Shadow And Sandy's AU Romance Blog

“A thousand pardons, but that’s none of your concern,” she said. “His Highness and I have matters to discuss that were overlooked during the last meeting between the high kingdom and the duchy.”

“Likely story,” the younger guard smirked. “It’s all right, Your Ladyship. War time gets the best of all of us.”

Her face started taking in the color of a wild red turnip. She knew exactly what he was implying. It was no secret among the army and lords what the terms for the merging of the duchy entailed. This foolish guard was surely assuming she couldn’t hold off until the wedding and subsequent coronation. But before she could open her mouth or even raise her hand against him, the older guard had already jabbed the man’s side with the blunt end of his spear.

“Shut your mouth, you idiot! Have some respect for the Duke’s daughter! She might even be your queen someday—!“ He turned to the young squirrel and bowed deeply. “S-Sorry, Your Ladyship. Mortimer doesn’t care much for his life, apparently.”

“Let her in!” The aggressive cry from within the tent caused both men to jump a foot above their post.

“Y-yes, Your Highness!” The two quickly parted the entrance of the tent, allowing the flustered Lady to walk in. She did not make it far inside before she bumped right against the King’s chest. The towering royal hedgehog, known under the moniker of Shadow, had approached all of a sudden to peer his head out of the aperture and give the young guard a menacing glare. Although dressed down for the night, his simple clothes did not take away from his intimidating presence. Before he could fully step outside, Sandy pulled him back in. The last thing the lady squirrel needed was a confrontation loud enough to get her people’s attention.

“Second post, both of you!” He barked and Sandy listened as the guards’ footsteps quickly faded into the distance.

“Shh! The general will have my tail if he knows I snuck out,” she whispered harshly as she fastened the tent’s entrance shut.

“I’ll have his head if you wish,” Shadow growled, his eyes fixated on the spot where the young guard would’ve been standing at the other side of the cloth. For a moment, she wasn’t sure if he was speaking of the mouthy guard or the general, but neither implication boded well. Sandy turned and placed a hand on his chest, causing him to surprisingly pacify.

“No need to be so extreme! This union is one of peace. We are turning over a new leaf, Your Highness.”

“Hrmm. So be it.” He sighed. His brow creased as he scanned her dark attire that left nearly everything to the imagination. “You look...”

“Yes?” She beamed. Is His Stoicness rearing for a sarcastic joke or comment? This would be rich.

“Eh,” Shadow waved dismissively before turning towards the sitting area and muttering quietly to himself, “It won’t matter in a few minutes, anyway.”

“Beg pardon?” What was the last comment...?

“Please sit, My Lady.”

The small lady accepted his request, sitting at one end of his palatial fainting couch, a surprisingly lofty addition to the tent during a time of war. Shadow sat at the opposite end of the couch, his informal pose trying to hide the obvious stress his body radiated. Sandy frowned, worried about the king’s state of mind.

If ruling over the currently panicked High Kingdom of Kismet wasn’t enough, the recent fall of his Field Marshall in battle had Shadow taking charge of the entire army; an army that was set to spread itself thin after the kingdom and allied dukedom would unite. The Imperial Nation of Mota was advancing towards the Duchy of Yond and in a state of panic, the Duke was willing to give up his land, his family’s title and daughter’s hand in marriage to the king in exchange for His Highness’ protection. Sandy had no idea what her father could have gotten himself into to make him so afraid to face the Imperial army, but it was surely bigger than she could imagine.

At the very least, she was thankful to be well acquainted with the king rather than being married off to a complete stranger. He was a man of few words and even less humor, but he had a heart for his people, even if his strict enforcement often ended with someone’s head on a guillotine. She was looking forward to the opportunity to reduce such drastic measures of punishment, although she could somedays be a little hot-headed herself.

“So... you called,” she said, shifting in anticipation. Being able to work together with the king to make a difference in the land was an exciting thought. She was thrilled to be in his presence. Anything to keep her thoughts away from this bloody war.

“Yes,” he shifted closer, trying to keep his casual tone. “First of all, My Lady—“

“So formal, Shadow!” She grinned over her own teasing. “C’mon, it’s me! We’ve known each other since we were adolescent!” She cheerfully scooted a bit closer, his quickening breath going completely unnoticed by her. “I know we’re here to talk post-coronation matters, but...” she laid her hand on his knee with a reassuring smile. “It’s just you and me here. Please breathe a little. Take the weight off your shoulders for just a few moments before we begin.”

Shadow’s ever-stoic eyes locked sights with her cheerful ones and he reached to lightly touch her face. “Actually, M— Sandy...” he rested his other hand on top of hers. “We’ve already begun.”

Sandy’s brow creased in confusion. “Huh?”

“Post-coronation matters... include our own private matters.”

“What are you say—?”

She couldn’t even finish the thought before their extreme proximity rendered her speechless. An embrace was imminent and she wasn’t sure if it was just the stress manifesting within him. Before their lips connected, she pressed her hands against his chest.

“W-wait, wait! Do you really want to do this?!” She wasn’t sure if she was directing this question to him or herself.

His dashing, rarely witnessed smile made her quake. “That stupid guard was a disrespectful lout, but he wasn’t wrong. War does take the best from us. Sometimes we need to remember and... experience what’s in store after it’s over.” He played with the hem of her collar before starting to pull. “Allow me to share what’s in store for us just a bit earlier than planned... my future queen.”

“Control yerself, Sandy girl,” she thought as this rousing mind game continued. This wasn’t a feeling she was used to entertaining. Not even when the likes of Dillon or Static had been involved.

“You were crying.”

She shook a little, not expecting him to break the silence first. “H-huh?” Sandy suddenly noticed he had stepped back a bit, his previous determination shelved and replaced by concern.

“You were crying,” he repeated, the hand that had previously teased her lower lip gently moving down to her collarbone.

Sandy clenched her whole body, demanding the shivers to stop.

“I was. I’m okay now,” she responded too fast for it to actually seem okay.

She met his eyes again. She could read a question in them before he looked down dismissively. Surely he thought she had been crying about what he had done to her. How he had kissed her without warning before the true stakes had been presented. But that wasn’t it.

When they had been cornered with nowhere to go, Krystal opened her second home to them for the night. Before that, Sandy had been on a constant fight to stay alert and awake. Even though they were now safe in this military grade building, the shock and adrenaline was still driving her body. She had wept, hoping to find some solace in sleep, but she couldn’t.

That’s when Shadow walked in.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she whispered smiling. “It’s just... it’s been a long week. I’m so tired.”

To her surprise, he shifted to stand on his knees and carefully wrapped her in a hug, naturally elevating her from her sitting position on the ground. His hands slowly caressed her as he snaked them around from her shoulders to her back.

“Rest with me...”

She couldn’t take it any longer. She unclenched her body and gave in to his embrace, an involuntary moan escaping her. Shadow stiffened at her sound, his breath caught for moment. Sandy couldn’t help smiling for just a moment, secretly proud that she could have such an effect on a man. She never had a doubt that she could take any one in a fight, but this was a new power.

She could feel him tense against her, his body language still somewhat hesitant. He didn’t want to overwhelm her, and rightfully so.

She was afraid and they both knew it.

“I don’t want to mess this up,” he whispered unsteadily into her ear.

But she wanted this.

“You won’t,” she whispered back, moaning once more over the touch of his wandering hands. “Reckon I’d be the one here afraid to mess up,” she tried to joke. She could feel him slightly smile against her cheek.

When he reached the base of the hill the cries had come from, he stopped, almost tripping over his own feet. At the top of the smoking hill lay the bodies of a large portion of his crew and standing over them was a mystical sight. A maiden of fair frame, caked in the blood of Shadow’s men and shakily holding herself up by the hilt of his right-hand man’s sword— which almost dwarfed her in stature. Her posture and trembling of the sword gave her a deceitful air of weakness, but her bright, piercing eyes were full of otherworldly wrath.

Quickly getting over his superstitious assumption that only a goddess of war could carry out such a horrific feat on her own, Shadow seethed and stepped closer to the creature, his anger over his fallen brothers getting the better of his judgement. War goddess or not, she would pay for what she had taken from him. She already appeared worn out from the battles prior. This would be an easy revenge, he likely thought as his red-tinged quills stiffened in fury.

As he ascended the hill, their furious eyes were locked onto one another, unblinking. The demon captain raised his broadsword over his head without a second thought and swung his blade down towards her skull. As fast as Shadow had swung, the maiden dropped to her knees and parried his attack by getting under his fallen comrade’s blade and using it to fling his own sword down the hill and out of sight. Though he was momentarily surprised, the maiden failed her attempt to fight back as she stood up too fast and teetered, falling harmlessly into Shadow’s arms.

In those few seconds, he noticed the way her blood-soaked dress clung to her lithe figure. Her tail, which usually helped her impeccable balance, was weighted down with so much blood and mud that she could hardly stand. He felt her tremble with fury as she continued to venomously stare at him, her olive green eyes shining in an almost bewitching manner despite the overcast sky. Before she could right herself and try again, he had already locked her head between the crook of his elbow and the side of his breastplate. He reached for the dagger at the side of his belt and heard her breath quicken.

“Tell me, small maiden. Do you expect me to believe that you took my men down all by yourself?” he spat, holding the dagger’s hilt firmly against her jugular.

“Ask those who remain, though I’m certain they won’t want to admit it. But maybe one will,” she smirked in defiance. “Try it, it will be good to find an honest man to replace your right-hand.”

The demon captain bristled in anger and began to press the blade against her pelt.

“So be it. My husband awaits in Valhalla,” she muttered.

He paused at her words. Not a maiden, but a widow? Her small frame deceived her age. It was only now that he noticed the simple wedding band on her finger. A jagged line akin to a bolt of lightning graced the center of the band all around. Shadow’s curiosity was a mighty flaw of his.

“Your husband taught you to fight, no doubt.”

“Haha… I taught him,” she grinned widely, enjoying the captain’s struggle to accept being outsmarted by this woman. “You took him from me. It was only fair trade to take your finest. Let me rest and leave with your useless treasure.”

Shadow’s brow furrowed. His pride refused to allow her to cross over with a victorious smile on her face. “And what makes you think I wouldn’t keep you for myself? I collect the finest treasures from around the world.” he said as he loosened his grip around her head. He shifted the dagger in his hand so that his thumb and index finger were free to hold up her chin and meet his gaze. “So what, pray tell, could be a grander treasure than a powerful, woman warrior? Nay, a valkyrie in the flesh?”

“You flatter me, but I was never much for poetry,” the young widow deadpanned, trying to shake herself away from this much gentler grip. But as she tried, she felt his digits tighten against her jaw.

“I wonder what it’s like,” he smiled deviously “…to taste the lips of a goddess.”

For the first time, the woman’s bravado fell. She began to shrink against his breastplate, her knees giving way to her weight. The captain took pleasure in her revulsion, seeing her face redden at the humiliating thought of being kissed by anyone but her beloved. Shadow chuckled, finally discovering how to flaunt his power over her, and continued to press his luck by inching closer to her face. But by placing all of his force on the back of her head to keep her from escaping, he did not expect her to throw her head forward into a mighty headbutt.

The two fell to the ground at the force of the impact, Shadow stabbing his dagger into the dirt to keep from rolling down the hill. The young widow sat up, her eyes giving away the plan formulating in her mind. He followed her line of sight to his sword at the bottom of the hill and saw her preparing to slide down after it. Before she could crawl far enough, he found his footing and tackled her back down. The weight of his armor coupled with her exhaustion was too much to bear.

“A treasure indeed,” he chuckled.

“End it,” she demanded.

“Never. I have decided. You will be my bride.”

“That is not a decision for one unit to make,” she said after spitting at him right between the eyes. “I am Sandra Électro. And I will remain as such for the rest of my days!”

“Sandra… that’s a strong name. How much stronger could it be, coupled with my own? You haven’t experienced my true power yet. Much less my influence.”

Before Sandra could speak her retort, the sound of men crying out for regroup broke her focus. The remaining crew was getting closer. If she was struggling against a single man now, surely her chances to fight back were finally over. She felt nauseous, now struck with the realization that her honorable death would be tarnished by being forced into bedding this scoundrel. Her world spun out of control. She felt her body go weightless for a moment as the captain hoisted her over his shoulder. All she could see now was the backside of the captain’s armor and the disturbed, bloodied ground he stood upon.

Shadow faced his incoming crew. “Report,” he said curtly, breaking the sailor’s trance upon seeing so many of his crewmates dead.

“W-we are loaded, Captain,” the sailor said, a pup looking not much older than 18 years of age.

A cayuga duck came up behind him and smiled sinisterly at the girl in Shadow’s arms. “Ah-hah, I see the Captain’s bringing some entertainment for us during the voyage!” Sandra swallowed hard. She could not see him, but there was no mistaking that drunken slur. Her skin crawled at the thought of his eyes ogling her body as she was unable to move.

“She is not for the taking,” Shadow suddenly barked, his naturally gravelly voice becoming more guttural. “No one is to lay a finger on this woman. She is mine. Get yourselves down there to load.”

“Yes, Captain,” the two soldiers cried out and marched towards the ships, not wanting to incur the powerful hedgehog’s wrath.

“As for you,” Shadow said, shifting Sandra on his shoulder. “I am not to lay a finger on you as well. Treasure like you should not be defiled. I trust you’ll see the error of your ways when I show you the luxuries you’ll be privileged to obtain.”

She laughed. “Is that supposed to impress me into marriage?”

Shadow smirked. Though he could not see her face at the moment, he could perfectly picture that smug, defiant look on her face. It’s a look he looked forward to getting used to, no matter the struggle.