The worst thing possible had happened.

Wars weren’t uncommon here; especially when the king that inhabited these lands was Shadow the Hedgehog. Sure, he was wise. As well as noble, respectful, intimidating…

But those were his pros.

His cons?

Being too rash, too inconsiderate, greedy, and refusing to change his mind. Unable to admit when he’s wrong, as well. A stubborn, selfish bastard. To put it simply.

That, is why the kingdom had fallen.

A heartbreaking sight, but was not unexpected.

Shadow’s stubbornness would end up to his, and the kingdoms, downfall. Sonic knew it deep down — but the sight pulled at his heartstrings.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Sonic laid in rubble, ashes and whatnot. He slowly regained his consciousness — the world soon becoming clear. He felt lightheaded, but at least he could see.

The damage that had been done to the kingdom was… heartbreaking. His home… gone. The place he had grown to love; a pile of ashes now.

Then, the pain set in.

Sonic let out a slight wince, instinctively putting a hand on where the pain had been — on his waist. Near his hip. And immediately he felt something coat his hand.

He knew it was blood, but couldn’t bring himself to look down. To see the damage.

“M- My king?”

Sonic’s voice called out, voice raspy and followed by a harsh cough. Despite the pain he was in, he had to find his king. He mustered up all the strength he could and pushed himself up, using what was left of a wall to steady himself and ease his way into a standing position. It didn’t go without a hiss of pain, though. “My king! Where are you?!” Sonic called out again, wincing as he took a step. Followed by another… and another. A hand staying on his wound, covering up what the torn cloth he called clothes wouldn’t.

Each step made pain coarse through his body, worsening with each step. No matter how light, no matter how small. But he couldn’t bring himself to stop, not until he found his beloved.

He kept going, checking underneath every piece of rubble, every rock, every piece of ash. He was growing desperate.

Minutes quickly turned into hours, the pain going to manageable; to torture. He was losing hope, his eyes watered — not only because of the debris in the now polluted air, but because the chance his King, his beloved was alive… it was a slim possibility.

“My king!… please, if you can hear me! Call out!” Sonic cried out, his foot getting stuck on a small rock. Causing him to fall, unable to pick himself back up. He was about to give up, to let the exhaustion overtake his body — but that was when he saw it.

The outline of black quills, the faintest of red streaks visible. The only thing visible underneath the rubble he was, more then likely, stuck under. Sonic felt his eyes widen, tearing up. “MY KING!” Sonic shouted, rushing over to Shadow’s side. Though it wasn’t as fast as he had wanted; since he couldn’t get up. Crawling would suffice though.

“M- My king! Are you alright? Speak to me!” Sonic cried out, managing to pull Shadow’s wounded and dirtied frame out from the wall he was stuck under.