ANNOUNCER: Good Afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. We would like to welcome you to our final destination of Mystic Ruins. Please watch your step as you exit the train. All passengers must leave the train at this point. The train returning to Station Square will be leaving soon.
Amy awoke from a small nap that she was taking and started to take her things and get off the train. She took in the fresh air surrounding the forest like area and then started walking down the ramp to the grassy area. Taking out the letter again, she studied it carefully and then looked at a map that she bought while at the train station. According to the map, she should head north from here, and it just so happened to be a somewhat clear trail in that direction. After putting everything away, Amy started off in that direction.
It didn't take long for the noise of the people to quiet down as Amy walked away from them. The people were off in the distance as the noise of sirens and train engines were replaced by sounds of nature. Despite it being a very strange day, it was still beautiful in its own right. Amy started humming as she continued to walk, not really knowing where she was going and just going with the flow.
She continued to walk until she ended up in a part of the woods that she didn't recognize. She stopped to check her map again. It told her that she was going in the right direction, and from what it looked like, where she needed to go was a straight shot on the path she was already on. The strange thing about it, was that where she figured out the coordinates led her was in the middle of nowhere. There was nothing on the map except green. Amy started to wonder if this was a joke, but decided that it's better to know than not know. She put her map away and continued to press on.
Meanwhile, in that same forest, there was a certain bat that was hanging upside down in the deep dark of the woods. This bat was sleeping soundly as the day slowly drifted by. However, a loud beep in her ear woke her up.
?: Lady Bat…Lady Bat…Come in…
Awakened by the sound, she started to wonder why she brought that stupid communicator with her.
?: Lady Bat…do you read me…Lady Bat…come in
BAT: Grrr…..
?: LADY BAT! COME IN!
BAT: I'm sleeping…and I'm on vacation.
?: You're officially off vacation as of now. Report!
BAT: *sigh* Rouge the Bat, reports as *yawn* ordered.
?: Don't you yawn on my dime, Rouge! Look alive!
ROUGE: Awaiting *yawn* instructions, Headquarters.
HQ: That's better. This'll be a simple one for you. We know you're on vacation, but you're also in the area that a person of interest will be in. You're the closest person we can get at this time, so pay close attention. Close to your current location, our POI will be passing through the area. Your job is to perform surveillance on this person.
ROUGE: What am I looking for?
HQ: Where she's going and what she's doing. Any information you can find out for us.
ROUGE: Am I engaging this target?
HQ: Negative. You are only to observe and report. You should be done after about a day or two.
ROUGE: Will my vacation be affected?
HQ: Your vacation will start right where you stopped once the mission is finished.
ROUGE: In person report?
HQ: By phone will do. Activation starts now. Any questions?
ROUGE: Yeah, do I -
HQ: GOOD! We wait for your first report. Over and Out!
Rouge sighed and flipped right side up. She sat down on the tree branch she had just perched herself on. Looking at her watch, she was waiting for something to come through. Hopefully they hadn't forgotten. A few seconds later, a loud beep came through, causing her to look at her watch again. Within minute, a picture popped up on the screen.
ROUGE: Amy? They want me to follow her? They doin' an experiment teeny-boppers or something? What's so special about her? No, they can't be serious. They must've pulled this from a pic they've seen of us together in the past. I'm gonna need a lot of boot polish when I'm done with those fools at HQ.
Rouge immediately became annoyed, thinking that this was a cruel prank pulled by some guys in HQ to interrupt her vacation. Instead of being secretive as she usually is, she decided to do things a little different. She didn't really care about anything else; she just wanted to get back to her vacation. Rogue looked down, waiting and watching for Amy to pass by.
Amy continued to walk down the path while looking around. She noticed it was starting to get darker and darker in the woods and although the sun was still out, it couldn't seem to reach through the thickets of branches and trees. Still, as long as she could see relatively well, she thought she would be fine.
After a few more steps, she heard something crack in the distance. She freezes and looks around, but sees nothing. She then continues to walk, but walks slower than usual because she thinks that either she's being watched, followed or both. Her head is on a swivel as things become a little too quiet and she watches out for anything that's not normal. Still looking, she doesn't find anything and continues walking on the path.
She looks so hard around her, that she doesn't notice the figure standing right in front of her. Then, she turns her head to the front, only to run into something very soft and supple.
AMY: MMMMHHHH!
Amy is in complete darkness. And yet, she's startled but not that afraid. Whatever it is she's in, it smells…divine. Like a sweet breeze. And it's warm and soft. And, if she listens closely, she could hear a faint heartbeat.
ROUGE: You really outta watch where you're going, darling!
Amy immediately backed up to see that the place she ran into was Rouge's bust. She gasps as she recognizes her face.
AMY: ROUGE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!
ROUGE: Aren't you gonna apologize for running into me like that?
AMY: I didn't even see you there! You probably did that on purpose!
ROUGE: Awww…not taking any responsibility for yourself, I see. You ran into me. I was just standing here.
AMY: Why…in the world…of all the places you could be…are you STANDING..IN THE MIDDLE…OF A FREAKING FOREST!
Rouge walked up to Amy and looked her dead in the eyes with a smirk.
ROUGE: I'm…on…vacation.
Then Rouge backed up. Amy, trying to calm down, looked back at her.
AMY: Well, why don't you get back to that and let me be on my way. I don't have the time to mess around with you.
ROUGE: Oh no, you don't!
AMY: What is it, Rouge?!
ROUGE: I could ask you the same question? What are you doing in the middle of the forest? This ain't your neighborhood!
AMY: I'm just passing through.
ROUGE: Is that so? Kinda of a weird way to go, don't you think?
AMY: What's it to you?
ROUGE: Look, I'll level with you. Personally, I don't care what it is you do. But, the Government apparently does. They just assigned me to watch you and report where you're going?
AMY: The government? Are you sure?
ROUGE: I wouldn't be here if I wasn't.
Rouge showed Amy the picture of herself on her watch.
AMY: What…what do they want? Why is this happening to me?
ROUGE: Wait…so this isn't just you just messing around. There's something to this?
Amy started crying.
ROUGE: Oh, now, don't start with the waterworks! I wasn't that mean to you, was I?
AMY: It's not you. I didn't know what to make of this until you showed up though. Now I know it's serious.
ROUGE: What?
Amy took out the letter and handed it to Rouge. She read it.
ROUGE: Wow…very…vague and creepy.
AMY: Yeah…
ROUGE: So, I'm guessing this is where you're going. And you know nothing about who sent this letter?
AMY: No…
ROUGE: Nice way to get yourself killed, kid. I'm just saying.
AMY: I can take care of myself!
ROUGE: Not in this case.
AMY: WHAT?!
ROUGE: Calm down for a second. If I know my people…and unfortunately I do…I know that they aren't following you just for a training exercise. There's a reason why they're interested, and as long as that's the case, you CAN'T take care of yourself. You have no idea how far these guys are willing to go.
AMY: But, I've never done anything to anyone.
ROUGE: Well, that doesn't matter. You're able to lead them somewhere they want to get into. Whatever it is, if you think you're ok by yourself, you're wrong. All it takes is one government agent to give them the burn order against you, and you're done.
AMY: You mean they would throw me in jail?
ROUGE: I didn't say arrest order, honey. I said BURN order. As in…
Rouge makes a cut-throat sign across her neck while making a cutting noise.
AMY: But, I'm sweet and lovable and cute! Why would anyone want to kill me?!
ROUGE: Well, that's what we have to find out?
AMY: We? Whatt'ya mean WE?!
ROUGE: Look, they assigned me to you. I have to tell them something, or otherwise they'll send someone else, someone not as friendly me. And, if they have to send someone else then that someone will also take care of all loose ends, which is what I will become. Like it or not, you've just got yourself a partner.
AMY: How far are you supposed to go?
ROUGE: I just tell them where you're going and that's it. You're on your own after that.
AMY: They told me to come alone. You read the letter.
ROUGE: Yeah, well, rules are meant to be broken. I think I know where this area is, although there's nothing out there. We can get there in about a few hours if we hurry.
AMY: I don't trust you.
ROUGE: You don't have a choice. I'm the bestest friend you have right now. Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, but one way or another I'm finding out that information.
AMY: The bestest? Really?
ROUGE: Hey…boys think it's cute.
AMY: All right, all right. I'll do things the so-called easy way. But, if you even think about messing me over, you'll get a taste of this!
Amy pulls out her Piko-Piko Hammer and holds it in her face.
AMY: Don't make me use this on you!
ROUGE: If you don't get that thing outta my face, I'll break it.
AMY: No, I'll break it…OVER YOUR HEAD! So don't mess around. I'm not in the mood.
Amy puts it back. Rouge rolls her eyes as she doesn't take Amy very seriously.
ROUGE: Well…now that we're all close friends, we need to get a move on.
AMY: Straight ahead is what my map says.
ROUGE: Alright.
Amy and Rouge began walking together on the path. A few minutes later, they ended up outside of the forest just to meet the setting sun. As they walked out, Amy took a good look at Rouge and giggled.
ROUGE: What?
AMY: Have you gained weight?
Rouge was noticeably curvier, but she wasn't fat. She seemed to have weight all in the right places.
ROUGE: It's called voluptuous, and I like it.
AMY: Yeah, well, everything is so…big. You look ridiculous.
Rouge really didn't, but Amy was just trying to hurt her feelings, which didn't work.
ROUGE: Don't hate me because I'm beautiful and fine, child. Besides, you don't look like you're missing any meals!
AMY: What? I only weight 100 pounds.
ROUGE: Bull..CRAP! 50 pounds belongs to that big ol' butt of yours alone!
Amy then becomes embarrassed. Many people have commented that she did have a rather big butt and even she noticed it when some of her dressed didn't fit quite right.
AMY: I've been trying to lose that thing.
ROUGE: Don't…it's in style now. It doesn't look bad.
AMY: Yeah, but…I'm not supposed to have a big butt.
ROUGE: Well, you do. Look at all that jelly back there!
AMY: Rouge.
ROUGE: Nobody is ready for THAT JELLY!
AMY: STOP IT, ROUGE!
ROUGE: No, seriously. It almost looks like that famous singer, what's her name…Ballonce the Fierce!
AMY: IT'S NOT THAT BIG!
ROUGE: You're right. It's more like Jennifer Lobos' Butt.
AMY: ROUGE!
ROUGE: Alright, alright.
Things then got quiet…until Rouge started singing…
ROUGE: I like big BUTTS and I cannot lie…!
AMY: ROUGE, I SWEAR TO GOD I'M GONNA WHACK YOU OVER THE HEAD!
TAILS: When did you say she got this?
SONIA: Last night, she said.
TAILS: Hmmm.
Tails studied the letter carefully, looking for any fingerprints or any other evidence about where it may have come from.
SONIA: Anything?
TAILS: Nothing. Wait, hold on…
Tails zoomed in closer to find a fingerprint on the letter. It was very slight, but he might be able to work with it.
SONIA: What is it?
TAILS: This might help us figure out where it's from. It's a fingerprint. Let me get this down to my shop and I'll see if I can extract it.
SONIA: Thanks, Tails.
Tails walked away while packing everything up. Sonia took a look at him as he did so.
SONIA: Tails? Have you been working out?
TAILS: Oh..*blush*…you've noticed. Yes.
SONIA: What kind of workouts you've been doing?
TAILS: Pilates, body-shaping and aerobics.
SONIA: Oh…well, ok…carry on then. But, just so you know, you do look very hot though.
Tails blushed at this statement and giggled.
TAILS: I need to get back to my shop. I'll get back to you as soon as I find out something. No need to butter me up.
Tails walks out singing and smiling. As Sonia watched him, she noticed the way he walked.
SONIA: That boys' got more hips and curves than I do. Geez…
Sonia closed the door behind her and sat down on the bed….only just in time for Sonic to bust in the door.
SONIC: Sis, you can relax. Sonic has arrived!
SONIA: I didn't even notice you were gone!
SONIC: Liar!
Sonic hugged Sonia and kissed her on the cheek.
SONIA: Get off me!
SONIC: How's my favorite sister doing?
SONIA: Hmm…I'm a little worried. It's about Amy.
SONIC: Her? Pbbtt. What she do, beat up someone with that stupid hammer of hers?
SONIA: No…haven't you noticed she isn't here?
SONIC: You know, now that you mention it…I haven't seen much of her.
SONIA: Wonder why that is?
SONIC: I figured she was just busy…or maybe she got tired of not being able to catch me.
SONIA: Not quite…she's gone.
SONIC: Gone?! Gone where? Like, for good?
SONIA: No, not for good. At least, I hope not. We're trying to find out right now. She got a strange letter yesterday and Tails is trying to figure out where it's from.
SONIC: I see…you still have this letter?
SONIA: Tails does. There's no address on it or who wrote it or anything, just a set of coordinates.
SONIC: And Amy went?! Are you serious?
SONIA: It's something to do with her family…or so the letter said.
SONIC: Well, I think we need to find out where she's gone. She could be in danger.
SONIA: I gave her a week to get back to me with whatever she finds. If she doesn't call back in that time, I'm going looking for her.
SONIC: Well, when you do go, let me know. I'm coming with you.
SONIA: Fine.
Sonic then sped off heading for Tails' shop.
Amy and Rouge continued to walk until the path led them to a cliff. There was a bridge on it that led to the other side of the canyon, but it didn't look very stable.
ROUGE: You trust that thing?
AMY: I…It doesn't look very safe.
ROUGE: Hmmm….maybe it's not as bad as it looks.
AMY: I dunno…
ROUGE: I think I'll just fly to the other side. Two people on the bridge may break it for sure.
AMY: So, you're just gonna leave me out there by myself?
ROUGE: Thought you could handle it. You can take care of yourself, right?
AMY: ROUGE!
ROUGE: Learn to take a joke, girl. I'll fly next to you, alright?
Amy gingerly walked on the bridge. It seemed that it was pretty stable, but that was only because she was still on stable ground. Rouge started flying around the bridge. Looking down, there was nothing but certain death as the canyon stretched down into what appeared to be nothing.
Amy took one step after another and as calmly as she could, started to cross the bridge. Once she got to the middle, the bridge began to creek and moan, swiveling back and forth. Amy stopped as if to gain her footing.
AMY: Rouge?
ROUGE: I'm here! You're halfway there. Keep going!
Amy continued to walk while Rouge would fly under the bridge, inspecting it. Suddenly, Rouge stopped. Just ahead of Amy, there was a broken plank and the rope seemed to be very loose.
ROUGE: AMY, STOP!
Amy froze and looked up.
ROUGE: Go back…slowly.
Amy started walking backwards. The bridge started to creak louder and louder until one of the planks that she stepped out broke. Amy began to fall, but had her hands on the rope.
AMY: YAAAAHHHH!
ROUGE: You're good! You're ok! Keep walking back! Take your time!
Amy again walked backwards while the bridge creaked loudly. Rouge then saw the ropes began to break.
ROUGE: AMY!
AMY: WHAT?! WHAT DO I DO?!
Before Rouge could answer, the bridge split in half. Amy began a freefall. Rouge zoomed as fast as she could to catch her but was just out of reach.
AMY: AAAAHHHHH!
ROUGE: COME ON! COME ON!
Rouge could not catch up to her; however Amy was still holding on to the bridge ropes and swung to the other side of the cliff. She crash against the side of the cliff and swung there for a minute. Rouge caught up to her.
ROUGE: Don't let go!
AMY: Wasn't planning on it.
ROUGE: You have to get on my back!
AMY: Can you fly with me on there?
Rouge looked up. There was no way she was strong enough to carry someone on her back and climb that high.
ROUGE: Uh…
AMY: Look, I think I can climb using these ropes. Just stay behind me.
ROUGE: And if the rest of the bridge breaks?!
AMY: That's what you're behind me for!
Amy started to vertically climb up the rope, using all of her strength to get up as fast as possible while Rouge was right behind her, flying up as she went.
The plan worked, but Rouge had a funny feeling. She flew up to the top of the cliff to see the bridge getting ready to give way. Amy was out of time. Rouge flew down.
ROUGE: You have to hurry! The bridge is about to collapse down.
AMY: I'm tired. My arms hurt.
ROUGE: MOVE GIRL!
Amy continued to climb up the bridge while Rouge held her by the waist. The bridge then gave away and Rouge immediately felt Amy's weight go straight to her arms. Rouge started to fall but begin flapping her wings as hard as she could.
ROUGE: Come on! COME ON!
Finally, the currents began to work in her favor. Rouge started flying up, although at a very slow place. Amy continued trying to climb mainly out of fear.
Rouge started to feel her strength give way. Any more time and she would end up dropping Amy. But, they were almost to the top of the cliff.
AMY: Come on, Rouge! We're almost home! Just a little more!
ROUGE: AAAAAHHHHH! *#*&$#!
Rouge summoned all the strength she had to push her over the edge. Amy grabbed the edge of the cliff and hugged it, allowing Rouge to flip her over the edge. Then Rouge crashed onto the soft ground.
They made it. Amy got up and ran over to Rouge.
AMY: You alright?
ROUGE: Yeah…*pant* *pant*…just a little tired *pant*.
AMY: That was great! I…I'm sorry for yelling out you earlier…
ROUGE: Oh…*pant*…I have to save you…*pant* from dying to get some…*pant* respect!? I see how…*pant*…it is.
Rouge and Amy started laughing at this. After a few minutes, Rouge felt alright and they began to walk again.
They continued on until the sun was almost down.
ROUGE: Are you sure those coordinates are right?!
AMY: They're right here.
ROUGE: Well, we're in the area now and I don't see anything!
AMY: Are we in the exact spot though?
Rouge checked her watch and looked.
ROUGE: No…but if something we're here we'd be able to see it by now.
Amy and Rouge was standing in the middle of an empty field.
ROUGE: They led you to nowhere, Amy. It's nothing out here! We almost died for this!
AMY: Crap!
Rouge was pacing back and forth angrily while Amy looked at the ground.
AMY: Rouge, let's just go-
*RRRRRROOOOOOOORRRRRRRRR*
The sound of the loud horn made both of them stop.
ROUGE: What…was that?
AMY: It came from over there.
Amy and Rouge ran toward the direction they heard it from. There was another forest, but it was shorter. They continued to run and run until they ended up on the other side. And then they stopped. They both were bewildered at what they saw. And then bewilderment turned to fear.
AMY: What…is…this?
ROUGE: Amy, whatever you got going on…I hope it's worth all this.
TO BE CONTINUED…