One Step at a Time
"You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet . . ."
Chapter Six: A Lot of Steps
'The process of creating a training program to help develop an individual's level of fitness comprises of 6 stages:
Stage 1 - assemble niceties about the individual
Stage 2 - classify the fitness components to extend
Stage 3 - identify suitable tests to scrutinize fitness status
Stage 4 - conduct a gap analysis
Stage 5 - accumulate the program
Stage 6 - observe development and regulate program'
Cream looked up from the thick black book and decisively threw it on the floor after reading that particular piece. Amy gasped out loud and went to pick up the book.
"Cream!" she cried, checking the book for any damage. "It doesn't even belong to me! Can't you show the book some respect?"
The rabbit just shook her head and looked as bored as ever, not minding being rebuked at all. "Amy, you know I'm no good at reading, but at least I'm smart enough to not understand what stood in that book."
The hedgehog stared at her friend very strangely, not really understanding how someone's mind could work that way. After just shaking her head and rolling her eyes, she went to put away Shadow's book.
"So, if that's all the stages, what's stage one?"
"If you hadn't thrown away the book, you could have just checked in it."
"Yeah, I know. But I want to hear it in English."
That deplorable sigh you know all too well made the stage. Really, what was Amy going to do with this kid? If they hadn't been this good friends, Amy would probably hang out more with people that were up to her maturity. And that wasn't healthy for anybody.
"Stage one is to gather details about the individual."
"Huh?"
"I have to write down things about me."
Cream pulled up her one eyebrow and crossed her arms that gave her a sternly cute look. Amy almost wanted to hug her.
"How's that going to help?"
"Hush, Cream. Never question what's written in ink." With annoyance, she picked up the book she had just put away. She went through the pages quickly, scanning with intent. Amy turned to the next page and examined it carefully.
"Stage two 'is to conclude what components of fitness you need to advance. This will depend upon what the individual wants to get fit for - to improve general fitness, get fit enough to play in the Saturday hockey league, run a local 5 km fun run or compete in next year's London Marathon.'"
"In this case; hundred metre sprint."
Amy nodded "And four hundred." Deciding what she wanted to run wasn't hard to decide. She pretty much only wanted to run, even though Cream had tried to convince her into at least trying out more events, but Amy flatly refused. She simply didn't have the time to train for another event. It was compelling enough to know she was still on perfect schedule.
Amy had also been against the idea of doing hurdles. She was just too scared and maybe a bit intimidated by the prospect. She could certainly learn to run like other hedgehogs, but jumping she wasn't entirely sure of. So, naturally, all the other jumping events had been crossed of the paper (literally).
The javelin and shot put event was also a little unsure for Amy. You wouldn't consider her to have as much strength as speed and she undoubtedly wasn't going to risk it. Speed was her best card right now, and she was going to play it with full confidence.
Track running was something she had considered but in the end, and after a lot of thinking and contemplation, decided against the idea. Fitness was one thing, but endurance wasn't something Amy was sure she possessed.
Only yesterday did she go to sign up for the first Elimination Round. She didn't see a lot of people she knew in the line. There was a few familiar faces though; Knuckles, entering for shot put, discus and javelin; Blaze, who went for all the hurdle events as well as the hundred metre and four hundred metres.
Amy also found Silver there, and also with a sweet bombshell, Shadow with him as well. They both signed in the same as Blaze, who Amy realised she could possibly compete against as well. When Amy came to the front, she already saw Sonic's name on the signing list and at the top as well.
A lot of the athletes, and Amy as well, had been a little disappointed when it was decided that there wasn't going to be a Hedgehog division anymore. She heard Silver complain about it to Shadow. She was even more disappointed when Shadow said it was Sonic's fault. And according to the newspaper she had bought on the way back, it was.
In fact, he had gone to the mayor to complain about their only being four hedgehogs in the entire town. The mayor argued that this was universal and that more hedgehogs would come, but Sonic pointed out that there was pretty much only four hedgehogs that were entering. Sure enough, he was right, and the mayor was forced to change the rules.
"Amy, do you read me? Repeat, are you still on this planet? Over."
The only female hedgehog in town's head shot up to find an impatient Cream staring up in her face.
"Copy that. I am still o the planet. Over."
"What's the third stage?"
Amy turned her mind back to the page and read. "'The next stage is to categorize apposite tests that can be used to initially establish the individual's level of fitness and then to supervise advancement for the duration of the training. The Evaluation Test page (p 67) identifies fitting tests for each of the fitness fundamentals.
"Acknowledged tests should be conducted and the results recorded.'"
The bunny nodded in an understanding way, looking thoughtful and busy with intense thinking. Then she looked up at her pink friend, eyes still sporting a perceptive expression.
"I don't understand."
"I've got to see what I can do before I see how far I can push myself."
"Oh, Okay. Stage four?"
"'We now know the individual's backdrop, objectives and current level of fitness. We now need to demeanour a gap analysis of the contemporary fitness levels (from test results at stage 3) and aim fitness levels (identified at stage 2). The results of this development will aid in the design of the training program so that each constituent of fitness is enhanced to the required level.'"
"You lost me after the second word."
"It means that I have to write down how fit I am now and then put down I fit I am after the training, so I can compare the results and know how much faster I've gotten."
"Got it. Bring on number five!"
"' The next stage is to prepare a training program using the results of the gap analysis by applying frequency, intensity, time and the training activity.'"
Cream, by now, was lying on her back on Amy's comfy couch, her hands behind her head, but her eyes wide open, showing no signs of boredom. How strange.
"Cream?"
"Hmmm?"
"Uh, did you get all of that?"
"Yeah, sure, sure . . ."
Amy only shook her head slightly and continued with the page. "The program has now been agreed and the individual can commence the program.'" She shot the book closed, and put it on the other heap of books that Shadow had leant to her.
"Alright! Let's get started! We've only got one week to make this thing! And you've got to start training next week!" exclaimed Cream, a determined look on her face. The bunny jumped off the couch and hopped to the Amy's bookshelf where they had already organised the equipment they'll need; A stopwatch, a clipboard, a whistle and sunglasses (Cream's choice).
"Let's get this bad boy on the road!"
(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)
Shadow's eyes drooped slowly as he rested comfortably on the park bench. He was so familiar with the setting; he preferred the park the most. It was an exhausting day, as his training session had been more intense than usual and he had to go for the signing up for the Elimination Rounds, hating every moment as he did. Silver accompanied him, much to his dislike, but he let him come otherwise, as to at least have company while standing in the line.
Silver was very interesting to say the least. If he wasn't Shadow's enemy, he'd socialize with him more often. But he wouldn't really stoop that low.
He had seen a lot of people in the line; all of them seemed like weaklings to him. His only real challenge was Sonic and Silver. Possibly even Amy with all the information he's given her. He had taken into consideration that the girl was a hedgehog, just like he and the other two, and that she was fully capable of being just as fast as them. It slightly troubled him.
But he's helped her for a reason. For one, he felt he owed her that much at least, to show some gratitude towards her. He also felt it was a little unfair for her to go up there unprepared and totally mortify herself. It would only lower her confidence, and Shadow would hate to see the thing break that he admired so much about her.
Needless to say, he'd grown closer to her in a very short period. He'd never even been this close to Rouge, and she used to his partner (he vaguely wondered how she was doing). He had to remember, he was competing against her as well, and he had already ruled her out as a potential threat. She was an enemy.
Still, it was very rewarding to see the look on the fakers face when she had come to Shadow instead of him.
But what angered him slightly, was the relationship between Amy and Silver. He'd seen them together in the park a few days back, sitting together.
He was quite touched that Silver suggested him to Amy to go to help for instead of helping her himself. But what really steamed him up was the kiss. He didn't even know what Silver had saved her from, and he was so upset, he had just run off.
Shadow didn't know why, but he felt strangely obligated to help Amy in any way necessary, not just with training. He felt abnormally protective over her.
The feeling was quite pleasing.
Another thing that slightly troubled him, was Sonic's interference I the competition's rules. He himself would agree that a Hedgehog Division was partially silly, but for the mayor to agree was something new. He saw how entertained people always looked whenever they saw the faker run. A race between the best of the best would surely attract more spectators. Of course, Sonic could only have wanted to act the hero. You know, being fair and all that crap. He swore, if he didn't get to beat that freak, he hoped Amy would.
His eyes finally shut close and he drifted off into a very unfamiliar peaceful sleep.
(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)
A/N: Aw, man, Shadow KICKS ASS! Seriously, this was a fun chapter. Also, please leave some reviews, please?
I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog or the characters.
REVIEW MY PRETTIES!!