
Behind his back his parents were smirking; they knew he would learn to like her.
If he didn't already.
The main reason they were planning this union with this girl in particular was because, if there was anyone on this planet who could make their son happy, it was this girl.
His mother stretched and looked out her window.
"I can see their house already. Shadow, get ready to get out."
Shadow sighed and leaned forward in his seat, his arms on his knees as thoughts buzzed around his head angrily.
He took a breath and calmed himself, ready to put his guard up now that he was meeting these new unknown people.
He closed his eyes as the carriage stopped.
He took another breath as his parents exited, and
Finally he sucked it up and he climbed out of the car, his eyes still shut.
And when he opened them, he was in for the surprise of his life.
Even as she had her back turned to him, he could recognize that pink figure anywhere.
Right in front of him, was the girl he had never expected to see again; Amy rose.
First he was shocked just at the fact of seeing her, but then it dawned on him;
THIS was the girl he was betrothed to!
He frowned, suddenly suspicious; was this her doing? Did she know?
His ears registered what her father was saying;
"Ah there they are!" Her father said. "Amy, come and meet,"
His lungs froze as she turned her head around to look at him, and his mind calculated as he registered the look of astonishment as their eyes met.
He heard her say his name quietly and questioningly.
"Shadow?"
"Shadow; your fiancé."
There was silence.
Shadow could see behind the pink female's eyes as the gears in her mind tried to work it out, as it tried to link what was going on with what her father was saying; then he saw her eyes change as it finally dawned on her.
Her mouth went into a straight line, and her eyes steeled over.
"Say… what?"
Shadow quirked a brow;
Maybe she hadn't known.
Her mother answered for her father;
He said "Meet your fiancé."
Amy's face didn't change as she closed her eyes.
'Danger' suddenly flashed before Shadow's brain as her fist clenched.
"That's what I thought he said."
Suddenly Amy's face brightened like the sun and she turned to her father. Her voice sounded sugary sweet as she talked, but under the sound of cheerfulness Shadow could sense an explosion.
"Daddy~? May I pretty please talk to you really, really quickly~?"
Apparently Amy's parents could sense the danger too, because he suddenly looked nervous.
"Oh, uh, can't it wait pumpkin?"
"Now."
Shadow quirked a brow: she still had that same innocent happy voice, but there was a hidden steal to it; this was an order.
"Umm, heh, all right sweetie."
Slowly her father started to walk backwards almost running as Amy followed closely, still smiling cheerfully.
Her father was playing with his collar uncomfortably as he stopped at the edge of the grass. And there was a pause.
And then came the eruption;
"!!!!!!!!YOU ARE DEAD MEAT!!!!!!!!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Amy lunged at her father as a humongous mallet popped out of no where into her hand, and suddenly Amy was chasing her father around the yard, swinging her hammer around dangerously as she aimed for him.
"HEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPP!!!!!!!"
Then Amy's mother and Shadow's parents were laughing at the scene as Amy attempted to annihilate her father.
And even Shadow found himself smirking out of amusement and even satisfaction.
Maybe this marriage wasn't going to be as bad as he thought…
