It was a brand-new day as the Church bells rang throughout the village. Clara enters the church wearing a dark blue dress that had long button sleeves, her snow-white quills were in a tight bun, and she was wearing a pair of specs that shimmered in the light.

Children from the village are seated and waiting for their teacher to start the day's lesson. She stood in front of them.

"Good morning, class!" Clara greeted the children.

"Good morning, Ms. Clara!" they greeted back in unison.

Clara soon began her lessons with the children, the world felt at peace.

"Children, who can tell me what ended the Egg Imperial Wars?" Clara asked as she wrote on the black board.

However, the children didn't answer the question, they were instead whispering among themselves. Clara noticed her students lack attention, putting the chalk down she walks over to the first row of students. Before stomping the bottom of her boot heel on the wooden floor creating a loud sound, making the students straighten themselves and look at Clara.

"Class is there something more interesting than listening to my lessons?" Clara asked in a stern tone with her hands resting on her hips.

"Sorry, Miss Clara it's just a rumor going around." Charmy Bee answers with a guilt-ridden look written across his face.

"Oh? And this rumor is more important than learning about the world? I guess I'm not your favorite teacher after all." Clara said with a sigh before wiping away a fake tear. "I guess I'm not needed here anymore."

Once Clara said that last line the children started to cry out in fear.

"NO!"

"Please don't go! We're sorry! We promise to listen more!"

"PLEASE DON'T GO, MS. CLARA!"

Clara giggled on the inside seeing how much her students love her. Honestly, she would never leave these children under any circumstances.

"Alright, I won't leave." Clara announced as the children cheered in joy. "However, I would like to hear what this rumor is about."

The children began to raise their little arms, all eager to share information of the rumor.

"Kneecaps." Clara called out to the rowdy Echidna child.

"It's been going 'round other villages near here, but I heard from my brother, girls have been disappearing at the dead of night." Kneecaps said in a spooky voice, scaring some of the kids next to him.

"Not only that, but the new Lord of the village just happen to move into that castle the day after Lord Maximillian passed." one of the children shared their piece of information.

"I also heard from my mother that the new Lord always has a gala in his castle every night." Cream said.

The room soon became overwhelmed with the sounds of children's voices overlapping with one another. Clara claps her hands loud so the children can stop talking, which works.

"Alright everyone, it's not nice to spread rumors against our lord. Remember a lord protects the land that is given to them as well as the people who live in it." Clara said with a smile before the church bells rang through the air. "That's the time, I will see you all on Sunday."

The children then left the church. Clara gathered a pile of papers and was about to leave, but a hand grabbed the hem of her dress. Clara looked down to see Cream with a frown on her face.

"You'll be safe, right, Ms. Clara?" Cream asked with worry in her voice.

Clara couldn't help but smile at the little rabbit girl.

"She must be worried about the rumor Kneecaps said about the girls." Clara thought to herself before lowering herself to the little rabbit's height.

"Yes, don't worry, Cream, I promise nothing bad is going to happen." Clara said as she gives Cream a head pat.

"Then, I'll pray for your safety Ms. Clara." Cream said, her mood seeming to improve with the hedgehog's comforting words.

Clara smiles at the child as she soon watches her leave with the other children. She looks out the window to see the large castle that was at least over 160 kilometers away.

"I wonder, what is our new lord like?" Clara thought as she walks out of the church.

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Inside a cold and dark room, rats run along the stone floor that was littered with old bones. In the center of the room, there was a pedestal holding a small wooden chest. Its design was decorated with gold and silver lining. Clearly a work of a craftsman, yet there was a faint glow within the chest. Suddenly, the only door opened with a loud noise, a tall dark figure walks into the room with a frighting presence that scared away the rats.

Kicking away the bones and pulling passed the cobwebs, the mysterious figure reaches to the chest and opens the lid. The faint glow began to grow brightly, which made the figure give a chilling smile upon their face.

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Meanwhile in the Village, it was only minutes away till midnight, and, inside the 'Star Light' pub, the lights were still on. Amidst the animal heads, antlers, and drunken villagers, behind the bar stand is Clara. She wears a short dark purple skirt with a low-cut blue blouse that reveals her shoulders, and a little of her cleavage, and a white apron.

The young hedgehog was serving customers' drinks and food, passing by the tables as she dodges every drunk's wondering hands. Just as she was about to head back to the bar stand to grab other drinks, a villager with a red face called holding out a mug.

"Another drink here, Ms. Clara!" Villager shouted.

"Coming right up, sir." Clara replied with a smile as she gives pitchers of beer to others.

Clara walks over to the customer and pours him a cup, before taking her leave the villager bid her a thank you. Suddenly a familiar face broke through the crowds of men.

"Clara! Good evening!" Another female hedgehog shouted with a smile.

This hedgehog was Amy Rose the daughter of the King's finest Captain of the Guard. She and Clara have been friends they were little girls, almost like sisters to each other, however, as they grew, they somehow drifted little by little. So, it was quiet shocking for Clara to see Amy one of the village's elegant ladies talk to her again.

Tonight, Amy was wearing an elegant rose-colored dress, wore light makeup, and was wearing fine jewelry.

"Amy? Good evening to you as well." Clara said with uncertainty before three others joined behind Amy.

Mina Mongoose, Wave Swallow, and Fiona Fox, the beautiful flowers of Green Hill. Clara never bonded with these types of girls in her younger years. Back then, they used to bully her for many things, the fact she was tiny, her love of books, or the fact she was motherless. But now she is a proper young lady and will just smile and swallow the bitter taste in her mouth.

"How may I help you ladies this fine evening?" Clara asked with a tight-lipped smile.

"We are invited to the Lord's gala tonight! Care to join us?" Amy asked.

"Oh yes! Please do come with us!" Mina agreed with enthusiasm.

"It's a once in lifetime event! It's the Lord's gala. We may even finally get to see the Lord himself!" Fiona squealed.

Clara shook her head as she grabs the empty cups that's left behind on a table.

"I'm sorry ladies, I appreciate the offer, but I'm too busy now. Besides, I don't even have a dress for such an event." Clara explained as she cleans up the table and pass new drinks.

"I know! You can borrow one of my dresses, like when were little girls." Amy said with a proud smile.

"I would love to go, but I have to wake up by dawn to do chores, start a lesson plan for the church and--"

"Yes, yes, I know Clara, but all you ever do is work, read, and teach the children." Amy cuts her off hearing the same line from the white colored hedgehog.

"If you don't slow down and enjoy living it will pass right by you. Don't you want to fine a man and get married?" Amy asked making the young hedgehog stop in her tracks.

"W-Well, um..." Clara stuttered with a blush on her cheeks.

"Clara! New customer is here!"

The owner Butcher the Bear shouts as he continues to cook food.

Clara turns to Amy giving her an apologetic smile.

"Maybe next time." Clara says as she went back to work, but not before hearing Wave's comment.

"I told you she wouldn't come. She's nothing but odd girl. Such beauty is wasted on her." Wave sneered as they walked away.

"Wave! That is so cruel!" Amy gasped as the swallow's comment.

"You know it's true." Mina said, agreeing with the swallow.

"Yes, but--!"

Clara ignored them, not caring what they say about her. She goes back to the bar stand and looks over to see Knuckles, Green Hill's raising star. He is the youngest Mobian to ever be ranked as a commander he is also Kneecaps older half-brother. However, tonight the young commander is looking a little tired.

"Good evening, Knuckles. Did you have a rough day?" Clara asked as she wipes away the spilled alcohol on the counter.

"You have no idea..." Knuckles groans as he places his hands on furrowed brows.

Clara giggled at Knuckle's old habit that he still does after a long day of work.

"The usual?" Clara asked, making the young Knight look up to her and ending up smiling.

"Yep." Knuckles replied as he sets down the twin swords that were strapped to his belt.

Clara goes over to where all the barrels ale are, she pours a mug until it was filled to the brim. The young woman comes back and places the cup in front of the young man.

"Thanks, Clara." Knuckles said before he grabs the mug and takes a small sip of his drink before placing it down with a sigh.

"Things have been hectic around the country." Knuckles said with a grunt.

"How so?" Clara asked as she was washing the mugs over the sink.

"Lately, there have been many disappearances of young girls in the nearby villages." Knuckles said, making the hedgehog freeze.

She then remembers the rumors Kneecaps told her in class just this morning.

"Tomorrow we're going to announce to everyone that there will be a curfew until the girls are found." Knuckles stated as he placed his mug down.

Knuckles noticed the woman's tensed form, he knew she'll be alone until her father returns, so it was understandable that she would be scared about the news.

"Clara." Knuckles called, gaining her attention. "I need you to swear, that once you finish work you go straight home. Don't stop of anything." Knuckles says with a firm voice before placing some coins on the counter and left the pub.

Leaving Clara speechless, when did the boy who fought with her brother as a child, become so mature?

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Clara waves goodbye to owner as she walks out of the bar. Feeling the cold air nip at her skin, shivering at the cold she wraps herself in her purple shawl as she walks down the dark road. However, she couldn't help but recall Amy's words to her, yes, she does want to get married one day and have children. Yet, it was complicated for her, men only saw her for beauty. A trophy and a person to give then a son, Clara wants someone to love her for her heart. If she has any children whether it was a boy or a girl, the husband should love them as much as she would. But it seemed to only be a dream still she's happy with her life now.

An hour later Clara made it to her cottage, as she was close to the door she digs into the pockets of her dress for the key. Just as she fished out the key, she was about to grab the doorknob something shined in the corner of her eye. Hidden by the grass curiosity getting the best of her, Clara grabs it and examines the mysterious object. With the gentle moon light shining down to reveal the color of blood, it was a red jeweled locket. She couldn't help but feel drawn to it.

"Beautiful..." Clara muttered, gazing upon the jewelry.

Clara looks around to see if anyone dropped the necklace, only to find no one on sight. She looks back the locket before she grasps it gently, deciding to keep it. Clara unlocks and opens the door when she got in closes it behind her.

As she goes to prepare dinner not before placing the locket in a little chest on the drawer of her room. However, unaware of the outside, a familar figure watches in the shadows as those eyes glowed red.

"Soon, my love... soon..."