#sonlaze

Sonaze Week | 1: Rain

not beta read, sorry for any errors !!!

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Blaze ran straight out of the ballroom into the back gardens of the Sol Palace, rushing to get some peace and quiet. She didn’t care if it was raining. All Blaze wanted was a break from future suitors from her father, Pyre. “Blaze do this, Blaze, say hello to him, Blaze, you never know who will suit you best.” Yeah, as if her father was listening to anything she had to say about her arranged marriage options. Which is precisely why she’s out here and not in there. Luckily, the regal King of the Sol Empire was preoccupied with Kings and their sons enveloped in conversation. 

Everything about this whole ordeal was just so hard on her. Growing up, she always knew that her mother Ember wouldn’t have minded who she was married off to as long as she was happy. That is, until her sudden death at the hands of Eggman Nega. 10-year-old Blaze would then have to forget all of those things and abide by her fathers’ rules; very intentionally fueled by his wife’s passing. Of course, Pyre didn’t want anything happening to his precious princess, so he had to do everything to keep her safe. At all costs. Blaze knew that even if she despised the idea of a romantic stranger, she would have to do it for the sake of their empire— the prosperity of their people.

Then, why did it hurt so much? Why was she in tears, running to the edge of the pier in pure sadness? Blaze had an idea why, but she couldn’t let herself admit the harsh truth. Her father told her to not feel bad, but to feel good she was keeping the royal lineage alive and that the kingdom would thrive off the opportunity of the next generation of royals. That was her way to be happy, right?

As if it couldn’t worsen, Blaze fell to her knees tripping on her satin magenta ball gown. She heard a loud tear before the impact of the hard surface but quickly forgot about it due to feeling scrapes across her kneecaps. The pain in her body and heart was too much to bear, so she broke down in sobs on the edge of the dock, feet dangling over the edge. 

Eyeliner irritated her eyes as it melted away in the humidity of the downpour, her ivory gloves being ripped apart to rub the makeup away. It wasn’t bad that she couldn’t see if she was honest. Part of the heart-ripping emotion she was feeling was pain, so this just added a little extra topping to her destroyed cake. 

Rain poured down just a bit harder as she wept, the sunset being clouded by shades of gray. She hated it. She hated everything about this stupid arranged marriage and wanted nothing more than to be completely alone. It hurt her. It hurt thinking about how much she would have to sacrifice to rule her future kingdom. 

              It wasn’t until she felt the rain completely stop drenching her that she took a second to breathe.

              Blaze looked up to see her loyal friend, Prince Sonic the Hedgehog, holding a black umbrella with one hand and what seemed to be a wool blanket in his other. Sonic was Blaze’s other half— even though she chooses not to admit it. His family was one that made Blaze feel the most at home, even if, like herself, had set high expectations for their oldest son. Oldest of three children, Prince Sonic was already betrothed to the daughter of  Mobius’ reigning hierarchy of royalty, Princess Sally Acorn. He was the prince that everyone had wanted to wed their daughters off to, but as the country’s capital monarch, Of course Sally had first pick. 

           “What’s a princess like you doing outside?” Sonic’s voice brings her out of her head and back to reality, where his emerald green hues looked at her with concern. She wiped her eyes and hid her head in her hands. Blaze took one deep breath before speaking. “Just… getting some air.” 

            The lilac kitten knew that she couldn’t have fooled the cerulean hedgehog for one second with an answer like that. Next thing she knew, Sonic was placing the blanket around her shoulders and shuffling on the grass to sit beside her. She didn’t look over for even a second, embarrassed to show her puffy red irises and sad disposition.

            The sound of Sonic’s breathing mixed with the droplets of rain echoed in her mind like a soft melody. It was always peaceful being around someone so familiar, yet so comforting.

            Sonic and Blaze sat under the umbrella and stared at the sea ahead, no words spoken and no longing glances towards each other, that is, until Blaze looked over to see Sonic looking right back at her. 

            For once, Blaze felt the world stop. She hadn’t felt this feeling in a long time, considering the last man that she was betrothed to was her best friend Sir Silver and even then, the way she felt for him didn’t feel nearly close to how she was feeling in this moment. She felt her cheeks warm up in the cold drizzle of the rain while she eyed Sonic’s face flushing to a cherry red. 

            “S—Sorry!” The prince stuttered, immediately jerking his head forward and covering his face with his right hand. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” 

             All Blaze could think about was how his emerald green hues contrasted in the gray complexion of the dreary weather. It was almost like green lightning had pierced right through her, touching something deep in her heart. 

             Snapping back to reality, Blaze replied. “Oh—“ she begins, shy and soft spoken. “Well, I appreciate it.” A small silence grows before she speaks again. “I’m just getting away from my dad.” 

             Sonic scoffs. “He’s still trying to get you courted, I see.” 

             “Emphasis on trying.” Blaze runs a hand through her soaked dress skirt, picking at a loose seam. 

             “Are any of them even worth it?” Sonic asks, now turning to face her. “You don’t have to pick right now just to please your dad.” 

             “I really wish I could pick.” the princess sighs, still avoiding the prince’s striking emerald gaze. “But, I promised I would do what he says since I owe that to him after my mother passed away.” She finishes picking at the seam to shuffle her body around to face him instead. 

             The cerulean monarch grabs the blanket falling off of the lilac princess’ shoulders and places it back where it once was, making sure it stays where it is by tucking it in between her arms. The two share yet another eye locking gaze, simply stopping anything they were doing to feel the connection. Still looking at her, Sonic then begins talking again. “You know, you have your own voice too.” The two of them snap out of the trance and go back to steering clear of each others’ eyeballs. “You’re the one getting married.” 

             “I suppose…” Blaze whispers, almost under her breath. “But I don’t think I have a choice. My life has been set up for me ever since I was born but now it’s even more critical that I continue my mothers lineage and make the family proud.” Her throat catches a lump before she can stop a tear from running down her face. “I just can’t make these choices right now, my family comes first.” 

              A sigh is heard from Sonic, one of sympathetic emotional intent. “But when will the time come when you put yourself first?” 

             Blaze feels her cheeks heating up the same way they did not too long ago. Sonic always knew the right things to say and was usually super supportive in his somewhat helpful advice and his ridiculously quirky jokes— anyone could smile or feel confident at anything he preached about. The pair had not spent any time alone together since their paths were very different, but Blaze always considered Sonic the closest person in her life. This statement Sir Sonic made solidified a fear she had which was being left alone. 

              However, even with all these thoughts rampaging in her head, she sighs again, staring down at her dress. “I—“ she starts. “I don’t know.” 

              She really didn’t know. Doing something off book or what Pyre could consider “rebellious” never crossed her mind once. The fear of disappointing her family name and it’s lineage was too great of a privilege to go do something she truly wanted. No distractions or rocky roads, just smooth sailing to what seemed to be a great future… until she started feeling overwhelmed with all of the suitors she was being introduced to. 

              “Well,” Her blue hero of a best friend puts a hand on her shoulder, causing Blaze to flinch at his touch. “When you do know, or if you don’t, you know I’ll support you with whatever happens next.” Blaze sniffles before replying. “You will?” Sonic scoffs. “Of course I will! I’m your best friend! I will always be here!” 

                The comfort in that last sentence he spoke gave Blaze that new feeling again. With that new feeling turning in her stomach, the rain slowly came to a halt. Thank goodness, she was feeling pretty cold. However, She watched Sonic turn around to face the now dewy deck and still water, the sunset peeking out from behind the clouds. Maybe she was experiencing a new type of connection, but it made her want to get closer with Sonic every dying second she was in his presence. 

                 Maybe that was a good thing. 

                 “So, how about this sunset?” Sonic asks, now putting the umbrella down, smiling as he does so. 

                  Blaze, now finally cracking a small smile, wipes her tears from her face as she scoots closer to him, feeling that strong force that gets even stronger the closer she is. The electric aura around the two on the dock was enough to be felt for miles. She didn’t know what she was feeling at all, but Blaze thought it wouldn’t hurt to have it last a bit longer. 

                “It’s beautiful.” Was all she said, cradling her legs inwards again, watching the waters’ waves slowly colliding with the pillars of the dock. 

                Meanwhile, Sonic turns his gaze to her watching the water, satisfied that he, himself, could make her smile, while also feeling a little bit of warmth in knowing she was happy. Anything that could display that shy cat-like grin made Sonic feel something a little more than just friendly attraction, but you know how the story goes, the happily ever after is at the end of the book.