As Tails walked tiredly on the sand under his feet, most of the royal guards stood up with serious faces and waited.

Respect is awe-inspiring.

Only Sakel, who had sat the farthest away, turned his head unhurriedly to him.

In the desert, Tails plows step after step of sand.

Every step he took was stuck in the sand, but every time he tried his best to break free from the sand and take the next step.

As always.

Finally, Tails stopped in front of everyone.

He looked silently at the embarrassed, gloomy face of the royal guards.

That's the kind of people......

Fast Rope, who was fighting against the military ration cake, rolled his eyes, and hurriedly stood up with a rolling belt, pointing at himself desperately in the face of Tails, and showing a flattering smile of "Hey, it's me".

Belletti looked at Barney Jr., and then at Sakel, and when she saw that none of them looked like they were going to speak, she sighed:

"Your Highness......"

But Tails interrupted him:

"It's over. ”

In front of the astonished crowd, the prince smiled:

"Although thousands of people witnessed your escape......"

Tails' voice fell:

"But...... It's over. ”

It's over?

Belletti and Tardine looked at each other, reading each other's amazement.

The prince turned and watched in the desert of dawn, where squads of cavalry sped back and forth under command, conveying Roman's orders, and watched as Ricky returned to his midst, pacifying the mercenaries who were pointing fingers at him.

"The official version is that during the civil strife at Camp Bladefang, Wings of Legend personally executed every fugitive without leaving anyone alive. ”

The guards looked at each other with a look of astonishment.

The young man said quietly:

"So, all the prisoners of the Guard who were imprisoned eighteen years ago have all passed away. ”

"You ...... Got it?"

Everyone slowed their breathing, digesting the news.

Tails' eyes darkened:

"I want to do more, to reopen your old cases, to clear your name, to restore your reputation, but ......"

He didn't say any more.

The guards were silent, looking at each other from time to time, full of hesitation and confusion.

"Your Highness......"

Belletti took a deep breath, as if plucking up a lot of courage:

"We, we ......"

But Tails said to himself:

"Baron Williams will take care of the rest, whether it's the secret department or the army, and you won't be hindered again. ”

Barney Jr. frowned.

"As for how to get out of here, hide your identity, and keep your name incognito......"

Tails swept over the tired, sleepy and scarred guards in front of him one by one, and his voice was hoarse:

"You're all masters of your skills, and I'm sure you'll have a way. ”

Hide your identity and keep your name incognito......

Belletti and the others looked at each other, puzzled.

Without waiting for the others to react, Tails looked at the hippie-faced guy:

"Do me another favor, take the fast rope - this guy with you, take him out of here, keep him out of sight of those who have a heart. ”

Everyone turned their heads in unison, and the fast rope who was still smirking froze.

"Don't ask him who he is, and don't ask him where he's from. ”

Tails looked at the fast rope with a tired expression, and struggled to squeeze out a smile:

"This is what I owe him. ”

The fast rope froze.

With that, Tails sighed and stepped on the soft, cold, lifeless sand beneath his feet:

"Now. ”

He raised his head and looked at the early sun in the east:

"You're free. ”

Freely.

The moment this word was spoken, all the members of the guard were stunned for a moment.

Including Saqel.

Freely?

At that moment, confusion and confusion filled the air.

Brie and Cannon looked to the east in confusion, slightly shaken.

Little Barney looked at the sand beneath his feet and fell into deep thought.

Belletti and Tardin looked at everyone in a daze, not knowing what to say.

Fastrope rolled his eyes, as if he understood that this was not a good time to speak.

It was Saker, who stared at Tails motionlessly.

"Enjoy. ”

Tails looked at them deeply, smiled reassuringly, and turned away.

He staggered to the foot of the sand dunes leading the white horse, like the man in the painting.

"Your Highness. ”

At this moment, Belletti finally couldn't help but speak:

"What about you?"

His words dragged the people who were immersed in God out of the unspeakable atmosphere.

Tails stopped.

But he doesn't look back:

"I'm a prince, remember?"

Tails exhaled and looked at Roman in the distance:

"I'll go back with them, back to Camp Bladetooth first. ”

"Go back to Eternal Star City. ”

Back to where I started.

To face my fate......

Tails clenched his fists.

My future.

"Your Highness. ”

Belletti took a deep breath, looked left and right, and nodded to each other with her colleagues.

"Let's follow you. ”

"Whether it's Bladetooth Camp or Eternal Star City. ”

Tails frowned slightly.

I saw Belletti take a step forward, face Tails's back, and press his chest and say sincerely:

"This sword is only for the emperor to wield. ”

"It's just for the emperor to break it. ”

Tardin and Cannon also pressed their hands to their chests and followed solemnly:

"There's no other use. ”

Tails shuddered slightly.

He slowly turned his head and looked at the group of scarred and exhausted veterans in front of him, but still trying to puff up their chests and straighten their waists.

Maybe......

Just like eighteen years ago.

Tails couldn't help but sigh a little.

At that moment, there was silence on the desert.

The atmosphere didn't dare to take a bite of the fast rope and looked left and right, and he was embarrassed and still suppressed the sentence "Can I go first".

After a few seconds, Tails smiled softly.

"First of all, I am not an emperor. ”

The prince sighed:

"There has been no emperor in this world for a long time. ”

The guards lowered their arms, slightly surprised.

"Secondly, I can't convince my father, and he's just going to throw you in jail again. ”

Tails' gaze swept over everyone, sweeping towards the imprint on their faces:

"Or worse. ”

Everyone in the guard didn't seem to be able to react for a while, and looked at each other.

Tails smiled, shook his head in acquiescence, and walked away.

Leave behind a group of bewildered guards.

Another breeze blew away some of the slightly rising heat.

"But we're dead. ”

Tardin's desolate voice rang out low, halting Tails' steps.

I saw Tarding looking at the sand under his feet with great attention, and slowly raised his head:

"Your Highness, we ...... There is nowhere else to go. ”

His words made the rest of the guards feel uneasy.

Sakel, who stood the farthest, even turned his head.

"Let's work for you, that's all I can think of, the only value we have. Tarding said bitterly.

Tails exhaled.

Unique value......

He remembered the oath of the guards, and suddenly had mixed feelings.

Royal Guard, huh?

Feeling the wordless sorrow, the young man nodded and smiled:

"If it had been before, when I was younger, maybe I would have said, 'Okay, come and play for me'. ”

"But now ....... ”

The prince was distracted for a moment.

He then raised his head and looked at everyone sincerely, receiving their confused, unwilling, empty, or lost eyes:

"Eighteen years, you have been for the stars, for the Fuxing Palace, for the Bright Star Royal Family...... What's more, you pay enough for yourself and for your choices. ”

Many shuddered.

Tails walked slowly back to Tardin's side, looking into his puzzled eyes.

"What you need is to be born again. ”

Tails tried to put his shoulder on his shoulder, but unfortunately found that the move was a little awkward due to his height.

"It is really, freely, unfettered, unrestricted......"

The boy shrugged helplessly, and had to clench his fist and tap it on Tardin's shoulder:

“...... Stay alive. ”

The wind and sand blew, blowing Tails' words into the distance.

Everyone in the guard looked at the prince in front of them in amazement.

Silence and confusion enveloped the place for a moment.

"And believe me, you always have a place to go. ”

Tails smiled softly and looked at the rising sun to the east:

"Nicer place. ”

Tardin looked at the prince in a daze.

Belletti opened her mouth to speak, but in the end she didn't say anything.

But Barney Jr.'s deep voice rang out, attracting attention:

"In the history of the stars, being a prince is never easy. ”

Tails frowned and turned his head as Barney Jr. walked through the crowd of figures and came to him:

"You're going to need a hidden force out of sight. ”

"We are suitable, as your sword outside the Fuxing Palace. ”

Barney Jr. stood in front of the crowd, staring at Tails with burning eyes.

Tails was stunned for a second.

As a prince......

...... out of view

Hidden Power......

At that moment, Tails remembered a lot.

For example, the map of Fuxing Palace that King Nunn gave him.

For example, the crazy eyes of the dead crow.

And long ago, the dark prophet's gloomy tone.

This made Tails a little distracted.

"Coincidentally. ”

Tails raised his head and looked at everyone with a smile:

"Hammer, the guy from the Shadow Shield just now, he said something similar to me. ”

These words made everyone stunned again.

The Shadow Shield?

"I want to be a secret blade in my hands. ”

But Tails then laughed.

"Strength?"

In the eyes of everyone who did not know why, Tails raised his head with embarrassment and looked at the endless desert:

"Yes, I have pulled you out of the dark dungeons, from the bottomless abyss, from the eternal nightmare. ”

He shook his head, spread his hands, and sneered:

"So, I've gained your loyalty?"

"And you can be my strength?"

The prince's seemingly self-muttering words puzzled everyone:

"And then, we will get along with the monarch and the minister, make meritorious contributions, sweep the Quartet, and leave our names in history?"

Tails looked at the distance of the sunrise, and there was a joke in his eyes that was difficult for others to understand:

"Good story. ”

"Enough to write a book. ”

The guards looked at each other in amazement.

Belletti asked tentatively:

"Your Highness......"

But Tails quickly came back to his senses and spoke with a complicated expression:

"I knew a guy a long time ago. ”

"He always smiled, watched the children fall into the endless abyss, watched them struggle helplessly, and smiled again, appeared as a savior, and reached out to them. ”

In this way, he will be able to occupy the high ground without blemish, and by means of blameless ethics, he will be rewarded for his kindness, and he will become the master of the saved without guilt or burden, and he will reap the rewards of his subordinates who are dead to him and grateful to Dade. ”

Tails sighed softly, his words causing Belletti and Tardine to look at each other in confusion.

The prince looked around at the people in front of him, looked at their scattered and tired figures, and said lonely:

"If you modify the perspective and penmanship, the beauty is hidden and the evil is hidden, and a person like him is enough to become the protagonist of the legendary story, and the image is perfect and logical in the final chapter finale, and the world is harmonious. ”

Tyers said quietly:

"Except...... I was one of those kids. ”

The crowd fell silent.

Tails was silent for two seconds, then looked up:

"You know, there's some truth to Saker's words. ”

"I'm thinking about ......"

"Do I do everything to help you or myself?"

The veterans of the Guard were stunned again.

Only the Knight of Punishment looked straight at him, his gaze obscure.

I saw Tails look into everyone's eyes with a deep gaze, calling out their names:

"Barney, Belletti, Tardin, Cannon, Brie......"

"Sakel. ”

The people who were shouted couldn't help but subconsciously stand up.

"Listen up. ”

Tails said seriously and seriously:

"It was not me who saved you, but yourselves. ”

"Your freedom has been earned by yourselves. ”

"You don't owe me anything. ”

Many people were stunned by these words.

"You have been tortured and have struggled to escape,"

Tails looked in the direction of the camp and said in a resolute tone:

"Not to be loyal to me, not to change a shackle, not to change a master. ”

"Not to stand still, not to return to that abyss of power. ”

The prince looked at everyone unquestionably, and even the fast rope subconsciously stood upright.

"If you escape from the prison of bones, you become my subordinates and become the bargaining chips of the second prince......"

"Then everything I have done today, and everything you have endured in the past, will be meaningless. ”

Tails tightened his throat and sighed:

"It's just the selfishness of another bright star, tying you back to the game of the old days, pushing you back to the vortex of eighteen years ago, and the nightmare returns. ”

"You ...... Not worthy of such a fate. ”

At that moment, everyone was speechless for a moment.

Sakel's eyes changed when he looked at him.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Barney Jr.'s voice rang out slowly.

The vanguard officer frowned, as if determined to refute Tails' words:

"If nothing else, at least, we all know your ...... Secret. ”

His last word bites particularly hard.

It also made everyone present change color together!

Even Tails darkened his expression.

My secret.

The fast rope behind everyone subconsciously grabbed the time crossbow in his hand.

Ignoring the looks of Belletti and Tardin, Barney Jr. gritted his teeth and said:

"For your safety and interests, if you don't take advantage of this opportunity to tie us down to your side and strengthen your own ......"

"That's very unwise. ”

Little Barney said coldly:

"If there is a slight leak, waiting for your fate...... It's going to be bad. ”

Tails was silent.

Belletti patted Barney on the shoulder, but the latter just ignored him.

But after a few seconds, Tails looked up and smiled in relief.

"Not so long ago, I met one prince - another. ”

Everyone was puzzled.

Only the fast rope is discolored.

"The way we choose to live is doomed to our end, regardless of power or status. ”

"If I spend all day long, I am scared, and even drill into the camp to plot and scheming, and I care about the interests of the powerful......"

Tails looked at the fast rope in the crowd, intentionally or unintentionally, and sighed:

"Then I will never be able to break free from the shackles of fate. ”

His words silenced everyone.

Tails looked at everyone:

"Just like you are now. ”

"Your choice determines whether you get another set of chains with a different name, or a ......"

Tails took a deep breath and slowly exhaled:

"True freedom. ”

Everyone was slightly moved, and even Barney Jr. bowed his head slightly.

While many people began to ponder, a voice that had not sounded for a long time pierced through the wind and sand:

"You don't look like your father. ”

Everyone turned their heads and was surprised to find that it was Sakel, who was standing on the periphery, who was speaking.

Father.

Tails' mind conjured up the scene of the first father and son meeting in the Medis Hall.

He thought of the North again, of the Dragon's Blood, of Camp Bladefang.

Remembering the crown on the throne, the scepter.

Father.

But Tails was only slightly distracted, and then smiled:

"Because I'm not him. ”

He affirmed:

"And never will be. ”

Sakel looked at him fixedly, but suddenly sneered:

"Not necessarily. ”

This made Tails' smile fade a little.

However, Sakel uttered the next sentence:

"Your mother has died. ”

Tails was shocked!

I saw the punishment knight said lightly:

"Don't look for her again. ”

In an instant, all eyes turned to Sacrael.

Already...... Passed away?

"What do you mean?"

Tails, who reacted, said in surprise:

"Do you know my mother?"

But Sakel just shook his head, his expression turning back to indifference: "No." ”

"Remember my words. ”

This time, Tails stared at him for a long time.

What did he say......

Passed away......

So......

In the end, in the face of the ice-like silence of Sakel, the prince could only sigh helplessly.

"Forget it, I guess you won't tell me either. ”

Sakel didn't answer, just looked at him coldly.

But Tails immediately scoffed:

"'Already dead, don't look for her again'......"

"You know, Saker, what is the most interesting part of language? ”

Sakel frowned.

The prince narrowed his eyes:

"People always like to focus on the back. ”

These words made Sakel stunned.

Tails smiled.

The neighing of war horses sounded in the distance.

The prince took a breath, gave up his question, and turned his head to look at the rising early sun.

"Royal Guard, for the last time, I command as Tails Bright Star...... No, I'll tell you. ”

Everyone in the guard was in awe.

Just listen to the prince's quiet words:

"The nightmare is gone, the darkness is gone. ”

He swept over everyone earnestly.

The stubborn Barney, the worried Belletti, the gloomy Tardin, the cowering Cannon, and the unwilling Brie......

Silent Saker.

and the dull fast rope.

"From now on, truly free to ......"

He smiled.

"Live. ”

With that, Tails turned around decisively and walked to the sand dunes in the distance, where Roman was waiting for him.

Tails dragged his tired body as he came, wading through the sand step by step.

Towards his homecoming.

The morning light shone brightly, and a golden reflection bloomed on his back:

It's over.

With these......

Everything in the dungeon flashed before his eyes.

I was very emotional.

It's a pity......

"Your Highness. ”

Behind him came a faint, choked cry from Belletti.

But Tails just shook his head and continued his trek.

Don't.

Royal Guard.

There was a faint muffled sound behind him.

The distracted Tails didn't look back.

But in the next second, more and more muffled sounds came one after another.

The cavalry and mercenaries in the distance seemed to see something, and they were slightly in an uproar, and they all cast their eyes in this direction.

Well?

Interrupted by his thoughts, Tails stopped.

Roman in the distance frowned, and Ricky stopped talking to his subordinates.

They all looked this way.

Alerted by these anomalies, Tails looked back in confusion.

And he was stunned.

This is......

The early morning shines, and the yellow sand is long.

I saw six stubborn figures, stuck on the desert horizon like iron casting, leaning forward slightly.

Between the blurred light and shadow, a neat and consistent Taoist figure was pulled, which was washed by the morning light and wind and sand.

This is......

Tails stared blankly at the sight in front of him: Sakel, Barney Jr., Belletti......

It's the Royal Guard.

The wind and sand were blowing, and all the guards had already knelt down on one knee in the sand at some point.

They didn't say a word, they didn't move, they couldn't see their faces clearly, and they couldn't make out their expressions.

They only put their right palm to their chest and their left arm to the back of their back, facing the direction of the prince......

Bow your head deeply.

As if the last tribute.

At that moment, Tails looked at the six kneeling figures, and suddenly felt his chest sink.

He pursed his lips.

But Tails didn't say anything after all.

With a smirk, he raised his right fist and slammed it lightly on his chest.

Then turn back decisively.

Behind them, six figures hung their heads lower.

Standing in the distance, the Wings of Legend frowned at the scene in front of him:

In the distance, among the golden sand dunes, six scarred men knelt firmly on the ground, bowing their heads in the same direction.

Nearby, under the slightly white sky, the thin young man walked slowly, his steps were difficult but firm, and his expression was bitter and gratifying.

It's like an oil painting.

"Bright Star. Roman muttered and snorted coldly.

In the ranks of the Sword of Calamity, Josh looked at the six figures unhappily, and said disdainfully to Semir, who looked a little stupid beside him:

"You can join them if you want,"

"You can't forget it anyway. ”

Semir's face sank, and he turned to Josh.

"I thought you knew better than I did. ”

Josh was stunned:

"Clear what?"

Semir snorted lightly and looked at the sky:

"Will you forget your wife and children, Josh?"

Wife and children......

Josh froze.

He unconsciously clenched the hilt of his sword and gritted his teeth.

Looking at Josh's appearance, Semir sighed:

"yes, I know. ”

"But ah, some things are lost once they are lost," Semir said in a wistful voice, as he watched from afar as the six figures kneeling on one knee slowly stood up:

"There's no going back. ”

The next moment, Semir's confused eyes returned to resoluteness:

"We are desperate but for the future. ”

"Nothing. ”

Semir turned to himself.

Leaving behind Josh with a complicated face.

Josh looked at the six figures, and then at Semir's back.

Clay walked over and asked strangely, "What's wrong?"

Josh shook his head:

"Nothing. ”

"Cut, self-righteous Empire. ”

He muttered resentfully, turning back to pack his bags.

In the distance, Tails resisted the desire to turn back, and moved forward step by step.

Until the sound of the fast rope sounded from behind.

"Hey!"

Tails looked back in surprise and subconsciously picked up the package in his arms.

"Your luggage. ”

Fast Rope stood behind him, his tone a little low.

"And yours...... Crossbow. ”

Fastrope threw the Time Crossbow at him again, forcing Tails to scramble.

Fast Rope sighed, and looked at the royal guards who slowly got up and walked away:

"Are you sure you don't want them?"

"They will be a good help, and it is rare to have such a deep bond with you, loyal to you, and willing to be born and die for you. ”

Tails struggled to hang up the package, exhaled, and smiled:

"Maybe. ”

Fast Rope frowned and said:

"You know, your identity is not good...... If you have them as your subordinates, then at least in the future, when you encounter an accident......"

He didn't go on.

Tails curled the corners of his mouth.

yes, exactly, so ......

"The Sword of Calamity. ”

Tails suddenly spoke.

"Did you know that they are looking for the doomsday who have fallen into the endless abyss, taking advantage of the despair and emptiness in the hearts of the latter, making empty promises, capturing their spirits, and taking advantage of the danger of others to take them for their own use. ”

"Even if the one who pushed them into the abyss wasn't Ricky. ”

Tails looked at the fast rope with a puzzled look on his face, and said seriously:

"And I hate that feeling. ”

The fast rope narrowed his eyes, indicating puzzlement.

Tails sighed, withdrew his gaze from the back of the royal guard, and looked at the sky:

"It's like an invisible hand in fate that tortures these poor people to the point of scarred and mad despair, just so that today, for the sake of me standing here, that they may willingly become my pawns, to my use, until the completion of the final chapter that has long been predestined. ”

Fast Rope was stunned.

I saw Tails say quietly:

"But I can't do it, I can't do that kind of hypocrisy, shamelessness and selfishness. ”

"They're not my pawns. ”

"Just as I am not a pawn of fate. ”

The two were silent for a few seconds.

Fast Rope sighed:

"If my father were here, he would call you stupid. ”

King Nunn?

Oh, yes.

Maybe.

Tails smiled.

"You know, that Ricky, he said that my finishing power has been drifting with the flow, swaying from side to side, with no direction. ”

"I think he's right. ”

"So I made my choice. ”

Tails stared fixedly at the fast rope:

"It's like you made a choice too. ”

"That's all. ”

This sentence made Fast Rope's expression fade, revealing a thoughtful look.

After a few seconds, the fast rope suddenly spoke:

"You're different. ”

Tails was stunned:

"What's different?"

Fast Rope shook his head.

"I can't tell, but ......"

Fast Rope frowned and looked at Tails:

"I can feel it. ”

"Compared to that Tails in the desert before......"

The fast rope is careful, and his expression is solemn and serious:

"You seem to have something more and something less. ”

The two faced each other and were silent for several seconds.

Tails raised an eyebrow and smiled helplessly.

"Perhaps...... I've grown up. ”

The fast rope raises an eyebrow.

"You know, I've learned a lot on this trip. ”

Tails sighed slightly, looked to the northwest, looked in the direction he came, and was a little stupid:

"Even more than ...... The sum of the previous six years. ”

Fast Rope looked at him and sighed.

"So that's goodbye—you're going back to being a prince, aren't you? ”

Tails came back to his senses.

"Yes, I guess. ”

With a vague sadness, he reluctantly teased:

"Back in the chains of power. ”

Chains of power.

The fast rope was silent for a few seconds.

"As a prince, Tails, what do you think of my father?"

The fast rope is abruptly authentic:

"As a king?"

Tails was stunned.

King Nunn?

Thinking of the name, Tails couldn't help but frown as he recalled a lot of the past.

Extter's Nuen VII.

As...... King?

Looking at Fast Rope's sad or angry expression, Tails sighed softly:

"He is a well-deserved overlord of a generation. ”

"Visionary, skillful, wise and ruthless. ”

It's just that......

Not so lucky.

Tails bowed his head gloomily.

"yes. ”

The fast rope seemed to be aroused by the memory, and nodded in a trance:

"What do you think of how you compare to him?"

I?

With King Nunn?

Tails was stunned again.

In just a few seconds, I recalled the other party's determination to challenge Pefit, the ferocity of poisoning Alex, the majesty of the Grand Dukes, the decisiveness of conveying "triumph", the courage to personally conquer disasters, and the countless conspiracies in which he hid himself and Rumba behind the scenes......

Tails couldn't help but laugh:

"No, I'll ...... for the rest of my life"

"It's not as good as him. ”

Fast Rope was silent, and his face was not good, as if he remembered some unpleasant memory.

"Listen, Tails. ”

After a few seconds, the fast rope sighed:

"I don't know how the Dragoon King, the Cold King, the Broken Steel, and the Whisperers led a thousand armies and ruled all directions......"

"I don't know how a star monarch like the Revival King, the Oath Keeper, and the Virtuous King can prosper the country and bring great ......."

Speaking of so many names, his tone was contrary to his usual light-hearted humor, quite serious.

This made Tails uncomfortable.

At this second, Fast Rope's face was full of seriousness, which provoked Tails to subconsciously straighten his waist.

It was as if the person in front of him had changed back to that Moral Walton.

"But after today, I learned at least one thing. ”

Moral stared at the boy tightly:

"Tails, either my father, or my brother. ”

He shook his head slowly, but his tone was categorical:

"They even have one of your little fingers......"

"It's not as good as that. ”

Silent.

There was a long silence.

Looking at Moral's resolute and unquestioning eyes, Tails was completely stunned.

He......

He said......

What the?

"Moral, you ......" Tails, who had finally reacted, subconsciously spoke.

But Morar interrupted him.

"Tails," saw King Nunn's second son slowly approaching, and pressed Tails's shoulder with one hand:

"Become a king. ”

"A good king. ”

At this moment, Prince Moral Walton's eyes flashed with a rare light:

"Because after today, I believe that you will be better than them, better than the other kings. ”

"Can you prove that even in the yoke of power......"

"You can also have a different way of living. ”

"Bookmark for easy reading"