It was around midday, Cream the Rabbit scurried purposefully towards the metal shutter which lay closed over the door of Tails' workshop.
She wiped her gloved hand across her brow. It came away damp with perspiration.
"It sure is hot in the Mystic Ruins, Cheese." She said to her beloved chao as they neared their destination.
"I hope Mr Sonic is here. We've looked everywhere else. This is the last place I can think of to try. If he's not here, then Amy…."
Her voice trailed off sadly. She looked down at the floor. Her face a reflection of the distress she was feeling.
"Chao, chao chao!" exclaimed Cheese. He flew around her head, trying to make her cheer up and smile like she usually did when he flew in circles to entertain her.
Cream raised her head and offered a weak smile.
"Thank you Cheese, but I just can't seem to cheer up today."
Cheese fluttered away to the side, crestfallen. Cream raised her hand to knock on the metal shutter.
The metal was hot against her hand as she knocked loudly.
"Tails!" she called as she struck the door. "Tails, are you there?"
Suddenly, there was a metallic scraping noise as the shutter began to lift from the door. Cream winced at the sound and put her hands over her ears.
Presently, the shutter completed its noisy journey and the small door behind it opened.
"Sorry about the noise." A friendly voice said as she removed her hands from her ears.
"Keep meaning to oil that shutter but I never get around to it."
"Hello Tails." Said Cream as he swept the door closed behind her.
"Don't worry about the noise. I really need to see Mr Sonic. It's very important. Is he here?"
"Sure" said Tails, wiping his oily hands on a rag. "He's out by the Tornado. I'm tuning her up and Sonic had a few suggestions for some new features. Follow me."
Cream followed Tails through the workshop, barely looking at all the half built machines and crazy inventions that the fox had stored on his shelves. Ordinarily, she
would be bursting with curiosity but today she had no time for idle fun.
Tails led her outside to where the Tornado was sitting, the engine half dismantled on the floor next to it.
Sure enough, there was Sonic, sitting on a small wooden crate with a cold drink in his hand.
His white gloves were pristine. No dirty mechanical work for him. That was Tails' department.
He raised a hand and waved casually to Cream as she approached him.
"What's the matter Cream? Eggman been bothering you again?" he asked her amiably.
"Mr Sonic. It's Amy! She's "
"Been kidnapped again? Honestly, that girl is too much. Did Eggman say where he was taking her?"
Cream burst into tears. She covered her face with her hands and shook her head in a gesture of negation.
"No Mr Sonic! Please listen to me! Amy is acting very strangely, I don't understand what's wrong with her. She's scaring me Mr Sonic. I don't know what to do!"
She sank to her knees and wept. Her tears fell to the dusty floor and were instantly soaked up, leaving no trace.
Cheese fluttered around in alarm. "Chao! Chao!" he cried.
"Tails, help her inside. Give her a cool drink and let's see if we can fix this."
Tails put his arm around Cream's shoulders and helped her to her feet. She glanced at Sonic. He smiled at her.
"Don't worry." He said with a confident grin "Whatever she's done to upset you, I will fix it."
Cream wasn't so sure about that.