"Amy Rose is dead."

That sentence froze me in my tracks. My green eyes flew toward the news van and to the news woman, Scarlet Garcia. Surely she's talking about another Amy Rose; the pink hedgehog was fine this morning!

Scarlet continued on speaking in the microphone, "Her body was found directly outside of Doctor Ivo Robotnik's base; she was covered in bruises and dried blood. No stab wounds or bullets were found...the girl was friends with Miles Prower, Cream the Rabbit and more importantly, Sonic the Hedgehog. She was his 'self-proclaimed' girlfriend..."

I stopped listening after that; I needed to get to Robotnik's base. Running at the speed of sound, I nearly bumped into a familiar black and red hedgehog. I skidded to a sudden halt and sighed in exasperation, "Shad, I REALLY don't have TIME for this! Amy-"

"-is dead; I know. Almost everyone knows. And...I truly am sorry." Shadow's amaranth eyes faded like a dimly lit candle, "Though that pink menace drove me crazy half the time...she's always been there for you and the others...and she never did give up on anything. Not even you."

"I'm FINE, Shadow." I rolled my eyes as I rushed past him, "Just...please. Leave me alone. I have to go find her body..." Tears stung at my eyes, but I wouldn't let anyone see them fall. I'd have to stay strong. Not only for my sake, but for my friends' sake, as well.

Soon, I made it to Robotnik's base. But Amy's body was no where to be found. Darn, I forgot; the police must have already taken it.

I spun around, and was met by a pair of crimson eyes.

"Did you find what you were searching for, blue hedgehog?"

"...the police took the body away." I answered, staying right where I was. My eyes closed shut, "I need to go find the others; they probably heard the news, and need some comforting. Poor Cream...her and Amy were inseparable...just like sisters. And Tails. I know he and Amy didn't always get along...but he did care about her. So did Knuckles..."

Shadow folded his arms across his chest. "You really don't seem...too upset. Are you fazed by her death? She basically idolized the ground you walked on."

I flinched, "...of course I am, Shad. But I'm not some blubbering idiot who cries over things like this; I don't spill my feelings out to others, and you of all people should know that."

"Yes, I know." Shadow muttered, "And it's a good thing you're helping the others grieving with Amy Rose's death. Who else would they turn to?"

"I dunno. Listen, I gotta go."

"Don't let me stop you, faker." Shadow stepped out of the way.

"Wait; were you...following me?"

"Of course not; what do you think I am, some sort of eighty year old stalker?" Shadow grumbled, eyes growing hard.

"Nah...you're waaaaaaaay older than that..." I joked, wagging a finger as I zipped on by. I heard him yelling some profane things about me, but I didn't have time to chat any longer.

I had to go help my friends cope with Amy's death.

Cream was sobbing uncontrollably.

Tails was on the couch, his twin tails curled around him…his eyes filled with tears.

Even Knucklehead was here.

He was standing by Cream, expression hard and unreadable. His hands shook slightly as he folded his arms over his chest.

"S…Sonic…"

The yellow fox turned his sky blue gaze to me, "Y…you heard?"

"…yeah." Ears lowered, I made my way over to the couch and sat down beside him. "It's hard…to imagine her gone, you know?"

"S…she was s…supposed to p…pick f..flowers with me and Cheese today!" Cream cried out, before burying her face into Knuckles' stomach.

The red echidna blinked in surprise, before stiffly patting her back.

"I can pick flowers with you." I suggested, looking to the rabbit. Cream bit her lip, sniffed, and stared at me, her brown eyes gleaming in sorrow.

"M…maybe tomorrow, Mr. Sonic…"

"I understand." Nodding once, I began to stand. Tails lightly grasped onto my arm.

His eyes were begging, pleading, "Sonic, please stay? At least for a little bit?"

I wanted to stay…I really did. But…this was getting to be too much. When I found out Amy was dead, something inside of me died, as well. I needed to get away from it all; away from Cream and Cheese, from Tails, from Knuckles… from everything.

But where was I supposed to go?

"Sorry, pal. I really have to go; I promised Shadow I'd go help him find another of the Chaos Emeralds." Before anyone could say another word, I was out the door.

"Never thought I'd ever see you here, Faker."

I sat on one of the barstools at 'Club Rouge'. Shadow was sitting directly beside me, signature frown on his lips.

I just shrugged.

"…you're underage."
"So are you."

"Nah, I'm an old man, remember?" Shadow retorted sarcastically, "Besides; weren't you going to comfort your friends in their time of need?"

Sucking in a breath, I nodded. "And I did. For about a minute."

"Come to drink your memories away?" He asked, smirking.

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, right. I'm not the drinking type. What about you? Why are you here, Shad? You don't drink, either."

"Changing the subject, are we? You're right; I don't drink. Alcohol smells disgusting, and after watching a few people here getting drunk, I wish to not participate in it. It damages brain cells, you know."

"Yeah? How do you know it damages your brain? Have you even TRIED a beer before?" I raised an eyebrow curiously.

"I haven't; but have you SEEN some of these Mobians, Sonic?" Shadow asked, just as a male deer and female spaniel staggered toward the exit, giggling and laughing and hiccupping like crazy.

"Right."

"Anyway, why were you only with your friends for a minute? It takes much longer than that to cope with the death of a loved one."

This was getting irritating.

"Sonic…"

My eyes flashed, "No, Shadow! You aren't Dr. Phil, and I'm not gonna spend any time telling you that I'm NOT able to cope with Amy's death!" Without warning, a tear trickled down my cheek. I stood to my feet, and turned my back.

"Sonic…it hasn't even been a day. You can't expect yourself to cope within that time period."

"And why, may I ask, do you care so much?"

"…it's been so many years after Maria's death."

"What does that have to do with Amy?"

"…it has something to do with both of us, Sonic. My sweet Maria died…and your Amy died. I'm still trying to cope, but no matter what I do, I can't get her image out of my head."

I faced Shadow, eyes growing soft, as another tear slipped down onto the floor.

"Sonic…I know what you're going through. If you need help with coping, you should come find me."

This…seems out of character for Shadow. But it might be the fact that he misses Maria…and he knows how much Amy meant to me.

Smiling, I turned to leave again, "Thanks; I will."