Sonic and the Black Knight - The After Years: Rise of Darkness

Sonic sat atop his throne, head held up in his left hand as he looked down towards the floor while an emissary from a nearby town continued to speak to him about continuing problems in his town, but Sonic wasn't paying full attention for his mind was distracted from thinking about the fight he had with Dark.

It had been almost a week since the attack, and Sonic had been unusually quiet and depressive since then. Percival had been standing beside him the whole time and finally decided to speak with him after the emissary left the room. “My lord, are you alright?” She asked the hedgehog as he continued to stare at the ground. “My lord?” she spoke again this time catching his attention.

Sonic shock his head lightly for a second then looked towards her. “Uh, yes Percival?” He asked while trying to force a smile to hide his sadness.

“I asked if you were alright.” She repeated to the hedgehog completely seeing through his fake smile.

Sonic gave her a confused look and answered with, “Of cause I am! Why wouldn't I be?”

“It's just... you've been very distant from your friends and you've barely spoken since the attack.” She explained with deep concern in her voice.

Sonic chuckled for a second as he stood up from his throne and turned towards her. “Nothing gets past you huh Percival? But don't worry, I'm fine really there's no reason to worry.” He reassuringly answered her then turned to exit the throne room. “I'm just thinking about our situation.”

Sonic then left the room leaving Percival to her thoughts as a two tailed fox walked into the room. “Aw, I missed him again didn't I?” Tails asked Percival who slowly nodded. Tails sighed sadly. “What's going on with him? He's never been like this before.”

“He says he's fine, but I know a lie when I hear one.” Percival explained to the fox. “It's probably the stress of our current situation.” she concluded.

“What do you mean?” He asked her in confusion.

Percival sighed and began to explain to the fox. “You see through the whole three years that Sonic has been King, he has never truly been part of a war. The closest he's been to one is with the remaining Knights of the Underworld, but now we're in a war against the Underworld itself and I believe Sonic is just having a hard time trying to figure out what to do.” she finished and let tails process the information.

Tails after taking in all the information thrown at him nodded then spoke. “I see, but Sonic knows more then anyone to seek help from friends if he needs it.”

“Three years can change a hedgehog.” Percival answered bluntly as she proceeded to leave the room. Tails Sighed then left the room as well.

Later that day...

The Blacksmith slumped into his living room chair and wiped the sweat off his head after a long day of non-stop work. He was about to take a quick nap when the front door swung open and a bright yellow fox stepped through. “Afternoon Tails! How's your day so far?” He asked not noticing his depressive look.

Tails sighed as he turn towards the Blacksmith. “It could have been better.”

“Sonic still not talking to ya huh?” The blacksmith asked with concern. Tails nodded and sighed again as the Blacksmith got up from his chair and rested his hand on Tails' left shoulder. “Hey don't worry, Sonic will be back to his cocky, cheery self again in no time.”

Tails smiled at his Arthurian counterpart as he started to feel a little better. “Thanks Miles. I'm sure he will, I'm just concerned is all.”

Miles frowned then nodded. “I know Tails. We all are.”

Meanwhile...

Silver and Galahad continue to match blows as they continued Silvers training with Lancelot watching from afar. After a few more minutes Silver finally decided to approach him which Lancelot noticed then quickly frowned. “What do you want plant head?” Lancelot groaned as the Silver hedgehog was about to speak up.

“Oh uh, I was just going to ask if you would like to join us instead of just sitting here and staring at us.” Silver asked hesitantly, but the knight just continued stared at him. “You know, because it's kind of disturbing.” The black hedgehog just grunted and glared at Silver which caused him to back off abit. “O-ok. Never mind.”Silver whispered to himself as he made his way back to Galahad who just shrugged at the confused hedgehog.

“Is it just me, or is your father more depressed then Sonic?” Silver asked his Arthurian counterpart.

“Well since Shadow's gone he doesn't have anyone to spar with since Gawain is overseeing the defences at the wall, Percival is trying to comfort Sonic, and Lamorack is competing with Jet.” Galahad explained.

Silver sighed then thought for a minute. “Hmm. Galahad, do you mind if we call it a day?” The Silver hedgehog asked his Arthurian counterpart. “I have something I need to check out.”

Galahad raised an eyebrow at Silver and gave him a questioning look. “Sure, but what is it you need to check out?”

“Well if I know Shadow, then he most likely left something to inform us before he left just in case something like this happened.”

Galahad nodded in understanding. “So your gonna check his room?” Silver nodded his head confirming Galahad's question. “No problem then, I needed to go meet Trixie at the library anyway. We'll meet up again later.”

“Who's Trixie?” Silver asked which caused the knight to sweat.

“Um, j-just a girl.” Galahad answered bluntly.

“I thought told you I didn't want you seeing her any more!” Lancelot shouted from his seat. “She's a bad influence!”

Galahad sighed in embarrassment. “Oh and your so much better!” He shouted back to his father.

“At least I don't say my name every time I'm referring to myself, and don't call myself 'The Great and Powerful Lancelot'!

Galahad sighed again. “Anyway, ignoring the grouchy old man-”

“Who are you calling grouchy and old!” Lancelot interrupted with anger in his voice that echoed across the training fields.

“You! Now anyway, go ahead Silver we'll meet later.” The two nodded to each other and went their separate ways.

“Great now what am I suppose to do?” Lancelot questioned as he slumped further into his seat.

Meanwhile at a bakery in Camelot...

“Are you sure this will work Pinkie?” Amy uncertainly asked a pink horse like creature at the counter.

“As sure as I'm pink!” Pinkie cried hysterically. “We just need a way to get him down here.” Pinkie then brought one of her hooves to her chin to show that she was thinking. “He's still angry at me from what happened a couple of birthdays ago so I don't think he would want to see me.”

“And I don't think the guards would be very happy if I tried to drag him out by force.” Amy added and sighed.

At that moment a Sweet little filly and a Rabbit walked into the Bakery, which after noticing them gave the two of them an idea. “That's it!” They yelled at the same time.

“Hey Cream, Sweetie Belle! Could you come here a minute!” Amy shouted towards the two kids.

Later at the castle...

Sonic sat down on his bed and sighed tiredly. “Maybe a nice nap will get my mind off of things. I haven't been able to do one of those in a while.” Sonic then layed down and shut his eye's, but before he could fall asleep there was a knock at the door. “Who is it?”

“Sorry to disturb you your highness, it's Cream and Sweetie Belle. We we're wondering if we could ask you something.” Sweet and quiet voice spoke.

“Sure, come on in!” Sonic cried as he sat back up again. Just then the door opened and a Young Rabbit and a little white Filly entered the room. “So what's on your mind?”

“Well you see, Amy and Pinkie were wondering if you would come over to Sugercube Corner-” Sweetie Belle started, but stopped when Sonic shivered at the mention of those two names.

“Amy AND Pinkie want me to come down to Sugercube Corner...”Sonic said lowly and shivered again. “No thanks, I think I'll just stay here and have a nap.”

Sweetie Belle sighed sadly at the hedgehog as he layed back down on the bed. “Oh come on Sonic, your not still made at Pinkie for what happened during you sixteenth birthday are you?”

Sonic sat back up and looked the little Filly in the eye. “Well of course I am!” He shouted in slight anger. “That was just a ridiculous day and it will be a while before I will forgive her!”

“Nut Amy and Pinkie want to try and cheer you up! Oh won't you come with us just for a little while?” Cream begged as she put on her best puppy dog face.

“No.” Sonic simply said as he turned his head away.

“Pretty please with a cherry on top?” Sweetie added in also putting on a puppy dog face.

“I've trained myself to ignore puppy dog faces, so you two should just give up.” Sonic concluded as he turned his whole body away from them.

Cream and Sweetie Belle Sighed and looked at each other in defeat. “Looks like despite times calls for despite measures.” Cream announced to the Little filly who nodded her head in response.

“Apple Bloom, Scootaloo your up!” Sweetie Belle cried towards the door in which two more Filly walked into the room with rope in their mouths.

“Gotcha! Alright Sonic, just hold still and this will all be over in a second.” Scootaloo warned the hedgehog as she and Apple Bloom trotted closer to him.

Sonic turned around then his eyes widened as he saw the fillies getting closer to him. “Uh, what are the two of you gonna do with that rope?” Sonic nervously asked. “No wait!  Aaaaaah!” Sonic cried as the two fillies wrapped the rope around him.

Once they were done the four kids smiled at their work and Apple Bloom started to drag him out of the room. “There now that wasn't so bad Sonic?” Cream said said happily to sonic who was now glaring at the her and Sweetie Belle.

Meanwhile somewhere else in the castle...

“Come on. Come on!” Silver cried in frustration as he searched around Shadow's room. “There's got to be something I've missed. Something Shadow knew that only we would find.”

“Or you mean something only I would find.” Came a voice in the darkness which got Silver's attention, but didn't react.

“Where have you been Rouge? We haven't much of you since that attack?” Silver questioned as a bat like figure appears from the darkness.

“Oh I've just been... thinking.” Rouge said with a hint of sadness. “Anyway I think that this is what you've been looking for.”

Rouge handed a smalled disk that wasn't any bigger then his hand. “A hollow recorder.” Silver whispered to himself. “So Shadow DID leave a message.”

Rouge nodded and her eyes started to tear up. “I found it the night after he left.” She managed to chock out before she ran out of the room.

“Huh? Is the message really that bad?” Silver asked himself as he turned the recorder on to play the last recording.

After watching the recording Silver's hands were trembling and his pupils shrink in horror. “S-shadow? You can't expect us to?” Silver whispered in disbelief. “I-I've got to show this to Sonic and the others as soon as possible! They've go to know what Shadow wanted us to do!” On that Silver rushed out of the room and into the hallway.

Rushing to find Sonic he hurried to Sonic's room only to find it empty. “Dammit Sonic! The one time I was hoping you would just be in your room!” Silver quickly shut the door then hurried out of the castle hoping to find the blue hedgehog as soon as possible.