A/N: Well, I'm back to writing Sonic the Hedgehog for this fic! Couples are hinted (so it's not the main theme) thoughout the story, but it hopefully won't distract from the plot :)
Title: Return to Never Lake
Full Summary: Reminiscing about her past, Amy decides to take charge and try to find her lost father, who vanished during a trip to Never Lake. However, she soon finds that others know her pain as Tails, Knuckles and Shadow join her in her journey. Along the way, they find that their pasts could drive them to their own destruction if they chase dying dreams...
Main Characters: Amy, Tails, Shadow, Knuckles
Couples: Shadow/Amy, Tikal/Knuckles
Disclaimer: Do I own Sonic etc.? Nope. Not yet anyway...
Chapter 1: Deep Memories
Amy gave a deep sigh. It was late at night but she was restless. Glancing at the old wooden clock, her eyes followed the swing of the pendulum after registering the time. It was past eleven. With after sigh, she redirected her blank stare to the dark sky outside her window. She was wearing casual, short pyjamas, having tried sleeping earlier, but now rose from her seat and went to her room, knowing she wouldn't sleep that night. Thoughts circled her mind as she dressed, slipping on jeans and an old purple t-shirt, walking into the front room. She sat in the window-seat, leaning her back against the side as she resumed musing, eyes wandering the dark landscape. She wasn't in her dark house, looking out on a dark world. In her mind she was far away, by Never Lake…
"Wow…" A young Amy looking all around her, awed. She was twelve and looked much different. Her quills were curved over her head, some falling into her face. She was wearing her favourite heart t-shirt, and an old yellow and green skirt, with high boot shoes. Beside her stood her father - a forty-something, sliver hedgehog. His own quills were rebellious and messy but it suited him and he had made an effort to tame his hair. He was wearing casual jeans and a button-up shirt that was open, revealing a gleaming locket on his chest, eyeing his daughter behind smart looking glasses. He smiled cheerfully and patiently as she ran a little way in front of him, turning and waving for him to follow.
"I thought you'd like it here, rather then at a library or museum." Amy nodded eagerly back, skipping back to him. "I know you don't-" He was left winded by the young hedgehog grabbing him tightly by the waist, hugging him joyously.
"Thanks Dad! You're right, those places are kinda boring. But this is awesome!" He laughed and detached his daughter from him, pushing his dislodged glasses up his nose. He ruffled her hair and watched her speed off again, this time shouting for him to join her. He chased after her easily, overtaking her.
"I might be a boring bookworm, but I can overtake you easy!" Amy looked surprised and increased her own speed.
"Hey, no fair, you've got longer legs then me!" she complained, knowing that her dad was teasing her. He was of course: he turned, running backwards to gave her a cheeky wink.
"C'mon Ame, keep up if you can!"
"I can keep you! See!" Amy managed to catch up to him and tackled him to the ground.
Amy kept a tight hold of him, looking up to see him laugh and re-arrange his glasses again. She stuck her tongue out at him, answered by an identically childish response from the pinned Dad, before giggling and snuggling into him. He sighed and lay back, gazing at the sky with an arm slung protectively over his treasure. Amy closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat, feeling his chest rise and fall gently. Taking larger breaths she tried to match his breathing, but found that she couldn't without hurting her lungs. She rolled to the side, laying beside him and still in his loving embrace. She knew her dad was smiling as he closed his eyes with a content sigh. "Dad?"
"Ame?"
"Can we visit here often?" He laughed and opened an eye to see her bright smile. "Please Dad!"
"We haven't even made it to the lake yet and you love it!" He knew her nature - quick to love and everlasting in her love, even if it changed or became dim over time, it would still be there in some form or disguise.
"I know. But it's really, really pretty, and it's like…a heaven or something. There's so much room to run and play, and there's only me and you!" she chirped. Her father gave her a small smile, looking up at the sky. He was clearly thinking wistfully, which made Amy think she had said something wrong. "Are you okay?"
He turned and smiled softly. "It's okay. This is heavenly, but…"
"Oh…I forgot about Mum…" Amy said quietly, feeling very guilty. Tears glistened as she felt awful about herself. Her father sat up and put a hand on his daughters head, soothing her gently.
"Shhh Amy. It's alright." The hedgehog child looked up at him, tears still falling from her eyes. He smiled wisely at her. "When someone hasn't been in your life, it's hard to remember them. She adored you and she always will, even if you can't hold her as tightly as you hold me."
"But…I feel like I can't love her right. I don't know her, or even remember what she looked like!" Amy's speech was often interrupted by hiccups. She watched her father as he considered for a moment, before he opened the locket to show her the pictures inside. The one on the right was her, hugging him tightly as she always did. Her dad however, pointed at the lady on the left.
Amy scooted closer and took the locket, looking closely at the lady. She had a bright smile, much like Amy's but minus it's childish, zealous energy. Her fur was red, long quills fell below her shoulders. Her blue eyes glittered, though one was partly hidden by a long fringe. She was wearing an orange turtleneck jumper and was waving, despite the fact that the picture was meant to be a refined "head and shoulder" photo. Amy lightly touched the picture. "Mum…she's really pretty." Her dad smiled as his girl looked up at him from his locket.
"I thought you didn't remember what she looked like?" Amy blinked at him in surprise. Rubbing the tears from her eyes, he continued. "She was beautiful. And you're just as beautiful as her. You are a lot like her. Which is a good thing, otherwise you'd have got my boring interests and ugly looks!" This encouraged a laugh from the girl. Standing up, the pair then headed out to the lake, Amy holding her Dad's hand.
Amy squeezed her eyes shut. Thinking of that day…it was a bittersweet memory. Trying to stop thinking, she stood up and walked out the door, locking it behind her. She was still within her mind as she thought about her Dad, wondering though the city. She sighed deeply, knowing why these thoughts were tormenting her this night. It was the anniversary of that day. The day they were torn apart. She thought about how people moved apart from each other. It was so strange. Sonic and his siblings, Sonia and Manic, sometimes got together but they seemed to understand where to be if they wanted to see one another. Cream's mother Vanilla often kept a check on her daughter, even when she was adventuring. The Chaotix stuck together and, like a family, put up with each on a daily basis. She knew Rouge had family somewhere but in true spy fashion, she refused to share any of their details. She could see that Rouge was close to them though, as some of the less personal treasures vanished from her procession to theirs.
But for those with family, there were those without. Knuckles was clearly alone, the sole descendant of the echidna tribe. There were rumours of other survivors hidden from the world, even of Tikal being freed from the Emerald and walking the world - how likely was that..? The answer was sadly obvious. Tails was also missing his parents, hadn't even gotten to know either of them, despite loving them both deeply. That was purely Robotnik's fault, for stealing away his parents and leaving behind the lost fox. They had yet to be found. Shadow's story was probably the cruellest in terms of having family taken. Maria, practically his blood sister, his world, was shot down by the government for saving him. Everything vanished for him.
Amy had walked out of the city centre by then, heading into the untamed Mobius, looking up to the stars. Standing beside a tree, her eyes searched the stars for hope. "Why is it this way? That some people lose those they love while others can keep them? And then, if they are kept, why do some people choose to leave them behind?" Slight tears touched her eyes. It didn't seem right: It wasn't right. Amy thought carefully, pulling out her phone and considering. She flicked though the electronic phonebook, pausing and then, pressing the dial button. She heard the phone up to her ear, watching the sunrise gently. She got the answering machine. Typical and expected of course.
"Hey Tails. I've…I've been thinking a lot. Listen, mind if I call a meeting at your place? Ring me back and we can arrange some details. Asap. Okay, bye." Hanging up, she began walking back into the city, heading to Station Square's train station. She wanted to be at the Mystic Ruins soon, ready for Tails' call when it came.
A/N: First Chapter over! Please send in your reviews so I know what I'm doing good and what I'm doing wrong. "Chapter 2: Insanity is a Powerful Thing" will be released soon :)
Shadow Fox Altars