Chapter 6

"Wait. You're related to Knuckles and Rouge?" I managed to get out. I was completely shocked with this information! It made so much sense now that Shadow knew this guy! I was already starting to feel so much better about this plan.

"Sure am!" he confirmed, a smug grin on his lips, "Dust's the name and politics is my game." Shadow rolled his eyes at that, but he smiled a bit. Shadow smiled twice in one day. The world really had changed.

"Dust is the leader, of this city's, second in command," Shadow explained, "I can almost guarantee that he'll get you that secretary job."

Dust looked over to Shadow and had a look of confusion mixed with intrigue on his face.

"I mean I can get you any job you want really, but why would you even want the job," he scratched his head and chuckled nervously, "Spade isn't exactly a fun person to be around. He's really... what's the word for 'an asshole'."

"You just said it, Dust," Shadow retorted with a sneer.

"Oh right," Dust shrugged, "It still remains true though. That's why he's been having such a hard time finding a secretary. Everyone's either scared of him or can't stand him."

I rose a brow in curiosity to what Dust just told me. This raised so many questions in my head.

"If he's such an asshole, then how is he still your leader? There's enough people here to over throw him easily," I questioned. Dust pfted and laughed in response.

"Well yeah we could if we wanted to, but in the end he's never led us astray. We all know he cares about the city, he just... let's his temper get the best of him sometimes."

"I see..." I muttered to myself. It kind of made sense. I guess. I'm just glad I wouldn't have to stay here in the city for too much longer.

Shadow took some time to explain our situation to Dust and why me getting this job was so important. While Shadow was explaining, Dust was watching me the whole time, nodding his head occasionally to let Shadow know everything he was saying was getting through to him. After Shadow was done talking, Dust pointed a finger at me and smirked.

"Ah I see. You're the pink girl that my ancestors and Shadow here have been waiting for," He stated. My cheeks turned pink enough to match my fur color and I nodded in embarrassment.

"Yeah. I guess I left quite a legacy huh?"

"Are you kidding?!" he exclaimed, "You're the girl that traveled through time! I mean, I'm sure it's been done before on purpose but you did it on accident! Imagine what you could do on purpose! I bet you could do anything you set your mind to it!"

Shadow was shaking his head in disagreement and rubbing between his eyes. Obviously, he thought that idea was ridiculous. I, on the other hand, found it quite flattering.

"T-thank you, Dust. I've never thought about it that way," I started fidgeting my feet and I looked down to avoid eye contact, feeling a little embarrassed by the flattery I was receiving. Shadow groaned and nudged Dust with his elbow.

"Can we get back to the matter at hand?" he asked with a sense of urgency, "If your leader finds or uses all the emeralds for that miracle, then her chances of getting back to her own time are over."

"Right right," Dust agreed. He started walking down a hallway and signaled for us to follow with his head, "This way. I'll introduce you to Spade, Amy. In the meantime Shadow, you should go try to find the emerald."

I started following after Dust and Shadow nodded before going through a door that led to who knows where. I watched him disappear over my shoulder as I walked behind Dust. I was a little worried for him, but I had to trust he'd be okay without us.

Good luck, Shadow. Please be safe.

Dust led me through the mansion hall ways, up a set of stairs, and into a giant open room; supposedly where the leader spent his days. Sitting in a big wooden "throne", was a black wolverine with pale yellow eyes. His hair was spiky looking and all over the place. It looked oddly, good though. As if every strand was planned out. It seemed to go well with the rest of his look. He was wearing black cargo pants that were held up by a hefty belt, a red tank top that was tucked into his pants, black combat boots, and shiny black armor on one shoulder, chest, shins, and knees.

As we entered the room, he took notice of us approaching and turned his attention to Dust. It looked as if he was about to say something before his eyes fell on me, and the look I received was not friendly.

"Dust. Who is this," he asked, although the words came out more threatening than questioning.

"This is Amy Rose," Dust answered, nudging me forward towards Spade a bit, "She's here to fill the assistant position."

I gulped a little, feeling really nervous now. I managed to force myself to wave at him, but my friendliness was not returned at first.

"You couldn't have found someone from the city to fill the position?" he challenged, glaring over at Dust, "How do we know we can trust her. She could be after- you know what."

I could have sworn my heart jumped into my throat at that moment, because I could feel it pounding in my ears so loudly it almost made me deaf.

"Oh trust me, I know this girl personally. She's trustworthy for sure," Dust said, "And besides, she's the only one that isn't familiar with your anger issues. So she's the only one you'll probably be able to find that would be willing to work with you Spade."

After Dust said this, a switch must have flipped in Spade. He went from threatening and challenging, to curious and bashful.

"You really think that's why nobody wants to take the job?" he asked, sounding a little disheartened. After seeing him act like this, I couldn't help but feel bad for him. I could see what Dust was saying now. He obviously cared about the city, he was just... really bad at showing it. I took a few steps forward and did a little bow to him.

"Sir, I would be honored to take this job and work with you as your assistant," I reassured him, "I'm not scared of a hot head."

It was quiet in the room for a while. I couldn't tell what was happening, since my head was down in my bow. I didn't know whether I should lift my head to see or to keep my head down. Finally, I heard footsteps approach. I felt a finger tap my shoulder, so I lifted myself up to stand straight. It was Spade who tapped me.

"I'll give you a chance. You seem genuine enough. Dust can show you to you're living quarters here in the mansion," he explained. I stiffened a bit, not sure how I felt about that.

"I'm going to be living... here?" I questioned him. He nodded in return.

"You're not from around here. So it's not like you have a house to stay in while you're here. Besides, all my employees live here with me. That's kind of why we have a mansion."

I mouthed the word "oh" and giggled a bit, feeling a little silly for not putting that together.

"Sorry, I guess I'm just not thinking clearly," I replied. I guess my silliness struck a chord with him, because he chuckled along with me. He then gently pushed me along to go towards Dust.

"I trust you'll make her feel comfortable," he told Dust. The echidna nodded and saluted him.

"Can do, Spade. I'll make sure of it," he reassured him before walking towards the exit of the throne room, signaling for me to follow. I quickly took off after him, not wanting to get lost in the mansion. Once we were out of hearing range from Spade, I looked over to Dusk and coughed to get his attention.

"You know, Spade doesn't seem that bad. Maybe if we just explained the situation and-"

"Bad idea," Dust cut me off. He maneuvered to stand in front of me, making me stop in my tracks before continuing, "You're right, Spade isn't so bad. But you need to understand that he will put the city's needs before anyone else's. If he finds out you're going to use the emerald to go back in time, then all he'll see it as, is that the last emerald will be gone and they won't be able to restore Mobius."

"He seems so nice though," I continued to press, "And maybe with me back in the time I belong, you'll never need to restore the earth to begin with!"

Dust snickered and patted my head as if I were a little kid, which for some reason agitated me.

"Amy, I'm sorry to say, but I don't think you being back in your own time is going to change anything," he explained, "I mean, if all your friends couldn't stop the asteroid, then I don't think you being there is going to make a difference."

I moved his hand off of my head and huffed in annoyance, "That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"

"I didn't mean it like that!" he quickly tried to explain, "It's just, well you know, its an asteroid! I don't even think, even if the entire world joined together, that they could have stopped it you know?"

Although I was a bit on edge from before, I sighed in defeat, knowing that he had a raised a valid point. I mean, even with Chaos Control my friends weren't able to- Wait! That's it!

"Dust! Me being back in my time actually DOES change everything!"

Dust gave me a confused look, scratching his cheek as he did.

"Okay, explain. Cause you just look like you had an epiphany."

"Dust, the reason my friends couldn't stop the asteroid is because the seventh Chaos Emerald was with me!" I explained practically jumping in place, "If I can get back to my own time, and get the emerald back to my friends, then they'll be able to use the emeralds power to destroy the asteroid and save Mobius!"

Dust's eyes suddenly lit up with clarity to the situation and a big smile spread across his face.

"I think you're on to something Amy! Maybe you're right! If Spade knew that info, he might lend you the emerald after all!"

I was nodding my head so fast that it felt like my head was going to fly off my body. I grabbed Dust's hand and tried pulling him back towards the room where Spade was.

"Come on let's go-"

"No! At least, not yet anyways," he explained quickly, "We should wait until it's the right time. Besides, it's getting late, and Spade doesn't think very clearly when he's tired. We should wait until tomorrow. That gives us time to tell Shadow to call off the search and to catch Spade at a good time. Sound like a good plan?"

I looked back to the room where Spade was, a little torn. Ever moment counted, but I also didn't want to risk him saying no. Besides, if everybody was getting ready to go to sleep, then they wouldn't be performing the miracle tonight, right? So I gave in and nodded in agreement.

"Fine. We'll do it your way," I said. I obviously wasn't too happy about waiting. I don't think anybody gave Spade enough credit to be honest. However, Dust knew Spade way better than I did. I just had to believe he was right.

After we made our mutual agreement, Dust led my to my room, he left me to get settled. I was alone for the first time since I'd landed in this time. It felt odd. I decided to get out of my warm clothes. I slipped them off of me and folded them neatly, laying them on a dresser that was next to a window. After that, I was wearing my tank top and my underwear.

"I'm alone in here, so it won't make a difference if I sleep pants-less," I mumbled to myself. I got myself tucked into my bed, curling up with the blankets and nuzzling into the pillow. It really did feel nice to have a pillow again. Sleeping on the ground was not my ideal arrangements.

I hope Dust finds Shadow in time...

That was my final thought before I drifted off to sleep, exhausted from another day in this time.