What would a CherrleTheChicken stories be without starting off with one of my very tedious author notes, eh?
Basically, I just wanted to clear a few things up.
I did say there would be romance in this story. As you know, I'm not too much of a fluff writer. Like, even reading it... I'll admit, even I'm a sucker for some Knouge fluff (although getting fluff out of those two is like trying to find a needle in a haystack... *sweatdrops*) But even too much makes me go... Eckk. Silvaze too. Sonamy... I can only have limited amounts of Sonamy before I go crazy... Taiream's all good because it's usually like limited and I have yet to see some in character Shadikal fluff...
ANYWAY. I don't do fluff so well. I do, however, after the events of I Am, have to include some couplings. Sonamy, I'm still figuring if it should be one sided and it will be mainly... Angst. Which, I do like. Knouge, I kinda have to do now but (for once) we won't be focusing on them as a couple. Like I said, I'm thinking about a little Shadikal, although whether it be one-sided or even exist I'm still not sure.
But anyway, before I said we won't be focusing on them as a couple... But all of our characters will have a respective main roll. We'll be focusing a lot on characterization. I will say now that some things will be a little OOC. This is purely because, to be honest, with what happened in I Am I don't think anybody would get through it 100% in character. Of course, I'm not taking them out of themselves... We might see a more sensitive side to some characters and a harsher one to others.
I'm also trying to keep with the running... Kinda of down theme. It just goes.
There will be themes that could be taken as religious. I assure you, I mean them in no religious way. You'll understand when we get there (quite a bit later), for now don't worry, but I'm just saying I'm not 100% anything really so anything will be made up to go with the story (basically, when Tikal arrives and some of the things she says... Well, you'll get it)
Again, there will be my own take on traditions + stuff...
Basically, I hope you enjoy it. I'm trying to get this to be really well written... Personally, I think a few parts of I Am were kinda rushed and could've been done better. I'm not going to be rewriting it though.
And Unexpected... I'm not ditching it. I'm just trying to find myself with it once again.
So without further ado here's Tatoué Sur Le Cœur.
P.S if you didn't know tatoué sur le cœur translated into English means 'Tattooed on my heart'. I don't speak French well (I can string together like two sentences and know random words :P) so I had to go on Google Translate, then double check with my Mum to see if it was right :L. And if I didn't cover it in I Am, the reason it was called I Am All Of You was becuase one of Shadow's themes is titled I Am All Of Me and he was a part of them… I had no other titles ideas. Shut up.
I do not own any SEGA characters and/or places. If you see an OC crop up anywhere, it'll probably be mine or a friend on here's… They wont be important to the story. Enjoy !
-Two years previously-
For each guardian, there is a spirit guardian. The duty of the guardian is simple; protect the ancient relic of the Pachacamac clan from harm. The duty of the spirit guardian is a gift received only after death. Only if the ancient Gods honour the life of the clan member will they become spirit guardian. The spirit guardian must reside inside the Master Emerald, keeping Chaos at bay. One will be reunited with a physical form only if great peril comes to the clan or the seven servers.
Pure, calm sapphire eyes opened for the first time since Chaos had been unleashed. A soft wave of panic swept over the spirit guardian's soul; she had experienced and knew all too well what was coming.
Dreadful, undying pain ripped through her soul; she could not scream, only endure. Great peril must be near.
The next thing Tikal knew she was lying face down upon stone slabs. They grazed her unprotected arms and knees, causing a dull pain as panic swept through her physical form.
Danger. I can feel it.
Arms weak and not used to her current form, she slowly, shakily lifted herself, stumbling towards the emerald. Carefully, she placed both palms as an image arose upon the unwavering green surface.
The first being her eyes came upon was a hedgehog. His stance was one of aggression; legs shoulder length apart, fists clenched, eyes slits, lips upturned into a snarl. This was, sadly, a stance she was used to seeing. This was the stance that her clan had died in.
Ebony fur covered his body, slightly ruffled and slowly moving in the wind. Although the wind was dead...
Anger radiated from his being, bubbling over his ruby eyes.
Ebony and ruby... It was said that colours reflect one's personality. Black... Black represented death, unforgiving and cruel. She felt it suited him well.
The bright red of his eyes and fur surprised her. True, red was the colour of blood but it was also a colour highly thought of by the Pachacamac clan; red stood for passion, love and caring. It was one of the primary colours of the clan and being placed upon such an aggressive creature surprised her.
Slowly, she forced her eyes from the creature, just noticing that he had companions.
The first, seemed, on the outside also angry but... Troubled; it was true, she did look a female the clan would chastise, but Tikal could see the power within. Although she was not as obvious as her companion, this was not somebody Tikal wished to anger.
Once again, the fur colouring surprised her.
White. White stood for purity, especially in females. Purity and innocence.
The second she noticed was a piercing green. Green was regarded as nature; natural beauty and the surrounding world. Green was also read as hope, something that seemed very absent within the female's eyes.
The third was, once again red and black and radiated anger. Almost... Inhuman anger. This was something Tikal had never come across before: a completely functioning metal man.
Silver flecked his... Pelt? Silver stood for the supernatural. The night.
She had never seen these three before in her life, but a cold chill crept up her spine. She was already wary of the trio.
Wrath.
Lust.
Pride.
Tikal blinked. Surely... It couldn't be...
Mouths were moving; the hedgehog was talking. It was then that she noticed the screen... People she knew... That cocky, speedy cobalt hedgehog, his forest eyes shining dully; the pink hedgehog, emerald eyes filled with sorrow, overflowing with tears; a young, naïve orange fox, sapphire filled with fear... And the cold, limp, blood soaked body of the young-minded yet golden hearted lavender cat.
And him.
The guardian.
A... Creature divided Sonic, the wind element and the guardian, a new, thick piece of machinery being waved between them, one that she had never come across in such a clear way.
Tikal knew why she had been summoned.
The words stuck into her ears.
"I choose to kill... Knucl-"
"NO!" They screamed it at the same time, although for now she did not notice the cobalt hedgehog rising. Her white clad hands thumped onto the emerald.
No, no, not him. The clan needs him...
More talking. Tikal prayed to the ancestors, willing to hear what was happening... To no avail.
And finally...
Bang.
Wind fell to the floor.
Tikal squeezed her eyes closed but the images still invaded.
She was forced to watch the horror unfold in front of her.
-Present day-
"And Amy... Take care of yourself..."
"Got you! My darling Sonic!"
"Uh... A-Amy!"
"Sonic! There's no way outta marrying me!"
"Sonic, give up! This time, you're mine!"
"Hey, wait for me! He's such a brat sometimes..."
"A girl? Please, tell me what Sonic needs from this cat girl!"
"If I had to choose between the world and Sonic... I'd choose Sonic!"
A smile; the ghost of something that had not been around for two years.
Amy stood in a field, flowers coloured rose, magenta, lavender, salmon, tangerine... Every colour of the known rainbow and more, the sweet scent dancing over her palette... Yet none as sweet as the smell of Sonic. The voices of Sonic and herself sang around her, dancing above her pink-quilled head.
"It's too bad the choice was never yours to make."
The voice stopped her dead.
A single chill ran up her spine.
"No. That sick, twisted bastard killed him. And you're just as sick for believing him. You don't even know what love is. Just a stupid little infatuation that will pass within a few months. It's funny; you were quite happy to go along with anyone else being murdered in cold blood as long as you got who you wanted to live. But, then again, you've always been like that, haven't you? You lived but that's not good enough, is it? You're life has been spared, you're blood not spilled. You're lucky to be alive. You saw what had to happen and you have the audacity to blame the three of us? You are an ungrateful little bitch; you always have been and always will be."
Shadow's cold words froze her.
"Amy... Sonic's gone..."
But Tails... Sweet, naïve Tails... He can't be... He... He's...
Special.
Blood lapped Amy's cherry red boots.
He lay in front of her. Forest eyes stared, unforgiving, into her own.
No.
No!
NO!
Why can't you just understand...?
Falling with a strong thud! onto her knees, Amy gently took the cobalt hedgehogs' head into her arms, cradling it against her. That cold-hearted, sadistic, metallic laugh echoed around.
It's not real...
It can't be...
I love him...
"You don't know what love is."
A sneer ,a jibe, a laugh.
I do!
Just... Let me prove it...
I want him.
I need him.
I love him...
I love him...
I LOVE HIM!
Sonic...
"Amy...?"
Amy Rose sprang into a sitting position. Sweat covered her body, her hair was tangled and she gasped for breath; it was just a nightmare. Dull bed sheets tangled among her limbs, restricting her movement.
Amy's eyes grazed the dark, cream room.
"A-are you okay?"
Tails stood warily in the wooden doorway, an old striped blue nightcap upon his head and worry in his eyes. He had heard her screaming... Nonsense about love, it had seemed but he was worried nonetheless.
She had been like this for some time now.
She nodded once, solemnly before glancing towards the clock.
5:42am.
"Okay."
He turned and softly padded into the hall with bare feet.
"Thank you Tails... For letting me stay here tonight."
He nodded wearily before stumbling to his own room.
-Somewhere in the heart of the city-
It was winter; bitter and cold.
This year had foretold of dangerous snowstorms and freezing conditions, although as of yet neither had shown up.
The city streets, often bustling busily with both Mobian and Human commuters, were silent, except for the occasional drunk, wolf whistling, winking or calling some kind of crude "compliment" or a homeless person littering the gutters. Two or three people were also making their way towards a work place, but all kept their heads down.
It was still dark; the predawn light was only just beginning to filter over the top of the buildings. The city would not get light for another good two hours at this time of year.
Lazily, she glanced above the grey, concrete towers to the cloudy, shadowed shape of the island in the sky.
True, she had thought of visiting instead of making the insane trek to work, but she knew that there was nothing artificial on the island, so the inhabitants did not wake until enough natural light flooded the island.
And besides, seeing as she was a highly regarded agent, if she got in early they might let her off early.
Slipping away from the cold winds, she entered the sliding doors of the large concrete and metal building.
Rolling her eyes, she placed one hand in the security system and with a painfully high pitched ping! the door opened.
G.U.N hadn't always been so secure but last year a (literally) raging bull by the name of Simon Cow had gotten hold of a card key and trashed the place, demanding he get more pay if he were to continue working.
City folk were crazy.
Rouge stretched and yawned, glancing at the large metallic clock on the wall opposite.
Ten to six.
She walked into the 'lounge' (really just large, practically bare room... G.U.N's way to keep employee rights above the bare minimum and spend little money). Going along with everything else G.U.N owned the whole place was black; walls, carpet, counters. One single potted plant stood in the corner. Next to the foliage was a fuchsia chameleon, legs crossed and eyes closed in a meditating position.
"Hello Rouge."
How he knew that it was her was beyond the ivory bat; he hadn't even opened his eyes let alone looked up.
"Hey Espio."
The following door opened into the grey computer room and she slowly sat in one of the creaky chairs.
Something Shadow had said had really thrown her off and she needed to check...
Hearing heavy, dragging footsteps, Rouge knew that the person approaching the room was whatever poor sap had gotten the night shift.
"You're up early."
Rouge glanced behind her. The voice had come from one of the newest apprentice agents: Samson the Lion. A smile was placed on his kind face, highlighted by glinting emerald eyes. He yawned, rubbing the bags under one eye with a huge paw.
Samson was a big guy, but that was one of the reasons G.U.N had accepted him at only sixteen; five foot nine and broad chested, wandered around in large Vans, his golden fur and thick, luxurious main often catching the sunlight.
Rouge laughed at his unkempt fur and tired eyes.
"Night shift?"
"No way! I've always spent my nights in a place that smells of metal and industrial weapons cleaner."
"Hope you had fun with that."
She spun back around, fingers flying over the worn keys of the large supercomputer as he trudged out of the building.
Finally, the information, or lack of it as it seemed, flashed onto the screen.
Rouge froze. Her gut turned to ice. This was exactly what she had feared.
"What is wrong?"
She hadn't heard the fuchsia chameleon enter the room, but at that moment Espio's espionage skills were the least of Rouge's worries.
"Call Shadow. Now."
I realised that the last... Scene? Was kinda light. The story will take go darker, like it's prequel, but for now we'll leave it here.
I'm trying to make this better written than I Am but I'll leave you to be the judge of that.
Samson is (you'll probably be glad to hear) a very small part of this story. Heck, he'll probably never show up again. I have a few OC's I cycle through for purposes such as this, him being one of them.
And Simon Cow? Extra points if you get it... I saw EchidnaGirl using names such as that to represent certain people and this instantly struck into my mind..
So... Here's your prologue?
Hopefully I'll update this quicker than everything else...
Cherrlex.