A heavy growl echoed dangerously into the late morning air. It's creator staring at the empty nest of hay where he had expected to see a small bundle of soft yellow fur and two twin tails.

Streams of oil dropped off his torn gloves like black rivers of blood, proof of the dark deed he had set out to accomplish during the night. Throwing his head back as his gleaming cobalt fur began to darken, he roared in anger with such ferocity that the very ground seemed to roll with his call.

"TAILS!"

-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-

A pretty pink hedgehog busied herself in her kitchen, making some light soup for her unexpected guest. Tails had showed up on Amy's doorstep a few hours ago, covered in dirt and grime and so many cuts and bruises her heart nearly stopped.

After she made the young kit bathe properly and bandaged him up, setting his sprained tail in a makeshift splint, she had him tell her what had happened.

She felt terrible for the tiny kit, having seen the changes in Sonic as well but having kept quiet. She loved Sonic, wholly and purely, but the way he always ran away was beginning to strain on her heart and she was afraid of him pushing her away completely if she asked.

"I had woken up a few hours after I had fallen asleep...but Sonic was gone. The storm had cleared up...so I went to find him as I was more afraid of being alone. I...really wished I hadn't..." Tails hiccuped, the terror on his face thick as his gaze flew far away in memory.

"I had tracked him back to Eggman's base...where I had been kept captive. He was completely destroying it and...and at first I thought it was Eggman that came back to scavenge from the wreckage, but now I'm sure it was just a robotic double from how it moved and acted. But it didn't occur to me then and...and...!"

Tails began to hyperventilate, and it took all of Amy's skills to calm him down as she cooed to him as she stroked his fur and hugged him gently.

Calmed by Amy's sweet scent of roses and strawberries, her gentle care eased the 8 year old enough so he could continue.

"Amy..h-he...oh it was terrible! At the time I didn't realize it was a robot like I said...so I thought it was the real Eggman and...Sonic tore into him like an animal!" It was obvious Tails wouldn't be able to continue as the trauma was set in his young mind.

Amy could imagine just how bad it must have been, seeing the ashen tone on Tails face. Just remembering how he was that first hour distracted her enough that she almost burned the food.

Placing the soup in a pretty white China bowel that had little roses around the edge on a tray with some bread and a glass of water, Amy took the soup up to her guest room where she put Tails to rest after he recounted his ordeal. After years of chasing after Sonic and all they went through with Eggman, Amy had become very skilled in the medical arts, so she was amazed to find little infection despite the child's state.

Guess Sonic's...treatment...was to thank for that.

Entering into the guest room, Amy was met with its soft beige walls, light blue carpet and mint scented candles she always burned when Tails was visiting as it was the child's favorite. Curled up in the white sheets and beige comforter on the small twin size bed was the kit, still shivering and shaken though better than before.

Amy had just set the tray on the bedside and smiled as Tails' eyes lit up happily at the food when it happened, causing both their hearts to freeze before battering away in fear.

They heard the far away cry of the foxes name and almost felt time freeze at its angry voice.

At Dark Sonic's angry voice.