Before The Final Rose Petal Falls
Whoa, I woke up this morning to find five reviews plus a whole bunch of alerts and favorites. You guys like this story! You really do! Also, just to say so, my luck there's already a Beauty and the Beast wereSonamy fanfic posted the day before this one was. I read it and I swear up and down our writing styles are different and I'm pretty sure what we have planned for these fics are going to be different as well.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog or Beauty and the Beast.
Chapter 2: Beauties do have brains
Sunlight streamed from the cloudless expanse of azure sky down onto the lush grass and dirt paths that made up the roads of Northern Mobius. A small house sat on top of a hill found on the outskirts of the village. Exiting the house was a petite and slender cerise hedgehog with shoulder-length quills of a lighter shade that tended to float around her face, her large emerald eyes usually shimmering with knowledge and intrigue.
The maiden's name was Amy Rose. As she dusted off the white apron tied around her everyday red dress and made sure the book she had was tucked safely into her basket, Amy made her way into the small, modest town of Spagonia. She smiled softly, humming to herself as she mused about the village she walked into. Little town, it's a quiet village. Everyday, like the one before. Little town, full of little people. Waking up to say…
"Bonjour!" Cried a male wolf as he pushed open the upper-floor shutters of his house. Other Spagonians soon echoed his greeting, nearly all of them wearing smiles on their faces. Returning the smile, Amy continued to walk through town, making her silent observations as she passed people by.
There goes the baker with his tray like always, the same old bread and rolls to sell. Every morning's just the same, since the morning that we came. To this poor provincial town...
"Good morning Amy!" The female hedgehog was snapped out of her thoughts by the gruff, yet kind voice of the middle aged dog who ran the bakery.
"Morning, Monsieur!" Amy called back, following the male. She saw that he was struggling to balance a heavy basket filled to the brim with freshly baked rolls and loaves of bread. "Would you like help with that?"
"Yes, thank you," He replied, grateful as Amy took half his load, easing the weight. As they reached the ledge of the patisserie he asked, "Where are you off to?"
"To the bookshop," Amy replied. Her eyes began to shine. "I've just finished the most wonderful story about a magic beanstalk and an ogre and a-"
"That's nice," The baker responded distractedly. "Marie!" He called out. "The baguettes! Hurry up!"
With a shrug, Amy left the baker to his business. It wasn't that she disliked the town, it was just that everyday was so typical and run of the mill. And Amy felt trapped in the middle of it all. There was no air of excitement, no hint of danger like the way it happened in the books she read. Rather it was just the same people doing the same thing. Amy couldn't even remember the last time she saw a new face. I wonder if Tails can create a transportation device that could put me in one of books. Life might seem a bit more enjoyable then.
Sighing gently, Amy removed the book out of her basket and opened to the first page. She inhaled lightly, smiling at the scent of freshly pressed parchment. Once her eyes hit the first word, she became immersed in the story, lost in her own world and completely oblivious to the hushed tones of gossip surrounding her.
"Look there she goes, the girl is strange no question," Two elderly cats whispered to themselves as their eyes followed the bookworm hedgehog. "Dazed and distracted, can't you tell."
"Never part of any crowd," Remarked a well-dressed rabbit to her companion who quickly replied;
"Cause her head's up on the clouds." No denying she's a funny girl, that belle…
Breaking away from her book for the time being, Amy put the volume away and leaped onto the back of a covered wagon, using it as a means of transportation to get to the local bookshop. Her eyes explored the sights before them, drinking in the activity of the humble sleepy town finally beginning to bustle.
Bonjour! Good day! How is your family?
Bonjour! Good day! How is your wife?
I need, six eggs! That's too expensive!
"There must be more than this provincial life!" Amy declared to herself before hopping off the wagon and waltzed into the bookstore.
"Hello, Amy!" The elderly human bookshop owner greeted the girl. "How are you on this fine morning?"
"Good morning!" Amy cheerily replied. "I've come to return the book I borrowed last week."
"Finished already?" The man asked in surprise.
"I just couldn't put it down," She made a beeline for the shelves, climbing onto the moving ladder. "Do you have anything new in?"
The store owner laughed. "Not since yesterday."
"That's okay." Amy turned to inspect the books. "I think I'll borrow this one," She added as she selected a book with a lilac color and handed it to the shop owner.
"That one?" He laughed again. "But you've read it twice already!"
"It's my favorite!" Amy declared as she whirled around the store. "It's so amazing." Her eyes took on a dreamy gaze that held a hint of wonder. "Dragons, swordfights. Magic spells and a prince in disguise."
"Well, if you like it that much, it's yours," The man affirmed, placing the book into Amy's slender hands.
"But Monsieur Gherkin-!" Amy began to protest.
"I insist!" Monsieur Gherkin waved her off, gently pushing her out the door with an affectionate smile on his face.
"Well thank you!" Amy cried with a larger smile as she clutched the book to her chest. "Thank you very much!"
Look there she goes, the girl is so peculiar. I wonder if she's feeling well….With a dreamy far off look, and her nose stuck in a book. What a puzzle to the rest of us is Rose…
As she wandered around town, lost once more within her book's pages, Amy sat herself on top of the village fountain's edge. Soon a chipper young voice brought her attention away from the book.
"Hiya, Amy!" Looking up, Amy saw that she was surrounded by a group of children.
"Hello!" She replied.
"What're you reading?" The same speaker, a small female squirrel asked.
"A fairy tale," Amy answered. She then adjusted the book's angle to give the kids a better view. She pointed to an illustration. "Oh, isn't this amazing? It's my favorite part because, you see. Here's where she meets Prince Charming."
Amy's smile then became slightly secretive as she leaned closer to the children and added, "But she won't discover that it's him, till chapter three."
Giggling at the young woman's love for the book, the children darted off leaving Amy alone to continue reading her book, once more missing the observations Spagonians made about her.
Now it's no wonder that her name means 'Beauty', her looks have got no parallel…But behind that fair façade, I'm afraid she's very odd. Very different from the rest of us, She's nothing like the rest of us. Yes, different from the rest of us is Rose!
Meanwhile not too far from the beauteous heroine of this tale was the rugged, brawny Scourge. With perfect aim he shot his gun, easily taking down a goose that had been flying idly in the sky. Scourge's lackey, a dark winged chao named Bokkun quickly snatched the fallen bird off of the ground and slipped it into a sack.
"Wow, you didn't miss a shot Scourge!" Bokkun exclaimed in a childish voice. "You're the greatest hunter in the whole world!"
The dark green hedgehog leaned against the tavern's wall, a smug smile appearing on his face. "I know."
"No one alive stands a chance against you!" Bokkun continued to gush. "And no girl for that matter."
"It's true, Bokkun," Scourge pointed to Amy who had begun to walk away from the fountain, heading in his direction. "And I've got my sights set on that one!"
The little chao gaped. "The inventor's sister?"
"She's the one," Scourge affirmed with a nod. "The girl I'm going to marry."
Knowing Amy Rose just as well as any other villager, Bokkun started to attempt to change his 'friend's mind. "But she's-!"
"The most beautiful girl in town!" Scourge declared.
"I know but-!"
"That makes her the best!" A menacing gleam flashed in Scourge's eyes as he demanded of Bokkun. "And don't I deserve the best?"
"O-o-of c-course you do!" Bokkun spluttered.
Grinning, though not with entire warmth, Scourge began to reminisce aloud to himself. "Right from the moment when I met her, saw her…I said 'She's gorgeous' and I fell. Here in town there's only she, who is beautiful, as me. So I'm making plans to woo and marry Amy."
He had been checking his reflection when Amy walked past him, neatly dodging the obstacles in her path despite still having her nose in her book. Quickly following after her, the narcissistic young man hardly noticed the swooning young girls nearby that were staring dreamily after him.
Look there, he goes! Isn't he dreamy? Monsieur Scourge, oh he's so cute! Be still, my heart, I'm hardly breathing. He's such a tall, dark, strong and handsome brute!
Scourge gritted his teeth in irritation as villagers began to swarm his path, their eyes all watching the "odd" Amy Rose as she made her trek toward the outskirts of Spagonia, back home. He tried pushing his way through. "Pardon, 'scuse me." Unfortunately the crowd milled themselves even closer together. With a sigh, he began leaping onto rooftops, trying to get closer to the rosette beauty, ignoring the cries of his lackey wishing for him to slow down, afraid of getting squished.
Completely oblivious to the crowd behind her, Amy looked up at the sky, leaning against a store sign, slightly envious of the exciting lives the characters of her book led. There must be more than this provincial life!
To no one in particular, Scourge declared, "Just watch I'm going to make Amy Rose my wife!"
Returning to the world of paper fantasy, Amy continued on her way home, ignoring the swelled whispers that her small ears finally picked up on.
Look there she goes, the girl is strange but special. A most peculiar mademoiselle. It's a pity and a sin…she doesn't quite fit in. Cause she really is a funny girl, a beauty but a funny girl. She really is a funny girl, that belle!
Close to reaching the path that would take her through the woods and to her house, Amy was startled out of her reading when Scourge leaped down in front of her. "Good morning, Amy," He greeted in what he thought to be a suave voice.
Though she wasn't fond of the male hedgehog before her, finding him rather obnoxious and vain, Amy managed to maintain the polite smile that had curled onto her lips. "Hello, Scourge."
"Beautiful day isn't it?" He smoothly wrested Amy's book out of her hand and flipped through the pages. "I don't even understand why you read. There aren't even any pictures in here."
I very much doubt you even know how to read, Scourge. "Well, some people like to use their imaginations."
Scourge scoffed at that. "It's dangerous for a woman to think. Soon they'll be getting ideas and then-" He laughed as though the very possibility were ludicrous. "They'll want to be independent."
Amy tried to maintain the pleasantness she had been showing all day though she seethed on the inside. "My brother says that women are as smart as men and can come up with as many clever ideas as well!"
Bokkun, who had finally caught up to Scourge laughed at Amy. "Ha! Your brother? You mean that crazy inventor? He's the town embarrassment! No wonder he can't get a girl!" The two males continued to laugh at Amy's expense.
She scowled, beginning to lose her patience. "My brother is not crazy!" She exclaimed. "He's a genius and I'm sorry you two don't recognize it!"
Not wanting Amy angry with him, Scourge stopped laughing and proceeded to slap Bokkun upside the head. "Yeah! He's not crazy!"
Rolling her eyes, Amy was soon startled by an explosion. Whirling around, she caught sight of plumes of smoke as they exuded from her house. "Tails!" Amy cried, hurrying away from the village toward her helpless but lovable brother.
Notes:
"Cause she really is a funny girl, a beauty but a funny girl. She really is a funny girl, that belle!" Belle here means beauty. Rose was also used because Amy just didn't quite have the same ring to it.
I know that Amy's name doesn't mean beauty, but the actual meaning didn't quite fit.
Points to those who can figure out who Monsieur Gherkin is supposed to be!