And I bring you… my next story! :D Woooo!

This one was thought up after playing too much Rocket Mania. Try it out if you haven't, it's free on Yahoo! Games.

Sonic the Hedgehog © Sega


Chapter 1

"Mommy! Mommy! I can see them again!" My eyes twinkled as bright colored explosions erupted in the sky. My smile grew with each new one that brought color to the sky. I heard my mother set down her dishes in the kitchen.

"I'm coming Amy! Silver, the fireworks are going on again!"

"I'll be there in a sec Blaze! Can't our little eight year old wait a minute?" I smiled pleadingly. My mother chuckled and picked me up. She opened the door and set me down on our front porch. I ran down the steps and stopped in awe.

Bright beautiful explosion glittered across the night. I plopped down right on our sidewalk that led to the front porch and gasped. I loved everything about fireworks. The loud popping sounds, the burnt smell afterwards, the different shapes, the unique colors, the way they brightened the night, just everything. A man who lived less than a couple blocks from us shot them off every Saturday night. His son, who was only a few years older then I was, always helped. I think he hopes to take over the show some day.

The man who launched the fireworks loved them with a passion. He claimed that he worked in a large firework industry many years ago, but the company hopelessly crashed and burned soon after. Since the man loved the fireworks so, he claimed everything that could not be sold any longer for his own. He brought them home and has launched a few off every Saturday night and every holiday since I was a toddler.

I remember the first time I saw them; I was only 3 years old. I leapt at the sound and scampered outside to investigate. That's when I saw the fireworks. Other kids my age cried and screamed, but not me, no sir. I was fascinated. What a dream it would be to grow up and launch those! To be in control and decide which shade of blue better went with the maroon fireworks, and if the hearts came before the star-shaped ones or vice versa; what a dream. From that night on I knew that someday, I wanted to run a fireworks show.

I sighed as the finale finally came. Golden shimmering lights blasted into the sky and I was mesmerized. I couldn't take my eyes off them! My mommy sat beside me, and my daddy on the other side. They both smiled just as I did.

"Mommy, daddy, I wanna launch those someday!" My mother's smile slowly vanished, as did my dad's. They looked at one another, then me.

"You know, those people don't make any money. They are broke, and do not live well," my dad said. I frowned.

"But that man seems just fine!"

"He is very sick, Amy. The doctors do not know how much longer he will live. He has no money for medicine because he has no job and is too ill to get one," my mom told me. I looked down with great sadness.

"Does this mean no more firework shows?" My mom looked at my dad.

"We don't know sweetie. But that man is strong, I am sure he'll be ok," my mom said. I smiled.

"I hope so."

Bedtime came too soon, and I crawled into bed after goodnights from my parents. About an hour rolled by, and I tiptoed out of my room and into theirs. Mom and dad were both fast asleep. I went back into my room and changed into my jeans, my old black t-shirt, and my big puffy jacket. I put the hood over my head and slipped into my boots. I slowly crept out into the hallway and to the front door. I had to meet this man before he died!

I snuck onto the porch and took off in the direction they were launched every night. We lived in a more country setting, so there were fewer cars and fewer houses here. I ran down our dirt road onto the paved one. I looked at the many houses in front of me. Hmm, Rouge lives there… Knuckles there… Sonic in that house… Ahah! I ran to the one house that I'd never been to. I could see a shack in the backyard from the street.

Being as young as I was, I didn't know the laws about trespassing or stealing or anything. So I snuck up to the gate leading to the backyard and clicked it open. I walked into a concrete backyard, with a small pond in the corner and a small rock fountain to go with it. There were sliding glass doors that led into the small one-story house.

Standing in the middle of the backyard was the most glorious thing: the shack. I gasped and ran toward it. I swung the wooden door open and barged in. I was immediately hit in the face with a small rope-like chain, causing me to jump back. I then realized it was only the light switch, so I pulled the cord to better observe my surroundings. I looked around at all the different colored powders and tubes that sat on shelves on the walls. There were special tools hanging on one wall, along with piles of matches. There were also two pairs of goggles, two pairs of rubber gloves, and a few white lab coats hanging from some hooks on the back of the door. A locked safe was also in the back of the shack. I started walking toward it…

"What're you doing?" I yelped and spun around. I snatched a flashlight and turned it on with a shaky hand. I shined it on the person who scared me. The light came across his face and he put a gloved hand up instantly to block the bright light.

"I-I-I'm so s-s-sorry! I just wanted to see the fireworks…" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Where are you from kid?"

"Just a few blocks away. I wasn't gonna steal anything, I promise!" He chuckled.

"I believe you. I'm Shadow, by the way, Shadow the Hedgehog, and I'm the firework's apprentice." My eyes went wide.

"You mean you shoot those off every night?"

"Well I help. Sometimes I get to pick the colors and designs." I smiled in excitement.

"I'm Amy by the way! Amy Rose! And I wanna do what you do someday!" He smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"And how old are you again?"

"Eight!"

"Right. I'm twelve. So maybe someday, when I take over the shop, you can be my apprentice. Sound good?" I nodded quickly. "Alright, now let's get you home. I'm sure your parents are worried." I yawned and nodded. He chuckled and squatted down next to me. "You want a ride home?"

"Yeah!"

"Hop on." I grabbed onto his shoulders as he piggybacked me out of the shack and onto the street. We walked down the dimly lit paths until we reached my house. "Is this where you live?" I yawned and nodded. "Ok, well I'll walk you to the porch and then you can go back inside." I nodded again. He set me down and I opened the door to my house.

"Bye Shadow! It was nice meeting you and seeing the firework shack." He smiled.

"Sure. Bye Amy."

And that would be the last time I would see him for years.


Soooo~ What does you think?

Continue? Yes or no?