I'm still alive!
I can hardly believe that it's taken me this long to finish this chapter, let alone post it!
I won't give you any details but real life has really taken me for a run, and I have no idea how long it'll take me to update next.
However, no need to worry. I want to get this story finished and I won't vanish from fanfiction completely.
At least not by choice.

Still, enough of my excuses, thank you very much for waiting, and I hope this chapter is worth it.

Chapter 7: Cave of Peril

"You think that kid was talking about the area up ahead?" Amy asked as they clambered carefully down the cliff face.

"Yes, indeed." Caliburn replied, his small eyes scanning the skies and surrounding countryside from his position of relative safety sheathed at Sonic's hip. "And it appears the dragon is away right now."

"Great! That'll make getting the villagers that much easier." Sonic piped up happily. A further few frantic minutes of clambering had the two hedgehogs and the sacred talking sword standing before a great cave mouth burrowing deep into the mountain.

"Our only way lies through the cave…" Sonic chuckled at the foreboding in Caliburn's voice.

"What, are you scared or something?" The sword answered only with a scowl and the adventuring pair walked through the rent in the mountainside and into the bowls of the stone.

The cavernous walls appeared as though they had been hewn from the rock first by something possessing great strength which was then followed up by the clinical hands of engineers, flattening the stone underfoot to form a road. Several curves along the way soon silenced the wind which had been assailing their backs. After the first turn in the long cave tunnel they discovered that naturally glowing fungus and crystals lit their way, shinning with faint lilac and cyan colouration.

"This is a place of great natural magic." Caliburn had explained. "We are likely to find stranger and more wonderful things the deeper we travel."

"So this is the dragon's cave?" Amy asked once she was able to tear her eyes from the sparkling crystals.

"Well not exactly…" Caliburn answered hesitantly.

"What do you mean?" Sonic and Amy asked simultaneously.

"This cave leads to the dragon's cave. It is the only way to reach the crystal mines on foot. And the dragon dwells just beyond the mines."

"Man, I miss having the Tornado…" Sonic muttered.

"Would've made this a lot easier." Amy agreed with a good humoured smile.

"Easier! A tornado is a destructive natural disaster which can claim the lives of hundreds!" Caliburn wailed. Sonic and Amy looked at each other before breaking down into hysterics. Caliburn frowned. "I assume you were speaking of something else."

Still chuckling Sonic looked down at the blade's face at his hip.

"Don't worry Caliburn, it'd take a lifetime to explain what we mean."

They carried onwards for several minutes, trying not to be distracted by the marvels of the crystal formations. Soon they were deep enough to no longer here the whistling wind, the air becoming calm and somewhat lifeless, leaving their quills untouched by the soft breeze they had became used to.

"Sonic! Over here." Amy had been wandering a little behind but here cry had Sonic dashing to her side in seconds. She was knelt down by a group of small stalagmites, turning as the cobalt hedgehog arrived. She held in her hands a torn piece of fabric, the same colouring of the tunic the young girl had been wearing. It was stained with dried blood.

"The dragon?" Sonic asked warily.

"I don't believe so." Caliburn stated, although his lack of confidence was evident in his voice. "See how the fabric is cut and not ripped. Tis the work of a blade."

"Escaped a dragon to be killed by creatures of the underworld, nice." Amy was clearly distressed by this turn of events but she refused to let her feelings get the best of her.

Sonic laid a comforting hand to her shoulder and jerked his head further along the tunnel. Understanding his motions Amy let the piece of fabric slip from her fingers and stood, following the cobalt hedgehog's footsteps. They climbed the tunnel, keeping their footsteps sure upon the uneven ground, keeping their thoughts to themselves. Reaching the summit they looked out over a vast cave wilderness, forests of stalagmites and stalactites spread into the distance, fields of boulders, some larger than houses, and through it all cut a winding, twisting road lit but the same strange glowing crystals and fungi. Following the trail downwards along the sharply declining slope, often slipping and sliding rather than walking. An ominous crack sounded somewhere above them. Eyes darting upwards caught sight of a huge stalactite plummeting towards them.

"Run!" Sonic screamed as more and more of the stone spears began falling, each uprooted by clambering underworld creatures. The two hedgehogs sprinted along the path, the crash of falling rocks shaking the ground as they fled.

"Watch out!" Amy cried, diving to one side to avoid the piercing path of a crossbow bolt which sped towards her. A trio of underworld knights armed with crossbows stood beneath a thick rocky overhang. Sonic grunted and stumbled as one of the bolts struck a glancing blow off his left thigh.

"The mushroom! Jump on it!" Caliburn shouted to have his voice heard above the still thundering noise of crashing stone. The pair of hedgehogs wasted no time in following the swords instructions finding the large fungus surprisingly springy, and on their second bounce, avoiding metal bolts fired by the underworld creatures, they were launched high into the air landing on top of the overhand and away from both plummeting stalactites and flying crossbow bolts.

Suddenly exhausted from their manic run, Sonic and Amy collapsed to the ground panting for air.

"I guess this isn't gonna be as easy as I thought." Sonic chuckled after a few moments, his understatement relieving the tension. Amy crawled to his side and looked over the flesh wound to his leg, tearing a strip of cloth from her outfits attached skirt and using it as a makeshift bandage.

"We need to be careful." She said gingerly tightening a knot. "If the underworld knights are here that means the dragons either dead or being controlled by Arthur."

"A sound hypothesis, Lady Amy." Caliburn agreed, surprising both hedgehogs. "We must tread carefully here. Who knows what fate has befallen the villagers?"

"I dunno." Sonic grunted regaining his feet and testing his leg. "But we need to find out, one way or the other. Come on."

Taking the lead once more, Sonic set the pace at a swift trot along the rocky highroad Caliburn had sent them. Silently they watched foot-patrols of underworld knights marching this way and that, the only sound the deathly clank of their footsteps in perfect unison. They passed above several small encampments, finding no evidence of the villagers or their fate, but it was clear that the underworld presence here was extensive.

"What are they doing here?" Said Amy, giving voice to the question all three of them were eager to learn the answer.

"This cave has long had a history as an extremely profitable mine, providing iron, gems, and occasional veins of mythril for the crafters and armourers of the Kingdom." Caliburn explained.

"Well, I guess Arthur wants to get as much high-end stuff for his army." Sonic muttered in reply.

"Indeed. It may be that he is preparing to further expand his hold on this world." A hint of horror resonated in the blade's voice.

"And he's using the villagers to mine it!" Amy's hushed but urgent tone had both Sonic and Caliburn following her finger. A small group of dirty, ragged people filed slowly from a small cave, burdened by sacks of stone and ore.

As the pair of hedgehogs and their mystical blade watched, the captured villagers deposited the bundles into waiting carts before being herded down another tunnel by underworld creatures.

"This way." Murmured Sonic. Time moved tortuously slowly as they skirted above the knights of the underworld. Several times they had to hide amongst the rocky debris of boulders and stalagmites to avoid patrols. By the increasing numbers of creatures Caliburn deduced that their presence was known, but their location was not, to which they all were thankful. They waited for another patrol to pass before delving deeper into the cave complex.

They soon came across a split in the track. Taking the path that continued the climb upwards they soon emerged onto a pillar of stone once part of a bridge of sorts long since crumbled. All that was left were the thick pillars, and upon each stood a crossbow armed knight of the underworld. Over to the right was a vast, murky expanse of water, the other side little more than a blur to the naked eye.

"Look, there's a road down there too." Amy pointed out; a road patrolled by more of King Arthur's dark knights.

"Try to avoid falling, Knave. Even I doubt we'd survive that trail."

"Sound advice." Sonic murmured in agreement to Caliburn's words. He slid the mystical blade into his scabbard and beckoned Amy over. "We're gonna try jumping that gap, you think you can take out that guard?"

"Can't promise I'll be silent." Amy grinned. Gently lifting her into his arms, Sonic took a couple of steps back.

"We have to be swift." Caliburn added unnecessarily.

Kicking up dust in sudden acceleration, Sonic charged towards the edge. At the lip he bunched up his leg muscles and launched them through the air. Halfway through their leap, Amy summoned her warhammer and began swinging it even as they landed. The underworld archer barely had time to register that it was under attack before several pounds of solid forged metal connected with its head. The creature exploded into inky black mist and they were past, leaping through the air for the next vantage point. A bolt sped past them as they landed, the second creature smashed apart just as the first. A third leaping bound, another jarring landing then a forth.

"Watch out!" Caliburn cried, too late as they slammed into the newly formed monstrosity that was an underworld colossus. Sonic held onto Amy tightly as they bounced from unyielding black iron. He angled their fall, pain exploding from his shoulder as they landed, skidding across hard, jagged stone.

Amy groaned a couple feet away face down in the gloom, her warhammer having vanished upon impact with the colossus that now stomped towards them. Sonic glanced up from his back, thousands of tiny pains flashing with each movement, fresh blood staining his makeshift bandage crimson. Pain hissed through his gritted teeth and he pulled himself upright, a hand reaching for Caliburn's hilt.

Sonic sidestepped a downwards swing and brought Caliburn forth from brown leather scabbard in an upwards arc which sliced deep into the creatures arm even as he passed by. A reaching hand swept down, giant fingertips barely missing the cobalt hedgehog as he rolled away. Rising out of his dodge, Sonic slid Caliburn across the colossus's thick thigh and was rewarded with a gout of foul smelling black smog before darting away again. He ducked a horizontal swing of the creatures' enormous mace but was knocked to the ground by the following sweep of its overly large fingers. The breath left his body and Caliburn slipped from his fingers. The creature picked up the helpless hedgehog. Sonic felt his muscles straining against the ever tightening grasp of the colossus, sweat pouring down his face, teeth gritted in pain and defiance.

Amy's shout was loud as she lunged, warhammer materialising in her hands in mid-swing its flat head connecting with the elbow of the arm hold Sonic. Fingers splayed apart sending Sonic tumbling to the ground even as the sakura hedgehog pressed her assault. The noise was like a clamour of bells as she hammered the creature back step by step.

Gathering his strength, Sonic grabbed Caliburn from when he landed and charged into battle. Together the two hedgehog warriors pushed the knight of the underworld back towards the expanse of water. The creature staggered, the armoured heel of its left foot sending ripples across the water. Sonic leapt up from the left, Caliburn licking out to slice through thick neck, Amy from the right, warhammer swinging upwards to connect under the creatures chin moments after Sonic's pass. The effect of their attack was immediate; the gigantic head separating from body, sent flying out over the water. The colossus teetered once before tumbling backwards, dissolving into black smoke before it could mar the still waters.

Panting hard, Sonic looked back the way they came. Dozens of underworld knights were rushing towards them across the lower road, many sporting crossbows and some levelling lances as they charged. He grabbed Amy by the hand and together they dashed up the path where the colossus had appeared. They dodged past large spiked mine-like objects which could have easily skewered them. The path ended suddenly, leaving them nowhere to go but to drop to the lower path, the knights of the underworld hot on their heels. Dashing around a thick pillar of stone they skidded to a halt before a dead end, a face of stone reaching up high above them.

"Oh no! We're trapped!" Amy cried in despair. Sonic's eyes darted everywhere for a hidden path or a crevice they could hide in; panic welling up deep inside.

"Couldn't you use that mushroom to jump to a higher elevation?" Suggested the blade, Caliburn, keeping an air of civility even in this dire situation.

Hope flared in both hedgehogs and they sprinted towards the strange fungus. Thrice they bounced before they reached the top of the cliff face. Upon landing on solid ground, they ran, hand in hand even as the sound of the black knights following their lead whispered in their ears. They launched themselves up another cliff face using similar mushrooms to gain more distance with their pursuers. Their flight skidded to a halt at the edge of a vast plummet into darkness. A vast expansive pit yawned before them. Again Sonic looked about, eyes open for any way to escape. Seeing the thin glowing blue stalactites, an idea formed swiftly in his mind.

"Amy, get on my back and hold on tight." He growled as he slid Caliburn back into his scabbard. Amy did as she was told, her arms locking tightly around Sonic's neck. The blue hedgehog rolled his shoulders and blasted towards the edge.

The sonic boom echoed loudly in the dark cavern as the two hedgehogs flew out over the seemingly bottomless pit. Amy screamed, her eyes tightly shut, certain that they were about to die. Sonic reached out for the nearest needle that reached down from the ceiling. The stalactite wasn't stone or crystal as he'd first thought, but ice. They spun around the fragile icicle twice before Sonic flung them towards the next. Ice shattered and fell, but not before the hedgehogs had moved on. In swift succession, Sonic bounded to the next in line until his feet once more felt the solidity of stone underfoot and they exploded out into sunlight, fresh air green grass.

His feet thumped to an unsteady halt and he felt Amy's arms loosen as she slid from his back down onto her knees. Their hearts hammered painfully hard in their chests. Sonic looked back to see if any Underworld monstrosity had managed to follow them but cut his vigil short when Amy breathed a sigh of wonder.

For the first time since entering the caves they could see the sky, thin wispy clouds drifting lazily through the atmosphere. Sonic looked down at the lush green grass beneath his feet, the sound of water gushing along centuries worn channels. Above them a rim of stone existed an unseen world of wildlife untouched by mortal hands, water flowing freely and clear to tumble as a glistening waterfall, throwing up clouds of cooling vapour which was being gratefully received by a pair of exhausted hedgehogs.

"Oh wow…" Sonic's knees trembled with exertion and he sat down next to Amy. "It's hard to believe that we're in the middle of a mountain right now."

"Yeah, we've made it a good ways up." Sonic ran his gloved fingers over the grass.

"It appears so." For some time the two hedgehogs sat together, absentmindedly leaning closer together until almost all of Amy's weight was being supported by Sonic. Like this they simply watched as water tumbled serenely past them.

"We have dallied here long enough." Caliburn said after a while rousing them to their feet. Amy took the time to smile down at the blade.

"Thank you Caliburn, for giving us time to-"

"You have no need to thank me, my Lady. You have more than proven your worth to my eyes." Amy's smile grew wider at the blades words.

"What about me?" Sonic asked hopefully.

"You are still but a foolish Knave. Now, we still have much to do and time is very much against us." Sonic scowled even as Amy giggled, but together they carried on, rejuvenated and hearts set on their appointed task.

Shortly they entered another tunnel and left the green paradise behind, returning to the strange glowing light of crystals and fungi. Their path was more fraught with peril, news of their assault having spread swiftly. Carefully they picked their way past patrols and avoided the sentry-like watchfulness of the clambering panther-like creatures. Occasionally they had to draw weapons when stealth failed, but at those moments skill and tenacity carried them through.

Amy knelt behind a low rock fall, her eyes sharpening on a large wooden palisade. Sonic slid up next to her Caliburn still in hand having just finished silently eliminating the latest patrol they had stumbled upon.

"This is it." She whispered and both of them examined the security arrayed against them along a stone walled walkway. A colossus stood guard close to the door illuminated by flickering flame brands. Flanking it were a pair of underworld archers on both sides, their weapons loaded but not cocked and standing in serried ranks were almost a dozen underworld swordsman three rows deep, those of the front row bearing thick wooden shields.

"Hey, check it out." Sonic pointed off to the right. Just through the pillars of stone they could glimpse a wide expanse of water, swiftly surmising that it was the same lake that they had skirted earlier.

"Our route away from this place is clear." Caliburn added, indicating the bobbing wooden boats that bumped quietly against their moorings.

"So the plan is this, wipe out those guards, free the villagers, grab the boats and sail outta here." The confidence in his voice was hard not to miss, although Amy held slight doubts over his boosting.

"And how do you suggest that we do that Sonic!" She growled ducking down further behind their cover. In answer the cobalt hedgehog grinned and darted over the rock they hid behind.

Before Amy could voice her surprise, Sonic had bolted across the short distance that separated them from the underworld knights. Before he clashed with the front rank of swordsmen he turned a sharp right angle which kicked dust and dirt up in a veritable wave and dashed along, then around the block of soldiers, making a direct beeline for the archers on the right flank.

Seeing his plan for what it was, Amy vaulted over and charged in his footsteps. The swordsmen had turned, their attention focused on pursuing the blue blur and so were woefully unprepared for the carnage that would be wrought by the sakura warrior and her warhammer.

Sonic swiftly chopped the archers down and laid his sights on the other pair. Unmindful of the colossus now bearing down on him, he dashed forwards, darting underneath the downswing of the enormous hammer, ducking under iron bolts that pieced the air and thrusting Caliburn forth.

Amy had crushed her fifth underworld soldier before the rest could mount any form of defence, but it wasn't long before the pressing creatures had her on the defensive. The shields were proving much more solid than she had hoped, some of her blows glancing away leaving nought but deep dents and gouges. Against a mortal soldier, a solid blow to the shield can shatter a man's arm, these creatures of darkness and shadow merely pressed on, unperturbed by her attacks.

Amy snarled and span he warhammer around bringing the sharp, slightly hooked point to the fore. One swing and the point punctured through shield, and fuelled by momentum the point continued onwards and buried itself into the chest of the hapless creature. Amy grinned threateningly, noticing that the knights of the underworld began to reform, the few shields remaining facing her in a solid wall.

Sonic's attack from behind was completely unexpected, destroying two of the creatures and scattering the rest. He skidded to a stop next to Amy and flashed her a smile.

"Not interrupting anything am I?" The clump of metallic feet was largely ignored as the remaining three underworld swordsmen readied their weapons and the colossus stomped forward to take position behind them. Amy learned casually on her hammer.

"Not really, just wondering how to deal with these things." Grinning widely Sonic dropped into a sprinting starting position, the fingers of his left hand splayed wide with Caliburn's edge scrapping along the ground.

"I got the big guy Ames. Ready?" He tensed. "Go!"

The extreme acceleration set off a sonic boom which momentarily left Amy's ears ringing. The cobalt hedgehog blasted through the smaller creatures sending them flying to the ground in his wake. Upon reaching the feet of the colossus Sonic began sprinting around it, faster and faster, each turn creating more force, each pass pulling more air in to replace what his passage removed. Slowly the huge being of metal and shadow began to rise into the air, surrounded by dirt and dust which swirled around with the power of a tornado. And within that extreme force of wind was Sonic the Hedgehog.

By the time Amy crushed the final swordsman, Sonic was standing off to one side watching his creation with an expression of clear smugness.

"Don't you think that's enough now?" Amy shouted above the noise. Sonic frowned with though before shrugging.

"If you say so." Again he sprinted towards the vortex, this time running in the opposite direction. After a few rounds the miniature tornado dissipated leaving the colossus high in the air suddenly without anything keeping it there. Gravity swiftly took back control and in a flaying of limbs the creature tumbled back to earth with a thud.

The creature began lifting its arm, struggling to rise when Amy's hammer crunched down upon its armoured head. A moment later and the creature dissolved into inky black mist. Sometime during the fight, Amy's headband had been thrown loose causing her long quills to fall unsupported down her back and her face. Without her headband, her quills reached down her spine, dangling just above her short tail and her bangs covered her right eye. She stood upright flicking her head back uncovering her shinning emerald eyes.

"Don't just stand there, open the door!" Sonic shook himself out of his entrancement and ran over to the door, behind which he could hear the sniffles of fear. He slipped his shoulders beneath the beam of wood keeping the large door locked shut and heaved. Gritting his teeth, his powerful leg muscles bunching he pushed against the weight on his shoulders. Inch by inch the heavy wooden beam lifted from its cradle until he had lifted it clear of the lock. Grunting he staggered away for the door, weight still on his shoulders and dumped the beam on the ground. Amy ran past him and began tugging the door open. Some of the imprisoned villagers must have realised what was happening as some had begun pushing from the other side. Together they managed to open the door and dozens of dirty, exhausted villagers stumbled out.

"This way, quickly!" The once imprisoned villagers surged towards the hedgehog by the docks, none paying the sakura female who had tumbled to the floor no heed. Once the rush dwindled, a hand reached down towards her and Amy looked up into the face of someone she knew.

"My thanks, Lady." He said, his accent that of the far eastern lands, his purple scales almost turned grey with dirt. She accepted his hand and was gently lifted to her feet.

"Hey Ames! Come on!" The two of them quickly scanned the enclosure for any more villagers before running to join the exodus by row boat.

"That way." Caliburn turned himself to face the only source of sunlight on the far side of the cave and even at this distance Amy could see the water rippling through the opening.

"Alright everyone, man a paddle and stay close!" Sonic shouted, leading the way by jumping on the nearest oar. Amy stood at the aft of the small water going vessel and began shouting commands to the other nearby boats as they moved swiftly out into the waters. The purple anthro who had helped her sat nearby, adding his own strength to their escape.

A longing to escape lent power to those long imprisoned and it wasn't long until they were nearing the source of light which turned out to be an enormous cave mouth out onto a lake. They had been fortunate that the soldiers of the Black Knight had not pursued or lacked the capacity to pursue them, and as they drifted out into the sunlight several of the grimy villagers gave out cries of elation and relief.

Amy kept scanning the nearing shoreline for any signs of Arthur's knights of the underworld, pointing Sonic and the others towards a suitable landing area. At the gentle bump of sand, dozens of feet scrambled for the shore, some dropping to their knees other holding each other with tears streaming down faces creating clear tracks through the grime. Sonic and Amy were the last to leave their vessel, standing together watching the outcome to their efforts. Amy wrapped her arms around Sonic's chest, snuggling into his arm and allowed the tears of happiness role down her cheeks.

Sonic cocked his head quizzically at the purple scaled chameleon who walked up to them. He was wearing the remnants of a khaki brown silk tunic, the remains of a leather weapon belt still around his waist and cloth wrapping on his feet. He bowed to them.

"I am Palemedes. And I am in your debt." He rose, his yellow eyes glinting in the setting sun. His main horn had been sheered a third from the tip, most likely from a downward chop which was narrowly avoided, and an ugly scar cut over his lips.

"No probs, we were in the-" Amy silenced the cocky hedgehog with an elbow to the stomach. "What I mean is, we're part of a freedom movement against King Arthur and his knights of the underworld. Anything we can do to weaken him, we'll do it."

"I see." The chameleon muttered. He'd been nodding to Sonic's words and now stood silently. "ألتمس منكم إيجاد حليف العدو." (Seek your enemy, find an ally.)

He looked back up to them, with an expression which said that he had made up his mind over something. He bowed once more. "I offer my services, in payment to the dept I now owe you."

Sonic and Amy exchanged glances. Already ideas and plans were forming in their minds. Sonic looked out over the villagers who were milling around, some pulling the boats further ashore, others foraging the nearby trees and bushes for food. All shared a new life, a spring in their steps brought about by a new freedom.

"There's a safe place deep in the forest where the Freedom Fighters are based. We need to get these people there safely."

"It's a long journey." Amy added.

"And any help you could give would be fantastic." Palemedes nodded his head again.

"Very well, I will help you and then join these Freedom Fighters in your struggle against King Arthur." Sonic grinned and held out his free hand.

"Thanks Palemedes, welcome to the fight." The chameleon hesitantly took Sonic's hand but shook it firmly once they tightened their grips.

-0-

Crickets chirped loudly as the two hedgehogs ran through the trees, Caliburn the enchanted blade hovering close by.

"The appointed time has passed." The sword stated as trees flashed past.

"Yeah, don't remind me." Sonic and Amy were breathing heavily as they ran. They had walked for several hours to bring Palemedes and the freed villagers to the camp of the Freedom Fighters, and after some words with Geraint and Morgaine had quickly left. Out of the trees stepped the young girl who had sent them on their perilous quest and they skidded to a halt.

"You've been waiting here the whole time?" Amy asked stepping forward.

"Sorry about that." Sonic added, rubbing the back of his neck. "Good news though, everyone's safe."

"Thank you." She said bowing her head. "And sorry for tricking you."

"Huh?" The two hedgehogs shared a questioning glance. The girl became enveloped by a bright light, causing them to shield their eyes.

"You have shown courage, strength, and compassion." When the light faded, there stood the Lady of the Lake smiling proudly. "I shall show you how to blunt the power of Excalibur. Because you are a true Knight."

"Yes!" Sonic exclaimed at her words.

"Don't let it go to your head, Sonic." Amy warned, but she could not help but smile at his achievement.

A little while later, back at the enchanted lake they sat and had listened to the Lady's words.

"I see. So I have to defeat the Knights of the Round Table, and collect the sacred swords?" Sonic was rubbing his chin in thought.

"We already have these two." Amy said summoning the swords of Lancelot and Gawain, the twin blades of the echidna knight being classed as a single weapon. "How many more do we need?"

"Three sacred swords combined with the power of Caliburn, should dispel the power of immortality that protects King Arthur." The Lady explained, her hands folded delicately on her lap.

"So we need to get one more, sounds like a walk in the park!" Sonic boasted.

"We'll see about that!" Caliburn interjected.

"Oh come on, Caliburn." Amy began, leaning against Sonic's shoulder. "Isn't it about time you gave him a little credit?"

"Perhaps, but the remaining knight, Percival, is the Knight of the Grail." The hedgehogs leaned forward, paying close to Caliburn's words. "She's as strong as she is noble. One mistake could be your last."

"Don't worry! I've got Amy and one of the great sacred swords!" He put his arm around Amy's shoulder and grinned at the blade who now looked rather flustered.

"Of-of course! It's about time you figured that out!"

"We're gonna make this look easy." Sonic said.

"Yeah, she won't know what hit her!" Amy stated boastfully.

"Hey Caliburn, I've gotten pretty used to you too."

"That is exactly what I told you not to do!" The blade wailed, bouncing up and down.

"You used to me yet, Sonic?" Amy asked as they left the company of the Lady of the Lake.

"I'll never be used to you Ames, you just keep turning my world upside-down! And I wouldn't have it any other way." Amy pulled herself closer, her fingers finding his as they walked away.

"Fare thee well brave knight, chosen one of Caliburn…" The Lady of the Lake said, before vanishing into the mists that rose from the clear blue waters.

It's a good feeling when you post something you've enjoyed writing.
And between you and me, I'm looking forward to the final confrontation with King Arthur, got huge plans in the works.

Thank you for waiting, and hope you've enjoyed this latest chapter of FntS: A Knights Tale.

Corrupt TE, out!