The Prophecy; Fulfilled (Part Two)

Chapter Eight - The Crystal Castle

"Sonic!" Amy yelled, kicking her legs against his chest as she was carried roughly over his shoulder. When she didn't receive a reply, she growled. "Sonic the hedgehog, put me down right now or so help me!"

The cobalt hedgehog slid to a stop at the top of a tall hill that overlooked miles upon miles of beautiful, picturesque scenery. He set her down and stood there looking out on everything, hands on his hips. "Perfect, isn't it?" He said with a grin without so much as glancing to her. "This'll be the perfect place to put our castle."

Amy sent a blank stare his way. He spoke so normally, like such a thing would be expected out of him. As if he hadn't just grabbed her and abandoned their friends after spouting some ridiculous theory. "What in the world are you talking about?" She asked flatly. "What castle?"

"I said we'd be above everyone. We'll be more powerful than anyone else." He said, turning to her. "So, naturally, we need a castle."

She narrowed her eyes. "And, naturally, by we, you mean you."

He nodded. "With you beside me, of course."

"You think that'll happen?" She said, turning away. She needed to know the rest of what Valentine had started to say. She was beginning to explain why Sonic was acting strange, and just how the gems were affecting him. But Shadow had to come in and interrupt her. She sighed as Sonic didn't answer, and looked out at the tops of all the trees. Valentine had called Sonic by another name. What was it..

"Galen?" She asked suddenly. Sonic's ears perked up to attention and he turned to her. Her heart stopped at his reaction. "You.. You're Sonic, right?"

He looked at her in silence for a moment before his lips curved into an amused smile. "Who else would I be?"

"Who is Galen?" She asked in confusion.

He shrugged. "Beats me." He said. "So you want ice or crystal?"

She blinked. "Ice or crystal what?"

He chuckled. "I'll use both, then." He said, then scooped her up bridal style. He zoomed over to the side and set her down. "Stay here." He said, then ran back to where they had been standing before.

He slowly lifted a hand and she watched, clinging to the shaking ground for dear life, as a mount of pure white crystal broke through the earth and raised high into the sky. It happened several more times, popping up in different places, until a structure made entirely of milky-white crystal was formed and towers began to stretch towards the sky. She took a few steps back, completely struck with awe at what she was witnessing. Before she knew it, a magnificent castle stood before her, architecture so masterfully crafted and shining beautifully in all it's glory that she couldn't believe that what she was seeing had been manifested straight from Sonic's will. She was at a loss for words as Sonic turned to her with a smile. "Well?" He asked. "What are you waiting for? Go in!"

Amy slowly took a few steps before running and bursting through the slightly opaque ice doors. However beautiful she thought the outside was, the interior was that multiplied several times over. A large chandelier made entirely of ice hung from the high ceiling, and the windows were thin ice as well, replacing glass.  Sonic walked in after her and raised a hand, and a magnificent crystalline staircase stretched from the floor at his command, going up in a spiral until it reached the balcony way up above. She started to walk towards it, but stopped in her tracks as Sonic came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Do you like it?" He asked as he buried his face in her neck.

She nodded, unable to say anything other than a weak little, "How?" under his touch.

"I imagined it and it just kind of happened." He said so nonchalantly. "But we can live here together, for the rest of our lives. You can be my princess, and I'll be your prince." He said, snuggling into her lovingly before letting go and walking towards the stairs. He stopped and turned to her with a smile, extending his hand. "Would you like that, Ames?"