Beauty and the .EXE

Chapter Twelve: Beauty and the .EXE

Meanwhile, back at the castle, Sonic was getting ready for tonight. He had asked a question that had changed everything. He was having a bath, explaining everything to Tails, Cream, Shadow, and Rouge.

"Well, I saw her in the ballroom and said, 'You're making everything look so beautiful. We should have a dance tonight'. I never imagined she'd actually say yes! What was I thinking?"

"No, Master. It's perfect!" Tails said, "The rose has only four petals left which means tonight you can tell her how you feel."

Sonic stood up from behind the curtain, "I feel like a fool. She will never love me."

"Do not be discouraged. She is the one."

"I wish you'd stop saying that!" Sonic put on his dressing gown and sat in front of his dressing table, "There is no one."

"You care for her, don't you?" Sonic nodded at Tails' question, "Well, then, woo her with beautiful music and romantic candlelight."

"Yes, and when the moment's just right..." Rouge giggled and flapped her feathers a little

"Well, how will I know?" Sonic asked

"You will feel slightly nauseous," Shadow told him

"Don't worry, Master. You'll do fine," Tails assured Sonic

"Just stop being so nervous and tell Maddie how you feel," Cream told him, "Because if you don't, I promise you'll be drinking cold tea for the rest of your days!"

"In the dark," Tails added

"Covered in dust," Rouge also added

"Dark and very, very dusty."

Tails tapped his candles together, telling everyone it was time to prepare Sonic for his dance with Maddie. They combed and trimmed whatever hair Sonic had left while Cream helped to clean off Sonic's dirty gloves. And a coathanger brushed Sonic's teeth just to be sure. As they worked, Rouge put on some powdered paint and put a white, powered paint on his head. They turned Sonic to the mirror to see his new look. But it didn't look right at all. Seeing how this idea didn't work out too well, Tails was ready to try and fix it.

Meanwhile, in the East Wing, Blaze had been dressing Maddie in a big, yellow ballgown with a golden necklace, vine earrings that wrapped around her ear, and some gold leaves to keep her hair in a bun. But, even so, Blaze felt as if something were still missing. So, she had the golden vines hanging around the room turn into flakes and put themselves onto Maddie's dress as some final, shining details. Now that she was ready, Maddie stood at the stairs of the East Wing, waiting for Sonic.

When Sonic arrived, he wore a long, red tailcoat with black, knee-high boots and black leather gloves. He wore no mask or anything to hide his fangs. He was going as he was. Just better dressed. As he saw Maddie, he was starting to feel his nervousness go away. Besides, he was about to dance with the most beautiful girl he had ever met in years. They both made their way down the stairs to meet each other. When they did, the two held hands as Sonic led them down the final set of stairs.

'Tale as old as time. True as it can be. Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly.'

The two made it to the ballroom. Everything had been cleaned and shined for the two and every candle in the room had been lit.

'Just a little change. Small to say the least. Both a little scared. Neither one prepared. Beauty and the .EXE.'

As they made their way into the center of the ballroom, Maddie curtsied to Sonic while he bowed to her. Standing upright, Maddie offered her hands to Sonic. He looked at her rather surprised that Maddie was the one wanting to make the first move. Yet he didn't argue. He took Maddie's hands and they began to dance.

'Ever just the same. Ever a surprise. Ever as before. Ever just as sure as the sun will rise! Tale as old as time. Tune as old as song. Bittersweet and strange. Finding you can change. Learning you were wrong.'

As they danced, the lights suddenly dimmed as Sonic pulled Maddie close to him, slowly putting her in a dip before bringing her back up and lifting her, spinning her around.

'Certain as the sun. Rising in the east. Tale as old as time. Song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the .EXE.'

As their dance ended, Sonic and Maddie held hands as they made their way to the balcony.

'Tale as old as time. Song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the .EXE.'

With arms linked, they both walked out onto the balcony where they looked out into the night sky. Sonic let out a breath as he finally took in the dance the two just shared

"I haven't danced in years," Sonic said out of breath as Maddie laughed a little, "I'd almost forgotten the feeling."

Sonic caught his breath as he tried to think on what to say next.

"It's foolish, I suppose... for a creature like me to hope... that one day he might earn your affection," Sonic said, turning to Maddie

Maddie turned to him, "I don't know."

"Really? You think you could be happy here?"

Maddie hesitated for a moment, making Sonic slightly worried as to what Maddie might say.

"Can anybody be happy if they aren't free?" Maddie asked Sonic.

Sonic didn't know how to respond, knowing that the only thing in the way of them loving each other may be Maddie's lack of freedom. Perhaps even his too. Both were trapped in this castle for two different reasons. Both reasons were just as bad. But Sonic knew he made a mistake by trying to trap Maddie here. The two stayed quiet, looking out to the night sky.

"My father taught me to dance," Maddie broke the silence, "I used to step on his toes a lot."

"You must miss him," Sonic commented, no longer feeling hate towards her father.

"Very much."

Sonic then got an idea, "Would you like to see him?"

Taking her to the West Wing, Sonic showed her the mirror he would use to see anything he wanted. This would also show Maddie her father at this very moment. Giving her the mirror, Maddie asked it to see her father. Only to see a sight she never expected to see. Jet was being thrown around by the three men Eggman had called forward. But they seemed to be dragging him somewhere as they weren't in the tavern

"Papa! What are they doing to him? He... He's in trouble!"

Seeing the scene, Sonic knew what choice he had to make, "Then you must go to him."

Maddie looked at him in surprise, "What did you say?"

"You must go to him. No time to waste."

Sonic didn't know if this was the right or wrong choice, but he didn't want to be responsible for forcing Maddie to stay in the castle while her father was being hurt or worse. While he wouldn't do it for his own father, he knew how much Maddie cared for hers. And it would be cruel of him not to let Maddie go to help her father. Realising that he was letting her go, Maddie tried to hand the mirror back. But Sonic stopped her.

"No... you keep it with you. Then you'll always have a way to look back on me," Sonic told her

"Thank you."

Maddie started to walk away. But she was still unsure that Sonic was letting her leave. But, when he showed no signs of stopping her, she started to rush off, knowing that her father needed her now. Sonic watched her leave with pain in his eyes. He didn't want to let her go. But he also knew that this was the best choice. And he wasn't going to force himself to change his mind.