Chapter Four

Knuckles was petrified. Summer had gone into a super sonic spin and tumbled over the edge. He blamed himself keeping the child cooped up in small living quarters wasn't fair. She should be allowed to play in the sunshine but of course that was impossible. Instead he forced himself to focus on rescuing the kid they could do the whole lecture thing later.

"I'm coming Summer, hold on!"

He lay flat on the platform the cold steel rubbing against his warm belly. He reached down pulled Summer up by both arms and wrapped her in a huge hug. The yellow hedgehog was amazed she was expecting a smack on the arm or harsh words but there was nothing.

"You're going to meet someone new today Sum, now I want you to do as he tells you and not give any cheek – you hear me? Now come on we're already late!"

"Who is he, DaddyKnux?" Summer asked in a mixture of excitement and nerves.

"You'll see soon enough."

Rouge was already waiting with Sonic and Rosie by the storage room, they too were jumping up and down and asking countless questions but Rouge would only tap the side of her nose.

"It's a secret," She whispered back, "For your fifth birthday."

Knuckles nodded to the bat and together they pushed open the large steel doors which squeaked. Inside the room all the lights illuminated the empty space before them. The huge crates had been moved aside into the far corner. In the centre stood a tall black hedgehog with a furry white chest and red streaks along his quills. As he moved towards the hedgehogs they could see his eyes were also red. The three siblings looked instinctively to Knuckles with fear in their young eyes.

"It's okay," He smiled kindly at them, "this is Shadow… Mr Shadow, he's going to be your new teacher."

"What does he teach?" Sonic Junior piped up as he strolled to the black hedgehog and eyed him suspiciously.

Shadow looked down at the young hedgehog the resemblance was uncanny aside from the mint green eyes which belonged to Amy. It was as if Sonic the Hedgehog was standing right in front of him back from the dead. The boy admittedly was wearing green trainers and at least four feet too short to be the same guy but it sent a shiver down the ultimate being's spine.

"I will watch you with interest, Sonic Junior." He replied cryptically. His attention turned to Rosie, he analysed the pink female again the same feeling of being haunted by an old face. Rosie ran to stand by her brother and stared right back at Shadow; he was unimpressed by such gestures. Brother and sister stood side by side Sonic and Amy, looking straight back at him through their children, Shadow swallowed.

Summer was still standing by Knuckles, reluctant to move. Her new teacher frightened her and she didn't want to be anywhere near him.

"Why does he have red eyes?" She asked.

"You mustn't be afraid Summer, he's going to teach you how to fight. You're old enough to learn how to look after yourselves and I'm not always going to be around. He's a good guy I promise."

Knuckles firmly pushed Summer towards the rest of the group: Sonic was tapping his foot impatiently, Rosie's arms were crossed and Summer's eyes were focused on the panelled floor. They didn't seem particularly happy to be there, but he knew with time they would understand what it was all about. Rouge took his hand and led him from the room closing the doors behind them.

"Do you think they'll be okay?" He asked Rouge, surprised at how worried he sounded.

"Knuckie, you're a soft bugger you know that? Shadow is about as close to Sonic as you're going to get and besides, you deserve a break. Listen, why don't you pay Cream and Tails a visit? I'll stay behind in case they try to escape and make a start on dinner. Whoa!"

Knuckles had just planted a delicate kiss on her white cheek, "Thanks for getting Shadow to come and help. I couldn't have got through the last five years without you… I just wanted you to know." With that he walked away leaving Rouge blushing but feeling cheerful.

Inside, Shadow towered over the three youngsters as they panted and gasped for breath. They had run dozens of laps around the hall but no matter how fast they ran Shadow would demand more. This combined with obstacle courses, attacking dummy dolls and fitness training had completely tired them out. Next he had introduced the holograms, identical replicas of the droids they would be fighting if sent on a mission. Shadow used a discreet remote control, small enough to be hidden within his palm, to test the hedgehogs' natural abilities.

Tails had been working on the holographic training facility to help the freedom fighters. He had put hundreds of scenarios into the program along with thousands of droids with their own AI. It was the most in depth and sophisticated computer training program he had ever created.

By the end Rosie was clutching her sides and leaning against the wall, she had found the lessons the hardest out of the three. For some reason she couldn't keep up with Summer and Sonic, they were faster and could react instantly to the things Mr Shadow asked them to do. Even now they had begun to recover from the ordeal but she needed to lie down. Her lungs felt like they would burst and her muscles protested in pain. The lactic acid needed more time to settle she couldn't possibly move another step.

"Activate program thirty six, level 2. Sonic and Summer, avoid the laser beams with your lives!"

Immediately the scene changed to a long corridor with surveillance cameras lined along the walls. The cameras spotted the two hedgehogs and opened fire with green laser beams that snaked and weaved through differing patterns. Summer and Sonic had never played computer games before, they saw the laser beams and in their minds they were very real. This was what Shadow had intended as when the hedgehogs failed for the first time they would finally be able to learn something.

Whilst her brother and sister were occupied, Shadow walked slowly and deliberately to Rosie. He had no interest in the child's feelings or how she would react to the news that she was lacking in all areas. He watched her go with the look she had given him engraved into his memory, pure hatred.

Outside Rosie closed the door before bursting into floods of hot salty tears, how dare he say those things? She was shaking physically with anger she detested him, she hated the very sight of him. How could Momma Rouge and DaddyKnux think that being taught by him was a good idea? She turned and ran back to room 54.

Rouge was busy in the kitchen preparing drinks and ice cream for when the children got back. When Rosie walked in early she could tell the child was in great distress.

"Rosie, what ever is the matter?"

"I HATE YOU!" Rosie yelled back before locking herself in the bathroom. She pounded the door with her fist realised it hurt, stopped and cradled it with her other hand. She wanted to explode.

"Rosie?" Rouge's voice was muffled behind the door.

"Mr Shadow said I'll never be able to…to… run fast and do the same things as Summer and Sonic," the little girl choked between sobs and stutters, "he…he said, I can't fight and… and… that I was useless!"

The bat had always suspected that something like this may come up. That not all Sonic's children would be blessed with his incredible speed. It was a truth that Rosie would find difficult to bear at first, maybe even cause jealousy and rivalry in later years with her siblings. She sighed, Shadow was just doing his job he was unemotional, logical and straight to the point although she felt calling the child useless was a little harsh. If she didn't do something about this quickly Knuckles was going to go berserk.

"You, Rosie hedgehog are far from useless," she began with a tone that would take no nonsense, "no more tears okay? Momma Rouge is going to show you something that'll cheer you right up and you know what? This just proves how much like your mother you really are…"

"My…my… mother, you mean Amy Rose?"

"Yup she couldn't run fast either but do you think that stopped her from fighting bad guys? No way! She was right up there with Uncle Tails and DaddyKnux giving Eggman a hard time. Rosie, come out and I'll show you what I mean… talking to a door isn't nearly as much fun as talking to you, Rosie?"

She heard a small giggle which was followed by frantic sniffing. The door clicked and opened hesitantly. Her beautiful green eyes were blood shot and thoroughly rubbed, her face was bright red with faint lines were the tears had fallen and had begun to run.

"I'm sorry." She said, feeling rather pathetic and small. The pink hedgehog collapsed into Rouge's arms and continued to alternate between sobs and sniffles.

"Well, haven't you made a lovely gooey mess of my top hmm? Let me get you tissue and in the meantime," Rouge slipped a video cassette into the player and turned down the lights, "you can have a little look at this."

Rosie sniffed and wiped her nose on the sleeve of her red dress. Miserably she pressed play and sat back completely crushed by the unkind words of Mr Shadow. The monitor lit up it was a video tape taken some time ago she didn't recognise the voice behind the camera but she smiled at the face in front of it. It was another pink hedgehog holding a red and yellow mallet. Uncle Tails and Dad were there too all looking into the distance where a large robot was storming over the green hills…

Five years and twelve months previously.

Amy placed her index finger on the small bell and kept it there, she was outside Sonic's room determined to find out what had happened to him in the last five days. Finally the door snapped open.

"WHAT?" Sonic yelled in her face that was, at least, she thought it was Sonic. This hedgehog had stubble, smelly breath and looked like he needed a wash. Instantly his angry face dispersed when he recognised his old friend and turned into one of embarrassment instead.

Amy said nothing but pushed past him into the room were she was greeted by an equally untidy and neglected living quarters. She went to the bathroom yanked the shower tap to hot and rummaged through the pile of dirty towels, before choosing one that looked like it could salvaged.

"Get yourself cleaned up Sonic Hedgehog," she threw the towel at him, "and have a shave!"

Before he could protest Amy pushed him inside and slammed the door shut. Next the freedom fighter began to pick up the rotting rubbish, papers and crisp packets into bin bags. She switched on the ventilation fan to get some fresh air, cleaned the kitchen which was swarming with bugs and flies and made a pot of coffee. By the time Sonic emerged from the bathroom he didn't recognise the place Amy smiled and slid a steaming hot mug towards him. He sat down and shrugged his shoulders as he took a long sip.

"I don't know what to say…"

Amy took a hard bristle brush and began to force her friend's spines back into shape. They had become bent and pointed out at odd angles. It was strange that Sonic had let himself go, in the past one of the most important things within his world was how he looked; his spikes pristine, not a single grubby mark on his red trainers and his gloves sparkling white.

"So what's been going on?" Amy asked, "You been having a hard time?"

"The worst…" Sonic admitted, "You heard about the Green Hill Zone incident right? We took in most of the survivors but they're all dying Amy, it's like their drowning or something. The doc took a biopsy from one of the dead their lungs had just scrunched up into a charred black mess. He reckons the bombs Robotnik blitzed us with had some kind of chemical stuff in it. Without oxygen masks they didn't stand a chance."

"You couldn't have prevented that Sonic, nobody could."

"That's not what the others think," his voice began to crack slightly now, "they reckon if I'd been there to stop Robotnik before he dropped the first bomb then we wouldn't be stuck underground now. Maybe they're right I was off running some place or other." His head fell onto Amy's shoulder she stroked his spines and tried to soothe him.

"It wasn't your fault, Sonic you can't be everywhere at once. The important thing is to do what you can here and now, if you let me I might even be able to help too."

Sonic stood up sharply and sat down on the sofa, "I don't deserve your help and I certainly don't deserve you as a friend." Amy sat next to him and gave the startled hedgehog a huge hug. They stayed together for a few moments and Sonic began to realise that he should let go, the only problem was he really didn't want to. He let his hands rest on her shoulders and looked straight into her green mint eyes. The familiar butterflies which he thought were long dead had surfaced again. The awkward shy feeling he got when he was this close to Amy.

He kicked himself he was nearly twenty four now he'd kissed other girls and made love to them. Amy had done the same he had seen her with Zack and how happy she was – what on Mobius was he doing? He stroked her face gently and leaned his head against hers still she stayed.

"Amy, look thanks for coming to dig me out but I think you better go. Zack is your boyfriend…"

"There is no Zack." Amy flashed him a dirty smile.

When Sonic woke up he was still hot and sweaty, Amy's warm body was wrapped around his side with her right hand pressed against his chest. He kissed her forehead gently and she opened her eyes. He watched her mesmerised as she located her blue lace bra and knickers and began to buttoned up her creased dress. Amy was no more the sweet and innocent girl he had once known she was simply amazing. Incredibly sexy, horny and she knew more positions and techniques than a revised edition of the Karma Sutra. As she pulled on her red boots however it suddenly dawned on Sonic that she was leaving.

"Hey wait up! Amy? Hey…HEY!" He leapt from the bed and forced to look directly at him. She had a strange look in her eye and he didn't like it. "What is all this?"

"It's okay Sonic I know the score just a bit of fun, right?"

"That wasn't a one night stand," He began, speaking very slowly "at least it wasn't to me. Is that what you wanted – am I some kind of trophy? Is this payback for all the times I ran away from you is that it? Is that what you wanted, to hurt me?"

Amy went to slap Sonic across the face but he caught her wrists and drew her towards him. His eyes were shining he was genuinely upset.

"I can't believe you even said that – I would NEVER do that to you. I wanted to comfort you… it was my mistake." She fought against him with a raising sense of panic and shame.

"No. You're my best friend always have been from the beginning. Last night should have happened a long time ago and I'm sorry… Amy, I want you for keeps stay – please." He embraced her. The thought of losing her now was making him tremble, it over whelmed him. It was now or never.

"Okay." She exhaled, wiping away the tears that had threatened to flow and replaced them with a warm and loving smile. She didn't know how long this was going to last, but she was willing to chance being happy even for a short time. Such opportunities were few and far between nowadays it was their turn.

Author's note - so different kinds of love? Tough love, sexual and psychological love. I think some SonAmy fans are going to be disappointed but I just couldn't write a lovey dovey get together for the two hedgehogs. Sonic needed to be a changed man and Amy had a lot of growing up to do. You could write the scene in many different ways but the one that made the most sense - at least to me, was this version. Even if it isn't your particular interpretation I hope you enjoyed it.