Why hello, dear readers! With my life a little more figured out, I can now start this story! I hope you all enjoy!
Also, the third genre to this is Romance, of course!
I own nothing except the plot.
Prologue
Labor Day weekend: the weekend where campers take advantage of their three-day weekend and of the nice weather while it still lasts. People go out, expecting to find a great camping spot and to have a great time before they are locked up in their homes for the winter. Unfortunately, so do others. Many others, leaving the rest no choice but to stay at campgrounds, like one family in particular...
"Hey Mom, check it out! I'm almost at the top!" a young boy's voice calls from a treetop. An older purple hedgehog with violet quills looks up towards the direction of the voice and her green eyes squint against the setting sunlight.
"Sonic the Hedgehog, get down here immediately!" Aleena yells up at her son.
"Oh, come on! I'm being careful!" he argues.
"I said get down!" She shakes her head with a sigh, and she continues to prepare supper. That boy is always up to mischief, most of the time the trouble being way worse than what he's doing now.
A little cobalt blue hedgehog jumps out of the tree and lands on the ground, and with a pout on his muzzle, he complains, "I climb trees at home all the time, though!"
"Well, this is not home, Sonic." his mother explains. "Here there are certain rules, and climbing trees is one of them. Also, it is almost night. You could hurt yourself."
"Well that's no fun," the little hedgehog grumbles and plops down on the ground, ripping grass blades out of the ground from boredom.
"You could go help your father get the firewood." the female hedgehog suggests to her bored, energetic son.
"But that's just work!" Sonic whines.
"Then quit complaining about being bored," she states.
"Ugh." Sonic crosses his arms and looks around him, searching for something he could do. This is why he doesn't like campgrounds; he has no freedom! If it were the normal woods, he could climb all the trees he wants and explore more, but no. Instead, they're camping here, Campground Oak. So original, right? Why did everybody decide to go camping this weekend? Don't they know they're taking all the good spots and messing up his weekend? Obviously not!
"Okay, I've finished gathering the firewood." a dark blue hedgehog huffs as he carries his last armload of firewood over to where the rest is piled up, the sky almost completely devoid of light now.
"Great. Dinner is almost done. It's even your favorite, Sonic." Aleena smiles knowingly at her son. She is well aware of how her son dislikes campsites, but with the day getting later, they had no choice but to settle here for the night.
The little hedgehog's ears perk up, and his emerald-green eyes turn towards his mother with mild interest.
"Does it include chili and hot dogs?"
"Of course."
With a blue streak, Sonic is sitting right besides his mother, peaking into the pot over the fire.
"Is it done yet?" he asks eagerly. She chuckles.
The flash of headlights catches the family's attention as a car parks into campsite 46- next to their campsite- the black vehicle loaded with traditional camping gear.
"Looks like we aren't the only ones who couldn't find a spot." Jules says, his brown eyes following the vehicle. Aleena looks at their pile of wood, then at her husband.
"It's pretty dark out now. Should we give them some of our wood?"
"It'd be the neighborly thing to do," Jules nods. The two older hedgehogs stand up.
"Hey, what about dinner?" Sonic reminds them.
"After we we say hello to the neighbors." Aleena removes the pot from the fire and sets it on a large boulder to cool.
'Riiiight. Let's see how long they talk this time,' the little speedster thinks to himself as he stands up and reluctantly grabs a couple logs. Why can't adults do as they actually say? They don't just say hello. No, they stand there and talk about boring stuff for a looooong time.
Sonic follows his parents to the neighboring site with his load of wood, yearning for his chili dog.
"Hello?" Jules calls as he and his family enter the dark campsite. A small pile of camp gear is located in the center of the area, and a red hedgehog is seen searching through the pile with a flashlight.
She lifts her head upon hearing Jules, and she smiles.
"Oh, hello!" The female turns her head towards their black car and calls out, "Darren! Amy! We have company!"
"Huh?" The head of a white male hedgehog pops out from behind some bushes near the car. "Oh! Just a sec!"
"They're always getting distracted," the female sighs as her husband and child rush back to the car.
Rustling and Darren's muffled voice is heard as he grabs the rest of the camp gear. As Sonic and his family watch Darren rush to set the rest of the supplies down, they notice a smaller, bubblegum-pink hedgehog following him, her arms also loaded with equipment. Sonic quickly realizes that from her height, she should be close to his age. Maybe he can make a new friend, which would finally give him something to do here.
"There we are. Hello, my name is Darren Rose," the white male smiles as he shakes Jules and Aleena's hands once his arms are free. "This is my wife Vallory," Darren gestures to the red female. "and this is our daughter, Amy."
The jade-eyed hedgehog shyly makes her way around her father, also free of her load of camp gear. Amy straightens out her green shirt, makes sure her orange skirt is still frilled out, and smiles timidly at the hedgehog family. Her smile brightens once she spots Sonic, happy to see another kid around here and to possibly make a new friend. 'He looks friendly.'
"A pleasure. I am Jules the Hedgehog, my wife Aleena, and our son, Sonic." Sonic's father introduces them, Aleena smiling warmly at the Rose family while Sonic smiles nervously at Amy. What if she doesn't like him?
"We brought you some firewood," Aleena gestures to the small pile she and her family had set down. "It was hard enough finding wood with daylight, so I can only imagine how it would be now that it's dark."
"Why, thank you!" Vallory smiles in appreciation. "Finding a suitable camping spot around here is nearly impossible!" she sighs in exasperation.
"We've discovered that as well." Jules chuckles, he and his family having the same problem.
As their parents start talking, like Sonic knew they would, the young blue hedgehog walks up to Amy.
"Hi," he greets, trying to break the silence.
"Hi," she smiles. 'So far so good.'
"So, how old are you?"
"I'm seven and in second grade." she nonchalantly says. 'Act calm. He's obviously older, so the last thing you need to do is be immature.'
"Cool. I'm ten and in fourth grade," he grins, happy she's somewhat close to his age. She's closer than his cousins are anyway, which proves to be annoying at his family's reunions.
"That's nice. You wanna see something my dad and I found just a minute ago?" Amy asks excitedly.
"Sure!" he agrees enthusiastically, finding it hard not to be as energetic as his female companion.
"Come on!" She grabs his hand and pulls him over to some shrubbery nearby. Their parents watch as the two walk off, happy their kids are getting along. Amy crouches down and moves some of the plant life out of the way. She puts her finger up to her mouth in a shushing motion as Sonic approaches, and she whispers, "Look."
Sonic crouches down besides her and peers into the thicket. After his eyes adjust to the darkness, Sonic sees just feet away from them a fawn and its mother curled up and sleeping peacefully.
"Whoa," he breathes, in awe of just how close he and Amy are to the wild animals.
"Isn't the baby cute?" Amy coos. She just loves nature and all its wonders!
"Yeah," Sonic nods. "We should go before we wake them up." The pink girl nods in agreement, and the duo slowly retreat back over to their parents, who are still talking.
"Mom," Sonic interrupts, remembering how hungry he is. "Dinner? Remember?"
With a chuckle, Aleena rolls her eyes and tuns back to Mr. and Mrs. Rose. "Would you all care to come over for dinner? We're having chili dogs, and we have plenty."
"Hmm," Darren looks at his wife, who nods. "Only if we get to supply the s'mores."
"Deal!" Sonic pipes up, making the grown ups laugh.
"Then just grab some chairs and come on over!" Jules smiles at the Rose family, while he and Aleena go back to their camp to prepare dinner.
"Race you there!" Amy yells as she dashes off. As she nears his camp, a burst of wind blasts past her. "Huh?" The pink hedgehog stops abruptly once she sees a smirking Sonic already there.
"How'd you do that? You weren't there a second ago!"
"I'm as fast as the speed of sound." Sonic proudly states. Suddenly, with a blue streak, he's right beside the young female. "See?"
"Gah!" Amy shrieks and she puts her hand against her chest to steady her heartbeat. "Don't scare me like that!"
"Sorry," he chuckles, not sounding very sincere.
"Sonic, quit bragging and come eat your dinner that you've been begging for," his mother sighs as she sets two plates of chili dogs down on the picnic table for the two youngsters.
"Yes!" the blue speedster cheers, and he zooms over to his plate, immediately beginning to scarf them down. Amy giggles and follows him.
"That boy loves his speed and his chili dogs!" Aleena chuckles as she takes her seat with the rest of the adults around the fire.
"Like how Amy loves her hammer." Vallory and Darren exchange a look and chuckle.
"Pardon? Hammer?" Jules asks with an arched eyebrow.
"Yes, her hammer. You see, when she was four, we were visiting her grandparents, who have a number of random things. Among those things was a hammer. None of us know how it's possible, but she is able to make it disappear and reappear with a snap of her fingers!" Darren exclaims with a snap of his own fingers. "To this day she finds any excuse to use it."
Suddenly, they hear a snap and Sonic exclaim, "Gah!"
"I said don't touch my food!"
They all turn and see Sonic on the ground with Amy looming over him, a large red and yellow piko piko hammer in her hands.
"Amy!" Darren scolds. The young girl grimaces and makes the weapon disappear with a snap.
"I didn't hit him! I was trying to make him leave my food alone!" Amy glares pointedly at Sonic, who grins sheepishly. Vallory turns towards Aleena and Jules.
"See? Every opportunity."
As the adults laugh and continue conversing, Amy helps Sonic, now feeling a bit guilty for scaring him like that.
"Sorry. I got a bit carried away."
"It's all good. That's a cool hammer though! You can just make it come and go?"
"Yep!" Amy snaps, showing her control over her beloved weapon.
"Cool! Can I hold it?"
"You can try." she smirks, remembering how this goes with everyone else. They always insist on holding it...
"Agh!" Sonic yelps as the hammer's weight drags him back down. "Jeez! How heavy is this thing?!" he huffs as he attempts to lift it off the ground. No luck.
"For me, it's super light. It's heavy for everyone else, for some reason." Amy shrugs, and she grabs the hilt, effortlessly lifting up the hammer.
"Just another specialty, I'm sure." Sonic eyes the weapon as it disappears with Amy's snap. Maybe they'll meet again when he is older, then he'll definitely take that thing down! Or, as he should say, up!
After finishing eating her supper, the pink hedgehog asks with a grin, "You ready for s'mores?"
"What kind of question is that? I'm always ready for s'mores!" Sonic grins back, and the pair dash off to get the supplies, whether their parents are ready or not.
XXX
"Ahh," Sonic sighs as he stretches, slowly awakening from his slumber. This may be a campsite, but it at least has nature's fresh air!
After helping the Roses get their camp set up, his and Amy's families last night stayed up until one in the morning, including him and Amy! They played and played, quietly of course, while the grown ups talked and talked. He really lucked out with having Amy as his neighbor. She is almost as energetic as him and just so cheerful! She also has a quick temper, as he's discovered, but he quickly learned how to avoid that.
He's going to miss her when they leave. The thought dampens his mood, but he shakes it off and decides to see if she's awake yet. They might as well take advantage of the time they have left before one of them has to leave.
He unzips his tent opening and climbs out.
"Good morning, sweetie. How did you sleep?" his mother greets as she prepares breakfast.
"Good. Can I go see if Amy can play?"
"I'm sorry dear, but the Roses have already left."
"What?" Disappointment floods through him. "She's already gone?"
"I'm afraid so." Aleena nods. "I went over earlier to see if they wanted to come over for breakfast, but they were gone."
"Oh." His ears lower and he looks at the ground mournfully.
"Why don't you take a run? Breakfast is almost ready." Aleena smiles understandingly at her son.
"'Kay." A run always steadies him, no matter what's happening. He dashes off. Before he zooms all throughout the campground, however, he goes to campsite 46. He doesn't know why; maybe he just needs to see for himself that Amy and her family are really gone.
He stands there, observing the indeed-empty campsite that once harbored his friend. Crestfallen, he goes to turn and start his run when the bushes near him start rustling. His ears perk up, and he eyes the shrubbery.
"Hello?" he calls out.
"Sonic?" a voice he thought he'd never hear again, answers.
"Amy?" Sure enough, out of the bushes steps a tired and confused-looking Amy, still dress the same as yesterday. "What are you doing in there? And where are your folks?"
"My parents? I-I really don't know. The last thing I remember is getting ready for bed last night." Amy starts to tear up. "W-where's my mom and dad?"
"Hey, it's alright! We can figure this out," Sonic says comfortingly. He hates crying. "Hey! Why don't we check with the entrance guy? If your parents left, then they had to of checked out with him first!"
"Y-you sure?" Amy sniffles, blinking away the tears that were threatening to fall.
"Yup! Here, I can carry you and we can be there in no time flat." Sonic offers his arms out to her. She hesitates before stepping over to him.
"Okay," she nods and takes his hand. As soon as the young hedgehogs touch, however, they get shocked, making them both yelp and jump back.
"Heh, static! Gets ya when ya least expect it!" Sonic grins, vaguely noting the shock didn't have it's usual sting, but more of a warm tingle instead.
Amy, who also noticed the different shock, cracks a smile, appreciating his attempt to make her feel better. Suddenly, Sonic scoops her up bridal-style and zips off towards the gate. Amy clings to him as she watches the world blur by in both fear and admiration.
"Here we are," Sonic says, and he sets down a stunned Amy.
"That was fast," she gapes, still envisioning what she just saw.
"Fastest thing alive here!" Sonic winks at her. He then turns towards the booth where the gate man is.
"Excuse me, sir?"
"Hmm?" An elderly hawk turns his head to see who's there, then he lowers his head to see Sonic. "Oh, what can I do for you, young lad?"
"I was wondering if a Darren and Vallory Rose checked out earlier this morning?"
"'Rose'?" the hawk questions, an odd look overcoming his face.
"Yes?" Sonic nods, unsure about that look. "You see, they have a daughter, A-"
"Amy Rose," the hawk finishes. "in campsite 46, right?"
"Yeah, right next to mine," Sonic nods, now hopeful since the guy obviously knows who he's talking about. His hope dies down, however, as the older male stares at him, mystified.
"Alright lad, let me tell you about somethin'. Somethin' that happened here years ago." The older hawk takes a deep breath, and starts.
"Three years ago, a family of three came to this campground. It was dark when they arrived, but they had been searching for a more traditional spot to camp in. There was a spot open for them, and they settled in just fine. That night, though, was the same night that an escaped prisoner was on the loose. He was loose in these same woods. He was dangerous, especially since he managed to get a gun. Knowing the police were hot on his tail, he came to this campground. The first campsite he came across was that family of three. That man then did something horrible: before he was recaptured, he shot all three of them and killed them. No one is really sure why he did it, but some say it was because he was crazy."
"That's terrible!" Sonic exclaims, feeling sorry for those poor souls. He glances at Amy and sees the same horrified expression on her face.
"It is, but here's the interestin' part: ever since their deaths, there have been at least two sightings of that family in that same campsite every year. They always show up at dark, like they did three years ago, and by morning, they're gone." The hawk leans forward, his face grim. "Do you know what their names were?" Sonic shakes his head, suddenly feeling uneasy.
"Darren Rose was the father, Vallory Rose was the mother, and Amy Rose was their seven-year-old daughter. They were, and are always seen, in campsite 46."
Sonic just stares at him, unable to comprehend what he just heard.
"No, you're wrong." Sonic finally says, confidence clear in his voice. "Amy is right here!" He gestures to his friend, but his eyes widen when he sees her crying.
"Amy? Amy, what's wrong?"
The girl doesn't hear him, however. Snippets of memories bombards her little mind: arriving in the night, the long day she and her folks had, her and her father searching for firewood, and going to their tent after a late supper; she was so tired, she didn't even bother to change into her pajamas. She remembers waking up with a sense of dread, then seeing two flashes, and hearing two bangs. She screamed, her voice ringing far and wide, when a third flash and bang sounded. Oh that searing pain she felt in her abdomen!
Then, nothing.
Amy gasps as she regains her senses, remembering where she is and who she's with, and she instinctively clutches her stomach. However, something feels wrong. Terrified, she slowly removes her hand, revealing her stomach, and she sees the bullet wound, blood slowly oozing out and staining her green shirt. She looks up fearfully at her blue friend.
"Sonic?" she chokes out, wondering if her imagination is getting the best of her. His horrified face tells her otherwise, however.
"Boy, are you alright?" the hawk asks with concern and some guilt. Maybe he shouldn't of had told him the story; the poor lad looks petrified!
"S-she needs help!" Sonic exclaims, pointing at the still-crying Amy. "She's bleeding!"
"Who?" The older male looks around, not seeing anyone.
"Amy!" Sonic yells in exasperation. Why isn't this guy freaking out? Going for help? Something?!
"Son," the hawk says gravely. "I don't see anyone but you."
Sonic gapes at the older male in disbelief. Then he looks at Amy.
Amy, following her instincts, approaches the hawk, who still fails to notice her, and touches his arm. However, instead of making contact, her hand passes right through. She exhales, pure fear coursing through her veins.
"Sonic, he can't see me," she whimpers. "He can't see me!" she sobs and sprints off, disappearing into the dense forest.
"Amy, wait!" Sonic dashes after her.
The hawk watches the little blue hedgehog run off with confusion. Did he hear right? The little boy can see Amy Rose? This is certainly a change of events...
Sonic quickly catches up to the pink female, who's sitting on the ground, with her knees curled up to her chest, and her with head bowed as she cries.
"Amy..." Sonic tries comforting the trembling girl, but he's at a loss for words. How can he comfort her when he's not even sure what's going on?
"What's happening? Where's my mom and dad?" Amy sobs, wanting this all to go away.
"Let me see if my parents can help. Wait right here." With that, Sonic zooms back to his campsite, where his parents have just finished making breakfast.
Before he can asks his parents for help, however, Amy suddenly appears besides him.
"Gah! What the- Amy?! How did you get here? I said wait for me!" He scolds.
"I-I did! I was still sitting after you left, waiting, and now I'm suddenly here!" the girl exclaims fearfully, getting even more upset.
"Hey, it's okay!" Sonic calms down, feeling bad for snapping on her like that. She has enough to worry about as it is. "I was just startled. Let's go-"
"Sonic, honey, what are you doing? Breakfast is ready." Aleena says, both his parents looking at him now.
"You talkin' to the trees there, son?" Jules smiles teasingly. Sonic, however, just pales.
"You- you guys don't see her too?"
"See who?" Aleena asks, growing concerned from Sonic's face.
"Amy." Sonic's voice is barely louder than a whisper now, fear and disbelief taking ahold of him now. Amy just watches, too afraid and confused to do anything else.
"Sonic, honey, we've already been through this. Amy and her family left. Are you feeling okay?" Aleena asks.
"I-I, uh-"
"He's just tired and hungry. You kids did stay up quite late last night." Jules smiles sympathetically at his son.
"Y-yeah," Sonic nods, seeing he has no other choice. They wouldn't believe him if he told them what's going on. Especially since they can't see Amy.
"Then come and get breakfast." Aleena smiles warmly at her son, and she and her husband go back to the picnic table to eat.
Amy, while this all happens, wracks her brain, trying to figure out some explanation. As she looks down thoughtfully, she notices her wound. She grimaces from the gruesome sight, but she's glad it at least has stopped bleeding. However, the pink hedgehog fails to realize that a wound like hers isn't supposed to stop bleeding; not like this. Amy then notices something: she doesn't feel anything. Hesitantly, she takes her finger and pokes the wound. Nothing. She pokes harder. Still nothing. Her blood isn't even staining her white gloves!
'before he was recaptured, he shot all three of them, and killed them,' The hawk's words echo in her head, helping her find the explanation. The flashes, the bangs, her invisibility...
"Sonic," Amy says after Sonic's parents leave. Her blue friend looks hopelessly at her, still trying to figure out how he can help her. "I'm dead." she whispers.
His eyes widen. "W-what?"
"I'm dead," she says louder, tears slowly seeping out of her eyes. "and I don't think I'm gonna see my parents again."
"Amy, that's... That's-"
"Sonic, look! It doesn't hurt!" she interrupts and smacks her wound, still not feeling the pain she should. "I feel nothing," she whispers, agony in her young voice.
Sonic's ears lower, realizing that as horrible as it is, it's the only explanation they have.
"But, what does this mean?" He asks fearfully, wondering why he's the only one who can see her.
"It means," she slowly says, having no choice but to accept her fate now, "that no one can see or touch me. Only you can."
Heheh, see what I did there? *cricket chirps* Okaaay, never mind. I have literally had this idea in my head since July, when I myself was camping! xD
Please Review! (Criticism welcomed, but please make it constructive and respectful)