Adventures in the TV

Chapter IV: On the Trail of Dr. Ivan Robotnik

As we trekked across the mainland to Dr. Robotnik's island, I kept hearing Tails and Knuckles muttering about not running to Sonic's aid.

"Hey, Amy can't run fast like the rest of us can," I said. "Plus, Thunder doesn't want to waste our energy running to aid Sonic."

I looked back at Thunder and Amy, who were walking hand-in-hand and talking. But they weren't talking like any ordinary boyfriend-girlfriend would. Thunder's expression was more…well, Ryan, than Thunder.

I slowed my pace to hear what was going on.

"…told you, Amy: Shadow isn't good for you," Thunder said. "Just because you held his attention doesn't mean he's any good for you. You've shown you don't want to be with him."

"But, I almost did want to be with him, Thunder!" she replied. "Every time Sonic said he only liked me as a friend, I went to Shadow for help. I almost wanted to be with him, but then you came along. When Cream and I found you on the beach, I felt like some sort of energy between us. Like, I was meant for you, and you were meant for me."

"In a story I once wrote, I mentioned a connection like that between Lord Vectron II and his wife, Queen Amber. I love you, Amy."

"I love you, too, Thunder."

Then they kissed and continued walking.

Sure it was sweet that they loved each other so much, but how could Amy have wanted to be with Shadow? Sure he was cool and all, but he was kind of mysterious.

As time went on, I started to see the sun begin to set.

"Should we stop for the night?" I asked.

Thunder nodded. "Let's set up camp for the night," he said. "Then we're going to need to set some shifts for someone to keep watch."

"I'll start watch," I said.

"Ok. Tails, you're going to come with me and find some firewood. Knuckles, you come, too. Amy, you and Lightning set up the tent."

"What tent?" I asked.

He tossed me a bag. "Almost everything I own is enchanted. Set that up. Come on, guys."

Thunder went into the forest with Knuckles and Tails right behind him, leaving me and Amy alone.

As we set up the tent, I must admit, Amy is good with her hands.

"What were you and Thunder talking about earlier?" I asked.

Amy looked at me. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Were you eavesdropping on us?"

I told her how I heard her and Thunder talking before I suggested stopping for the night. I hadn't meant to eavesdrop on them, but I was curious.

When I'd finished speaking, Amy had a troubled look on her face.

"I wanted to tell him something, but then he asked me what Shadow was talking about. You have to swear that you won't tell Thunder."

"Tell him what?" I asked.

"I think I might be pregnant."

"What?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Was it by Shadow?"

"No, Thunder is the father."

I was about to say something when the trees next to us swished and Thunder, Knuckles, and Tails came out with their hands full of firewood.

"You have to swear on the River Styx that you won't tell him," she whispered in my ear.

"What?" I asked. On demigod standards, from what Thunder says, swearing on the Styx, the river that divides our world from the Underworld, is a pretty extreme thing to do.

"You have to swear."

"I swear on the Styx that I won't tell."

Thunder, the thunderstorm kind, rumbled in the distance. The deal was made.

"Hey, you got the tent set up!" Thunder said. "Let's get this firewood inside. Then we can eat and set up a watch schedule."

We walked inside the tent. I thought it would be too small, but when I stepped inside, it was huge!

"This is my EHT project," Thunder said, though he sounded more on the Ryan side. "It took me five months to finally perfect its designs. President Charney gave me double the normal amount when I impressed him."

"What does EHT stand for?" Tails asked.

"Emergency House Tent," Thunder replied.

Thunder went into the kitchen and started cooking what looked like spaghetti and meatballs. After 10 minutes, he came over with a huge pot of spaghetti, as well as a pot of marinara sauce.

"Wow, Thunder. You've really outdone yourself," Tails said.

"Nah, you should try my dad's chili. Trust me; you haven't tasted greatness until you've tried it."

I didn't know what Thunder was talking about, because this spaghetti was amazing!

"So Lightning has volunteered to take the first watch. I'll go next," Thunder said. "Our abilities can keep us alive in a fight a lot longer than you guys."

"I'll take third watch," Knuckles said. "I'm stronger than Tails is."

"Then that settles it. Lightning will take first watch, I'll take second watch, and Knuckles will take third watch."

"Wait, what about me?" Tails asked.

"We don't think you're strong enough. Get as much sleep as possible, people. I'm sure that by tomorrow, we'll have reached the island of Dr. Robotnik."

When I was in the middle of my watch, I could hear Knuckles and Tails snoring in the living room, but in Thunder and Amy's room, I could hear Thunder speaking.

"No, no," he said. "Sonic, you get back here! No!" Then it stopped. A few minutes later, he came out of his room and sat down in the only available chair in the living room.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked.

"I just had another bad dream. I'm not sure if that was just a normal dream or if it was a demigod dream," he replied.

I didn't need to ask him. I knew that seeing as he was a son of Zeus, his dreams would be a lot more vivid and true.

Then the clock stuck midnight: the end of my shift.

"Why don't you take up watch?" I suggested. "That might help take your mind off your dream."

He didn't look reassured, but he went over to the entrance and stared out into the woods.

Rise of Dr. Ivan Robotnik