Sonic the Hedgehog: HEROES
By: Penwriter101
Rating: T for Teen
Warning: Swearing, battle scenes, and occassional situations (no m-rated stuff)
Full Summary: Hero: somebody who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength of character. "Oh sure, Blue-Boy—be everyone's hero as always, and get yourself killed in the process." "I miss when you were more respectable." "I miss when you learned how to shut-up."
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Chapter One: Arrival
She was having that dream again. That one damn dream, that is worse than the dream of her drowning. Worst than the dream where she's flying with beautiful angel wings and then she's plummeting with a bloody wingless back. Worse than, even, the dream where she's being rolled down a hill of spikes and thorns. The recurring dream is a true nightmare.
She was twelve again, young and innocent, and in love.
She wore that red dress and red boots and red headband once more. Her quills were shorter and her eyes shinned with passion other than battle. She's in a park, don't know which, don't know where, but it is pretty, and beautiful, and then the dream adds a gothic theme. The dress, boots, headband turn to black, and the birds twittering in trees turn to crows. The flowers on the path die and everything goes to gloom.
Then, he comes in, up to her, little twelve-year-old deeply in love, eyes shining with the very passion.
To be said, she'd do anything for him.
She asks him how he is and he says the usual crap-bout that ends with her asking him out. Turn point: he says no, and then runs off, and her, little twelve-year-old, holds a hurt heart and then slowly walks away.
Then, she wakes up.
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To be said, Amy wasn't young anymore. The seventeen-year-old nursing a cup of Joe is more mature, now. She sits at five in the morning, sleepy-eyed, her braid she sleeps in a little ragged by the tossing and turning and head thrashing. She wears a cut-off yellow tank-top with her yellow and white pants. This makes up her sleeping-garb. She had put on her blue slippers after pulling herself from bed.
She said nothing as she drank her coffee and listened to the weatherman on the radio narrate the weather. "He's going to get it wrong anyway," she thought aloud as she watched the clock above the kitchen arch tick.
Amy Rose was seventeen, had a nice apartment that wasn't too furnished (the tarot cards by the dousing stone told her she'd be packing soon) and a good job as a ranger. Because she lived in Gagon Cape, a nice town by a beach and jungle tropics, many sometimes wandered into the jungle (vast) and got lost. Amy's job as well as the other rangers, was to track them down and bring them home.
Amy had scored over one-hundred missions over the course of the two years she spent living here. She earned a good pay, had good connection, and had developed into a very beautiful young woman. Looking back on the two photographs she salvaged it was hard to recognize her to have once been the dress-wearing girly-girl with hearts in her eyes.
"…and coming up on the news is report of clear skies all day and some humidity, so at least wear a sweater over that swimsuit, girls!" Big Sun said cheerily. Amy thought him to be queer and boney, all chirpy with a pink sweater and hearts on top. Ugh. She stuck her tongue out.
'He should be telling everyone about Eggman coming out of hiding. But, why frighten happy little people who are unaware of a possible doom?' Amy had grown quite sarcastic over the years. Maybe it was because she had grown slightly bitter over him, or that she was still amazed that after the warning signs, the big fat freaking DO NOT TRESPASS before the jungle, people still wandered like morons into it.
The source of Amy's current bitterness was in the blue envelope. The envelope sat under an empty glass she had drank from before getting a cup of Joe. The envelope now had a nice ring from the water on the cup and crumpled slightly from the panic-grip and cringe she gave the poor piece of mail when she learned whereit was from. It had a yellow smiling fox cartoon on the front that wore air-pilot-goggles and said YOU GOT AIRMAIL.
It was obvious, then, where it was from.
The sender could only be Miles Prower, or, to his preference, "Tails". While Tails was like a little brother to Amy (one she'd spoil to the point of sugar-coating him in chocolate) he was pretty much cohort to Sonic the Hedgehog: the him in Amy's situation.
"Am I really that pathetic that I am afraid of talking to him?" she sipped her coffee. 'Of course I am,' she drolly thought. She then rolled her eyes to the ceiling. 'He'll be the same old Sonic, and me? I'll have to endure the poking and prodding.' She then set her mug down. She glanced spitefully at the white phone in its receiver, stapled to the wall. 'They're expecting me to call…'
Having enough to thinking, Amy took the glass off the envelope and set it aside. She then took the envelope into her thin, yet strong, fingers. She felt the crumpled edges where she fumbled. She then ripped away the flap, no use for it with its already torn edges being a dead-help. She then pulled the thick white booklet from inside and turned it to the front. Leave it to Tails to create a little booklet of instructions. The top read TO AMY ROSE and FROM TAILS, then there was the little blue squiggle of AND SONIC.
Amy flipped open the booklet to the first page. She read it.
Dear recipient of this booklet, my name is Tails, a fighting partner and guide to Sonic the Hedgehog.
To the recipient, the reason you received this envelope with this very booklet because you are valuable to the mission. What is the mission, you have to be asking yourself. The mission is simple: defeat Eggman.
For four years Eggman has remained quiet, not causing chaos in a long while. But now activity of crimes and dangers surrounding his name have surfaced. While one would normally write this off as crimes blames on him, this is no false-crime. Robots have shown up in the largest industry metal park from all over, Metal Alley. While it was once a great site designated for ramps and glides, it was put into retirement.
Eggman has used Metal Alley before for his plans and we fear that he is using its many metal scraps and other dangerous machinery for negative deeds.
In other words, we think that he is out to control Mobius once more.
In fact, we know he is out to. His robots are swarming all over. It is only a matter of time before he announces eminent doom all over, throwing things into disarray and chaos.
And chaos is the exact worry on our minds. He is not after the Chaos Emeralds this time. We believe that there is a greater assistance to his deeds than the Emeralds.
Within this little book, in the pages, there are maps, areas he was sighted in last, the certain type of robots encountered and much more. We would be happy to have you assist us, as we need all the help we can get. This booklet is not an order of invitation for it is a chance. This will be a dangerous job, and you may not escape the dangers mentioned unscathed.
Tails
Amy had read over the dangers, robot diagrams and the very other necessities Tails had included to prepare the recipients of his booklets for the dangers if they wished to embark on the mission. What had gotten Amy was the line paper note stuck in the middle of her booklet. It was between the page on WEATHER and TERRAINS. Amy flipped pages till she arrived to where she stuck the folded up lined paper note. Carefully, she took out the little square and set the book in front of her on the table. She then unfolded, carefully, the square and then put it on the table. She smoothed it with her hands before she read it over again.
Dear Ames,
How's it been Ames? I have no clue because you don't have contact with us (Tails and I). We only heard of a pink furred girl wandering around, and then nothing.
You playing hard to get?
Heh, never mind the joke.
Tails only found you a month ago. I'm a little upset, you running off like that without telling us.
Enough of my feelings, how 'bout yours?
I mean, you kept us off your trail and then only once, a few ago, we found out. You're doing all that dangerous stuff I feared you'd do. I know you are, because that was how we found you.
The great Amy Rose nominated top ranger within Gagon Cape. The place with the jungle—the jungle where there are dangers beyond anyone's imagination. I remember how I'd keep you off the danger path, but, here you are, walking it again.
You like being stubborn?
I think so, because might just tear up this letter and throw out the booklet. That's fine, because you have a choice. But you should know, Ames, that the dangers Tails told you about in the booklet (to all the other recipients) are real. Eggman is back and he has more evil plots than my record book.
Heh.
We do need help.
I decided to write you a letter because it is the only way I can talk to you. Tails commandeered the entire booklet. I couldn't even write down my thoughts except for some small quotes we added for hilarity. Read those? No, maybe you didn't.
Doesn't matter, because I know that you are too headstrong to be able to attend the mission, but Tails snuck you a booklet anyways. So I said that we'd send it to you if I was able to write you a letter.
This is a dangerous mission, Ames. Really dangerous, more dangerous than the ones before.
But if by chance you think you can put aside your ranger job to help us, fine by me. Just know that there are unexplained dangers ahead for you.
Sonic
When Amy had first read it, she was enflamed with rage. How dare he think that she wasn't capable! She fought pythons, those noisome alligators popping out of the waters, the other great dangers of being a ranger! And he thought she was incapable?! Amy had the urge to race across (she was a super-fast speed-lightning hedgehog, after all) and pummel Sonic until what was left of him was a tattered body.
She was bitter, yes.
So here Amy was, a Wednesday morning, sure to be a little humid. She had no work today, unless Kyle, the director, called her in. She had been different the past days, which put thoughts of his best employee's health in the director's mind. He let her off for two days, or three, if she still wasn't feeling good.
Amy was fine; winded by the message, but fine.
And, by the way she felt the urge to continue adventures, the thrill of chasing something with passion, it seemed that Amy would be taking a longer break than just two or three days. While the perils of hoops she had to jump through each day as a ranger in the jungle were adventurous, it wasn't the adventure she thirsted for.
Amy sighed as she folded the letter back up and tossed it into the glass near the edge of the table. She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. "What a jerk," she grumbled. 'But he does have a point. This will be dangerous and I can easily avoid seeing him all together by not joining the fight.' She then shook her head, disbelief at herself.
"What am I thinking?" she got up from her chair and walked over to the fridge. She gripped the handle and pulled, opening it. "He's just trying to scare me!" she took the orange juice out and set it on the counter, letting the fridge door close. "Think, Rose, think!" she took out a clean glass and twisted the cap off the orange juice. "I've been avoiding him for four years." She poured herself a generous amount. "I can't keep avoiding him, and it is impossible now, because they sure found me easily," she capped the orange juice. "They'd come find me even if I don't join them. They have my address…" she then took her glass and took huge gulps.
"…and then there are those sunscreen days when you need," the radio hummed in the background.
Amy held her glass and put a hand on the counter, bowing her head. "Ugh, too many annoyances…"
'But I have to make a decision,' she thought bitterly, 'because whether I want it or not, the chance of them coming for me is high.' She rubbed her throbbing forehead and then leaned against the fridge.
"…the people are excited…" the radio went on.
'I've been away for four years…' she ran a hand up and down the top of the fridge. 'Back at my old apartment I'd have pictures decorating my fridge…this one doesn't have anything on it…' she then closed her eyes and sank slowly to the floor where she pulled her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She rested her chin on her knees, opened her eyes, as she surveyed her apartment.
It was a nice apartment. She'd gotten it at a good price, and because she was a ranger, they cut the price down. A third of her pay went to the rent, and the rest her medical needs. It was a good life—the life she had right now in Gagon Cape. She had made friends with the rangers on her team, knew the people well of Gagon Cape and hadn't had an insult on her part—this was considered terrific scores.
But a part of her had jumped with joy at the prospect of returning to Station Square with its buzz of people, crowds that knew where to go and she could jump in, her friends…
Amy sighed before rising to her feet and depositing her empty orange juice glass in the sink. 'Even if it means seeing Sonic again…working beside Sonic again…' she felt a little choked at the prospect.
"I guess it wasn't really a choice after all, huh?" she asked the folded up note on the table. She then went to her phone and pulled it from the receiver. From her mind, she searched and scavenged for the sequence of numbers that made up Tails' home number. She found an eight, four and a five. She bit her lower lip and then punched in the rest, half hoping she punched in the right numbers and half hoping she didn't.
There was a series of rings before a crackle.
The radio still went on, "…so you see Bob, the day looks great for swimming…"
Crackle.
"Hello?" a pubescent voice crackled over the phone. It sounded warm and generous. Amy's memory kicked in, taking over.
"Tails—it's Amy. I got your letter."
"Oh…good, what did you think?"
Leave it to Tails to turn a conversation with a runaway into a normal friendly chat. Amy smiled before saying into the phone, "You did a great job on it. It gave me a sense that I'm in for a load of crap and crud if I join you guys for the mission."
"You're thinking about coming with us?"
Amy nodded. She then realized that Tails couldn't hear her head rattle. "Um, yeah, Gagon Cape is becoming boring. It's always the same people wandering into the jungle, the same family. It gets annoying mostly."
"That's great! Well, not the boring and annoying part…"
"I get what you mean, Tails."
"Heh…so…how have you been?"
"I've got a healthy lifestyle of jumping into dangerous jungles, fighting dangerous creatures, rescuing dumb townspeople, and being paid a lot of money to keep up the ranger job."
"It's good that have made a good living. Sonic was spouting in past about how you could be stalked in an alley somewhere. We told him to stop with the conspiracies, though. They got really histrionic at times."
"Tell Blue-Boy that I'm fine, and that he can take his conspiracies and shove 'em up his ass."
"Will do!" the fox laughed. There was then a pause, "Should I put up your apartment or…"
"Wasn't my apartment sold?"
"Your stuff is in storage. Sonic arranged it, but we couldn't save your apartment. Sorry."
"That's okay, Tails. I can rent a room at a hotel."
"Err…the hotels are booked, but my house as a guest bedroom. But…it is one over from Sonic's…and…"
"I think I can be a big girl and suck up my fear of being contact with him, Tails," she said with a laugh, though felt slightly reluctant.
"If you're sure."
"I am," she said with more confidence than she said before. She rubbed her forehead and frowned when she still felt the headache.
Tails then made a surprised sound. There was a crackle before Amy heard the sound of two people arguing. "Who are you talking to?"
"I'm talking to Amy, Sonic. Don't grab the phone like that! I think my heart stopped for a minute!"
"Amy? You are talking to Amy?"
"No, Sonic, I'm talking to the ring tone. Of course I'm talking to Amy!"
"What?"
Amy felt something lurch inside herself. She held the phone tighter as the two people fought. "Um…"
"Sonic! Let go of the phone!"
"One minute Tails!"
There was the sound of a loud screech that made Amy move the phone from her ear and wince. 'Can't they argue some other time? Ow!' She then growled and put the phone back to ear. She then, with her voice ready to scream, shouted, "WOULD YOU BOYS SHUT UP AND ANSWER THE FREAKING PHONE!!" if she was in the same room as them, she would have brought out Piko-Piko and mauled them both.
There was the rumble of someone picking up the phone. The person who answered wasn't who Amy had in mind to answer her question. "Ames?"
"Oh, it's you," she said coldly.
"Nice to hear from you too, Ames," he said sarcastically. "What are you calling Tails for?"
'Are you stupid?' she thought angrily, before saying, "I'm joining the mission, Sonic. That would be a big D for DUH!"
Sonic sounded surprised. "You're joining us? I thought you wanted to avoid it all together…"
Amy began to tap her foot impatiently, annoyed. "Gee, I hadn't thought of that. I mean, avoiding you for four years has gotten old. After all, making a comeback is the new black." She bent over and flicked imaginary dust from her shorts.
Sonic's voice crackled back over the phone. "Again, you are…"
Amy rolled her eyes before straightening. "Yes, you retard, I'm joining you guys to stop Eggman," she snatched the booklet from the table, having to do a remarkable stretch to get it from her place at the phone. "The booklet arriving to me, with the address TO AMY ROSE says that. So I have a choice to go or not. And…I'm going to help."
There was a pause before Sonic, "This is dangerous."
"I love danger."
"The possibility of death is high."
"Should I bring flowers for your funeral?"
"Amy!"
Amy held the phone to her shoulder with her cheek, tilted head to it, as she put her hands on her hips. "Look, Blue-Boy, I am going to help you defeat Eggman. With some reluctance, I will even help you. And I will be in Station Square at six-o'clock Friday! So I swear on Piko-Piko! Is Tails there?!"
"Um, yes."
"PUT HIM ON!!" Amy yelled.
The phone then handed over, while crackling on the other side, until Tails' voice came on. "Amy?"
"Tails, make up the guest bedroom and tell The Blue Retard-hog that I am going to assist you in defeating Eggman WHETHER HE LIKES IT OR NOT!!"
"Amy…you don't have to be so loud…"
"Oh…sorry Tail…can you please put Sonic back on?"
Again the crackle of the phone moving from Tails to Sonic, "Ames?" he asked with some bitterness.
"GOODBYE!!" she then slammed the phone on the receiver and stomped her foot. She glared daggers at it, her heart pounding in her chest, muscles tense. She was sure that Sonic was clutching his ears in pain from the volume of her yell.
Amy's mind then sprung back. She recoiled. "I'm…going back."
