Chapter 1: It's Your Decision

Maria the Hedgehog cried as she watched Shadow the Hedgehog throw himself across the throne room and crashing into the wall.

"STOP IT!!!"

Scourge turned with a smirk. "Say yes to my offer and I will give the orders." He turned back toward the black hedgehog, "Again Mephiles."

Tears formed in the ultimate life form's eyes as his uncontrollably grabbed the back of his head and smacked it against the wall.

Mephiles had possessed Shadow under Scourge's orders, and they both were enjoying every second.

"Do you want the pain to stop Shadow?" Mephiles's voice echoed in his head, "Too bad."

Maria went to jump at the possessed Shadow, but as soon as she took a step Miles the fox and Patch Décolleté seized her arm.

"No you don't." said Miles, "It's your decision, become his queen and Shadow lives, or Shadow dies and you become prisoner."

"I…"

"Maria…." choked Shadow who was laid out on the floor with a gash on his face, "Don't do it."

"But Shadow…."

"Shut up!" Mephiles voice Echoed as he ran Shadow's body over to a burning torch and making him stick his gloved hand in it.

"GAHHHH!!!!" a hoarse scream arose from Shadow's throat as his glove burned off of his hand.

"Okay I'll do It." cried Maria collapsing to the ground, "Just stops torturing Shadow."

"Enough Mephiles." Scourge smirked as he pulled Maria up to her feet, "Lock him up, we'll kill him later."

"What?!?" Maria's eyes shoe open, "You said that you'd let him go."

"Look babe, haven't you ever heard, never trust the word of an evil hedgehog?" Scourge turned, "Also you said with your word that you agree to be my queen, so you need to start acting like it, and if you start becoming redundant on me, I'll torture him even more in front of you and let you watch every pain staking minute of it."

Instantly a black cloud surrounded Shadow as the Crystalline Hedgehog Mephiles stepped from it. He chucked as he picked up Shadow, "You are so gullible, even as Scourge's right hand guy, I can see weakness, and both you and this guy have it, except King Scourge can use your full potential."

The two hedgehogs, Miles, and Antoine walked out of the throne room leaving Maria collapsed and crying on the floor.

"Scourge you are just as Manipulative as me." Dr. F. laughed uncontrollably at this.

"Well a student learns well from a teacher, even thought the student is King over the teacher too. I have to thank you though; I wouldn't have been able to take over either of these puny planets with out your help."

"Bah it was nothing, and besides, with my patrol force helping, I can round up anyone who dares to defy such a great King, and his new beautiful queen."

They walked thought the cave until they got to a door.

Scourge walked up behind Rotor who sat staring at the surveillance cameras that were scatter all over The New Kingdom, "UnMobuis"

"So have you moved Fiona up to death row yet?" asked Scourge looking over the Walrus's shoulder.

"No, not yet, you still have got quite a crowd for execution." replied Rotor

"Any sign of my blue counter part?"

"No, not yet. He seems to be in hiding, along with that scrawny creep Kintobor."

"Those two have caused me too much trouble." said Scourge, "Even with my traps they are immune."

"Well, be thankful that you have Shadow sir."

"Be Thankful." Scourge spun the chair that Rotor was in and made the walrus face him, "I won't be thankful nor even rest till that blue pest is six feet under and Kintobor is dismembered you hear me!"

"Uh- yes sire." a sweat drop formed on Rotor's head as Scourge pushed his seat back around.

"Good, now get back to work. Let me know when you see anything, I am already getting people to send troops to seize the Eggman Empire, that Old Oaf won't see what's coming."

"This is Scarlet Garcia with UN Mobuis's Evening new. Our Highness King Scourge, has issued out a reward for any clues to the where abouts of the vile…Uh…"

"Hey K. Come look at this." Sonic sat Cross-legged with a chilidog in one hand and a jar of jalapeños in the other, "She can't even say it. Boy Scourge really has out done himself this time."

The old man walked into the room, "Yeah, tell me about it. Tail's said He'd Come back with the reports from Princess Alicia."

"Yeah, ever Since Scourge kicked her off of the throne, she's been a good spy for us." Sonic bit into the dog, "I am still wondering though were Shadow has gotten off too."

"SONIC!!!" a bright flash filled the room as Tails stepped out of a warp ring, "Bad news times two."

"Really, break it to me."

"One Shadow has been captured by Scourge and is being tortured brutally, and Two, Maria is now the new queen."

"Did you say Maria?" Amy Rose came from around the corner, "Wasn't she with Shadow?"

"Yes, but they were both captured and you know how Scourge is." said Tails.

"Yeah, don't we all." Sonic rolled his eyes as he took another bite, "Thank goodness, for that machine you invented Tails, it's a real life saver since we can't go eat out any more."

"Hey Sonic do you know what today is?" asked Amy sitting by the blue hedgehog and placing her hands on his.

"Uh I don't know." picked Sonic lowering his eyes.

"Oh silly," laughed Amy, "We've been dating a year today."

"Wow, that long?" Sonic leaned in, "The best year of all."

Tails then pushed his hands between the two, "How can you say something like that this was the worse year ever."

"Tails, you don't know anything about Romance or love or nothing." said Sonic, "It's been a bad year that you have right, but when you like or even love someone, nothing seems too bad, because you have someone who cares for you, even when you can act like a complete jerk."

"Whatever, I don't need to know or like any thing about loving some one so…"

"Hey guys."

Tail's eyes widened, "M...M…Mina?"

Sonic chuckled, "As you were saying?"

"Oh Shut it."

"How are you guys doing?" asked Mina, "I just got back from doing another concert for King Scourge's Hench Men and Women, It was tiring."

"I bet." said Tails, "How about you sit down and I'll go get you some tea or something."

"Thanks Tails." Mina winked at the kitsune who blushed furiously.

"No problem." The fox then disappeared into the kitchen.

"When are you gonna break it to him Mina?" asked Sonic, "The boy is head over heels for you."

"I don't know. There is still something holding me back."

"Like what?"

"I just don't know. I mean yeah I do like him and all, but I don't know if we are both ready for a relationship."

"Look, Mina, He's sixteen, to me that's old enough." said Sonic, "I felt the same way about Amy, and you see how we turned out."

"But you are older." said Mina.

"Age doesn't matter in this game." said Amy, "Sonic's older than me, and I don't let it bother me."

"Well I…."

"Here you go Mina." Tails handed the mongoose a glass of iced sweet tea.

"Thanks." She took a swallow.

"Well, when ever you want to that is your decision, unless that someone breaks the silence barrier first." Sonic Eyes looked toward Tails and then returned back facing Mina.

"What are you guy talking about?" asked the fox who stood there nervously rubbing one of his tails.

"Uh…."

"Go ahead," said Amy, "Nothings stopping you."

"Uh, Tails…" started Mina, "I Kinda….sorta…ya know….um…."

"You kinda, sorta, what?" asked Tails.

"Miles Tails Prower, I love you."

Tail's eyes widened, "Y...Ya… Ya do?"

"With all my heart."

"I don't know what to say…." said Tails.

"Tell her how you feel." said Sonic.

"Hey I don't need a mentor."

"Just trying to help."

"Mina, I love you too, I just have been too chicken to actually break it to you." Tail's head lowered.

"Its okay, I was scared too, you can ask Sonic." said Mina lifting Tail's head up, "Everything will be fine."

Mina hugged Tails.

"Maybe one day we will look back and see that this and laugh, because we were so nervous." said Tail.

"Yeah. One day."