8 years ago...

"Amy? Where's Amy? Amy, where are you?"

Fire danced all around a French chateau and endangered the gardens of the Imperial Family and the properties that lie helpless on the grass. The Jade Guards surrounding the palace alerted the court that a raid was coming toward them in an alarming number.

The terrible mob broke in and all hell broke loose everywhere. Servants, cooks, priests, and many others related to the Royal Family escaped carrying terror in their hearts.

The mob, soldiers of a rivaling kingdom, took everything they could and spared no lives in their way.

A scarlet hedgehog frantically goes back to the wreckage and searched for her lost daughter. Tripping, she ran in anxiety and tried her hardest not to get herself caught up in the blinding smoke. Her husband called back to her, motioning her to stay with him.

"No, Aster! I have to go back for her! She might be hurt - or worse!"

"Are you out of your mind? If you go back in there, they will catch up with you and have your head on a spike! This family is already in danger as it is. Carnage, that's what you'll find! I'm sure that our little rose will be okay-Lily!"

The red hedgehog left her husband calling her name and searched through the floors, the rooms, and the outdoor facilities. She almost gave up hope when she heard a whimper in the daisy garden…

"Amy? Sweetheart?"

"Mama…"

Relief swept over the distressed mother as she saw a petite, crying pink hedgehog in the center of the patch, clutching a lone daisy against her bosom. The pink hedgehog ran to her maternal protector and wished with all her might that what was happening would stop.

"Mama…this flower…it doesn't have any friends to stand by anymore…why doesn't it have any company to be happy…"

Her mother understood what her daughter really meant when she said it.

"It's okay Amy. You know, with this flower, it has seeds. If it has seeds, then that means you can make more and spread it all over the world if you want to. And if everyone followed your example, then that flower wouldn't be so alone and it wouldn't die alone. I'm sure the seeds will carry an eternal generation of undying daisies."

Amy nodded and hugged her mother for comfort. It felt so good to be in her mother's warmth…

"Lily! Amy! There you are! The King is waiting for you. Hurry, because they are approaching this direction!" a voice cried out.

And soon enough, a whole battalion appeared in the gardens, and tore everything down that stood and grew.

"Captain, I hear something…over there! In the daisy patch!"

The mother motioned for her daughter to get a move on and they escaped just in time. They made sure not to run into dead bodies everywhere and not to get scorched by the fire. Queen Lily carried her little princess, seeing that Amy was about to faint from the flashing appearances of bodies, fire, and destruction.

Screams still ensued and pierced the night like a dagger digging deeper into the wound.

Soon, they met up with the king, a white hedgehog wearing a crown on his head, face to face with another king. He had two other daughters, older than Amy, standing frightened behind him. All three of their eyes glowed when they saw the missing family members running towards them.

"Mama! Mama! You're safe", the daughters said in unison.

"My love, you are safe. And so are you, my pretty rose. Thank god the baby didn't get hurt."

Lily glared at her king. "Now honey, you know that I'm more careful than you think I am." She then started to rub her abdomen, bulging with an 8 month hedgehog inside. "I'll be just fine."

The king, not wanting to lose the baby, turned back to the other king, eyes glaring with hostility.

The other monarch in front of him glared back with hostility. He was a black hedgehog, also wearing a crown but it was larger and more ornate. In his hand, he held a scepter almost as tall as him. Beside him was his wife, a lavender hedgehog, looking very angry and confused. Her hands were rested on a little male hedgehog, also black. The only thing different was that he had red streaks on his quills instead of white, like his father. Even though very young, the little prince also bore the expression of his father.

"Wonderful", the black king spoke. "What a pathetic excuse of a royal family. How can you protect an empire if you can't even prevent catastrophes like this?"

Growling, Aster thought about his words. He was right, but that doesn't give that hedgehog the right to invade his kingdom…and accuse him of being irresponsible…

"Well, at least we live in a peaceful and harmonious nature of our people. Never anything as… barbaric as the system of your country," the white king shot back.

The black king yawned. Then he made a threatening command:

"I'm not going to waste my time with you, so let's get to the point. You have what I need and I want it now this instant! If you don't give them to me, then this whole land is doomed."

"I know what you want and you are not going to get it. And if you think that raiding into my home, my kingdom, will get me scared into giving them up, then you've got another thing coming!"

The white king was heaving with every word, exhausted from the bellowing he had just done. His wife stepped forward, trembling a little.

"Lily…"

"No…we shall leave these premises. Aster, you will make it worse. You know we don't want to deal with these…people."

The other queen suddenly scolded back at the pregnant queen, obviously hearing what Lily just called them.

"I would stay in my position if I were you. Why, you're not even perfect enough to bear a suitable heir!"

"Back off, you cowards! At least I have the sense to have a backup plan!" Aster spat.

Fuming, he took the pink hedgehog by the hand and brought her forward. The opposite family laughed, thinking that this was a joke.

"A female heir! I don't think she will make it to a year, heck, make it four months and she's gone. You better hope that your newborn is a boy – it will save you and your family some trouble."

King Aster couldn't take it anymore. He wielded out his sword and pointed it near the black hedgehog's throat. The black king looked as though he was going to kill Aster.

"Get out of my country and never return again. If I see you or any member of your family set foot on my kingdom, then all of you shall die by beheading", Aster said coldly.

King Opaque, as he was called, remained in his calm and dangerous composure, turned his heels and stormed out the doors. He bellowed back at the family.

"And the same fate to you, King Aster! If I were you, I would think twice before keeping those jewels!"

His wife followed suit behind him. The little prince just stood there for a minute, then met his eyes with the pink princess, the heir he would go against and object to. They stared at each other for a minute, and then Amy looked away, blushing. She didn't know why, but she just knew that she will be his competition for the rest of their lives.

The prince's father called after him, with the little hedgehog obeying him. After that, they were gone. Never to be seen again for years to come.

King Aster heaved a long sigh, but grunted at the mess that was made everywhere.

Suddenly, a shout of pain…

"Mama, mama!" The three princesses ran to Queen Lily, who clutched her stomach in pain. She collapsed to the floor, moaning and twisting in uncomfortable positions.

"Lily! My sweet Lily…it can't be…!" King Aster's voice held all of the fright the rest of the family felt, hoping that she wouldn't lose the baby. Chances are it might finally be a suitable heir…

"Honey…it's the baby…oh no…" Lily panted.

Amy didn't know what was going on. She thought that if the baby dies, it's all her fault. Then she would have to face being the heir to a kingdom that is not prepared for a female monarch.

"Mama! Papa!" she cried, despite all of the flames that surrounded her, rendering her inaudible. "Don't let him die. Please, please don't! Don't let the baby die because of me…please God, don't let him and Mama die…"