*Sonic's POV *
"You two look so handsome. I dont think I have ever seen you in a suit before, Blue. It suits you, you should wear one more often." If she only knew. Rouge was with us at Shadows house as we got ready. It was the first time I had ever come here, and I was surprised Shadow even let me in.

It's not like the guy hated me or anything. We actually got along every once in a while, but I did get on his nerves all the time. Mostly on purpose.

"I am not big on wearing suits." I chuckled and walked to Shadow, I saw his tie was crooked, and I fixed it for him out of habit for doing that to Manic all the time.

"Really? Because you knew how to tie a tie so well." Rouge smiled when she saw me helping Shadow.

"I could have done that myself, Faker." Shadow rolled his eyes and walked to the table. "How did you manage to get us invited?"

"I called in a favor." I shrugged, I actually had not thought about what I was going to say for that. I hoped they wouldn't continue asking questions, and to my relief, they didn't.

"This should be an easy mission. By tonight, Maurice's identity should be revealed." Rouge said as she sat down beside Shadow, but I remained standing, my arms crossed as if I was making arrangements with the guards. 

"I would not be so sure. The triplets aren't an easy target." I explained.

"You've met them before, right? Do you know why he keeps a mask on?" Rouge asked.

"No idea. He's not much of a talker." I shrugged once again. "Kind of like Shadow, he prefers to stay away and stay silent. I guess another way of hiding who he is." I was trying not to lie to them as much as I could. They were my friends, after all.

"We need to be alone with him or make it seem like an accident. The queen will have us locked up if she knows we did it on purpose." Shadow finally decided to speak.

"How are we even planning on doing so? Just rip the mask off him?" I laughed at the idea, already imagining the shock look on Shadow if he did manage and saw Scourge.

"We will figure it out then. I've never been at the castle before. I dont know how it works yet." Shadow confessed, crossing his arms as a way to say he was already having too much social interaction.

"So tonight might not even be the day we remove his mask?" I asked, and Shadow nodded in agreement.

"We need to see how the family works. Try to get close to them as much as you can, get invited to more events." Shadow spoke to me. Unlike what Rouge said about finishing the mission tonight, Shadow was planning to learn more than just who Maurice was.

"Me?" I pointed at myself. "What exactly is YOUR role here? I can get myself invited but what am I supposed to say about you?"

"A relationship." Rouge suggested. "Shadow could get invited to more events if you say you two are together."

"No. I'm not doing cliche stuff." I crossed my arms.

"Cliche?" Shadow raised a brown.

"They're going to know right away that I'm lying. It's so obvious." I scoffed and finally decided to sit down.

"If you're just going to be making jokes, then get out of my house." Shadow told Rouge, who simply smiled at him and shrugged as she rested back on the seat, crossing her leg as she remained quiet for a bit longer before she finally came out with something useful.

"They know Shadow works with G.U.N., Sonic can tell them Shadow is just trying to make sure everything is in order for them to keep them safe. That'll give him an opening to spend more time at the castle without being questioned for walking around."

"I guess that will work." I hummed knowing well it probably wouldn't, but it was going to have to do. I have to talk to my mother about it so she doesn't take it by surprise. And if she does, then I hope she plays along.

"Let's go then." Shadow stood up, then raised a brow at Rouge, who remained seated even after I stood up as well. "Get out of my house, Bat."

"I'll wait here for the two of you. I need to know the details before I go to work tomorrow anyway. I'm the one stuck doing all the paperwork." Rouge explained, which made Shadow roll his eyes, but he walked to me regardless, and chaos controlled us to the castle.

The previous day , we talked to all the workers at the castle explaining the situation. I was grateful they were loyal to my family and I, so they knew what to do already. I was not Maurice tonight, but Sonic the Hedgehog, their beloved hero. But I didn't count on seeing Sally.

"Sonic!" She walked to me with a bright smile plastered on her face as soon as the doors opened for Shadow and I.

"Princess Sally, nice to see you again." I bowed to her, making her look at me confused. I needed a save.

"Where is Tails?" She asked, looking behind Shadow and I.

"Tails wasn't able to attend tonight, but we are grateful to have been invited to this event." I said as I stood up straight again.

"Sally! There you are!" Manic came to view and wrapped an arm around Sally. "Hey! Sonic is here, it's nice to see you again, enjoy the party. Nice to meet you, Shadow." Shadow and I both bowed down for Manic which I already knew he was never going to drop.

He soon enough took Sally away, and I hoped he would explain the situation to her. Shadow and I were both guided to the big salon where the party was taking place, people were dancing with their partners in the middle, wearing those big poofy dresses my sister was made to wear and suits that were tailored to fit them to perfection.

"This is uncomfortable." Shadow muttered lowly as he took a look around. "I don't see the prince anywhere."

"Uhm. Yeah. I guess they must be showing up later." I shrugged as I looked around as well, even my mother wasn't around.

"Seems like you have more connections than you care to say." Shadows gaze was on me as he talked. "How do you know the princess?"

Shit. I didn't think this far ahead.