Chapter 10: A Lost Heart

The next morning, Amy awoke feeling almost refreshed. She didn't have any nightmares of Scourge last night and finally had a peaceful sleep.

She quickly got dressed and went to find Scourge's chambers. She hoped he was there so she could distract him somehow while she rummaged his room to find the key to Sonic's cell and chains.

When she'd reached the room she was looking for, she took a deep breath and knocked. "Scourge!" she called trying to be cheerful. "Rise and shine!" But she didn't get an answer. "Hello?" Was he still sleeping?

She dared to creak the door open and looked at his bed to see it was empty. He's not here? She thought this was the perfect opportunity to look through the place and find the key, but she had to be quick about it before he came back.

She looked from under his bed and pillows, his closet, his drawers, and found nothing. She left the room the way she'd found it so Scourge wouldn't suspect and walked through the halls to find him.

He must be carrying it with him. What better way to keep an eye on it if it's on him? Amy suggested thoughtfully. "Scourge?" she called.

"You rang?" said a voice that made her jump. She turned with a hand on her chest to see Scourge behind her.

"Oh, I still can't get used to that," Amy panted.

"Sorry, sweetheart," he grinned, taking her hand and kissing it. What bothered Amy was that she was getting to the point of being used to this disgusting sort of thing. "You weren't in your room when I came for you," Scourge told her, "Where were you?"

"I was looking for you," she answered truthfully, hugging his arm. "I wanted to talk about the wedding. There are some things I'd like to suggest if you don't mind."

"Sure, cutie" he nodded, "Follow me." He teleported them to a large hall where the reception would take place. "This is where our dreams will come true," he told her.

Well, prepare to wake up 'cause Sonic and I are leaving this nightmare soon.

"I can't wait," she replied, leaning next to him with her eyes closed. Scourge smiled and wrapped his arm around her, resting his head on hers.

Amy opened an eye and looked up to his neck to see a string wrapped around it...and she could've sworn she saw something shining from the collar.

That must be the key!

Scourge then took her hand and said, "Come, we have much to do."

Amy nodded and let him lead the way, wondering how she was going to get the key from him...

They spent most of the morning doing this and that and then came lunch time. They sat outside on a large patio, overlooking the rose gardens.

All the while, Amy was getting antsy. Half a day had passed and she still didn't get the key. She had to trick him somehow to get it, but how? Then she had an idea.

"Say, Scourge, why don't we go for a walk in the gardens after this?" she suggested with her hands together smiling. "It's been a long day, but I think we've earned a little sky watching, don't you think?"

Scourge nodded, "Sure, why not?"

She was glad he was this easily manipulated. She hoped to get Scourge to fall asleep so she could get the key.

After a little stroll, Amy found a quiet spot and they both laid down on the grass, looking at the sky. Amy waited a few minutes and looked to see if he was asleep. When she saw his eyes were still open, he glanced at her, then she turned her head away.

Scourge smiled, slipping his arm under her neck and on her shoulder, bringing her closer to him. "Must you be so shy?" he whispered.

Amy felt like shivering being so near him like this, but she tried to contain it. She was getting impatient. What did she have to do to make him sleep for a while? Then, seeing no other way, she decided to trick him by pretending to sleep and closed her eyes, hoping Scourge would do the same thing.

Scourge turned to look at her, then smiled, bringing his hand to her head, fingering her hair.

Stop stroking me and go to sleep already! she shouted in her head. Then for some reason, she felt did feel sleepy. How's that possible? I slept really well last night.

Suddenly, she felt two arms lift her up from the ground. "I think you'll be more comfortable sleeping in your chambers," he suggested softly, teleporting himself to her room. He placed her on her bed and covered her body with her comforter, just like he did yesterday when she was sick to her stomach.

Amy didn't understand. How could she feel like this?

"I guess all that wedding planning tired ya out, cutie," Scourge whispered, kissing her forehead, but for once, Amy didn't let it bother her because she was soon lost in a deep sleep.

Scourge grinned evilly as she fell fast asleep. "Hmph, the potion the doc made has already done its work," he declared, cupping her cheek, "Once you wake up, my little Rose, you really will lose sight of that blue joke and accept me as your king."

When Amy woke up, she looked to see she was in her room, looking confused. "How'd I get here?" she asked herself quietly.

"Oh, it was me," answered Scourge who was sitting on a chair leaning an elbow on the edge of the bed, his head in his palm. "You fell asleep and I thought you'd like it in here than in the gardens."

"Oh... Well, thank you," she replied smiling...looking a little more genuine.

"Don't mention it, sweetheart," he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

When he did that, Amy just blinked in confusion. She felt like...she was supposed to hate that...but she wondered why.

"So how do you feel?" he asked her, taking her hand and rubbing her knuckles with his thumb.

"Well...I feel fine," she answered, "Better even."

Scourge grinned, kissing her hand. "Good."

Amy didn't complain about this, either. In fact, she was kind of flattered.

"Say, Amy...do you know a blue hedgehog?" he asked.

Amy tilted her head... "What blue hedgehog?"

Scourge grinned. "You know...Sonic?"

Amy just looked at him in confusion. "I...don't think I do." She didn't recall this Sonic at all. "Is he a friend or something?"

"Uh, well, he's a random citizen around here and I thought maybe you knew him," he lied.

"No, I don't think I do," she replied, shaking her head.

"Well, then, in that case, never mind. Say, now that you feel well rested, what do you say we go over the wedding plans again?"

"Sure, why not?" Amy responded with a smile and got up from her bed. "It is tomorrow, isn't it?"

"Mm-hmm," he nodded, bringing her in for a hug. "By tomorrow, you and I are going to be together side by side forever."

"I can't wait," she replied, hugging him back, then kissed his cheek, taking his hand, "Come on, let's get ready."

Touching his cheek, he smiled with utmost satisfaction and obediently followed her out the door.

When they came downstairs, they went over everything and Amy didn't look distracted at all. She was focused completely on the wedding.

Scourge watched her from a corner as she gave the caterers her opinions on the food.

After she'd finished, he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder. "One more day, sweetheart," he told her. "One more day..."

"Yeah..." Amy said, stroking a hand on his face, making him sigh with content. "I hope we'll have a good life together."

"Me, too, Amy," he said, kissing the palm of her hand, "Me, too."

It was already nighttime in the dungeon cell and Sonic was starting to worry about Amy. Was she having a hard time getting the key? He hoped she would hurry before tomorrow and she's Scourge's forever.

Suddenly, Scourge teleported himself right in front of the chained Sonic. "Hey, Blue, havin' fun?" he mocked.

"Oh, yeah, these digs are great," Sonic answered sarcastically, "What, with the bars, the cold hard floor, and these chains. Of course it could use a pool table."

"Joking as ever, huh?" Scourge remarked, almost admiring his sense of humor. "Then I have something that'll make you laugh your head off."

"What, that you're a good guy," Sonic teased.

"No, Amy is going through with marriage tomorrow."

Sonic looked at Scourge, but he didn't believe him. "Yeah, that is funny," he smirked, his head down.

"She has, Sonic." Sonic looked up at him again, seeing a serious look in his eyes even though he was grinning. His eyes widened in fear.

"No... No, Amy would never do that!" Sonic denied.

"You're absolutely right, Blue, she never would have," Scourge agreed, which confused Sonic, "I knew from ever since I brought her here, she was pretending she wanted to be with me, but the joke was on her. You see, I knew that she loved you so much, so I decided to put a syrum in her drink for to pretend to be you in her dreams, then show up as myself for her to see that I can be just as good for her as you, better preferably.

"But she kept running away from me, but I thought if I'd waited along enough, she'd give in...until you showed up yesterday. I knew from when I'd tried to make her think your failed escape was a dream, she didn't believe me. I knew no matter how hard I tried, she wouldn't willingly forget about you...so I gave her something to make her forget about you."

"Wait...you gave her amnesia?" Sonic asked.

"Well, yeah..." he answered, rubbing his knuckles on his shirt, "and no. She still remembers who she is...but she doesn't remember who you are."

"What? What did you do to her?" he demanded.

"I gave her another syrum that would make all her memories with you slightly different, by replacing myself as you. All the adventures and outings and all that junk you did with her, she did with me. Or so she thinks. And I added a new memory that she'd accepted my offer of marriage. That means she's more than ready for the wedding tomorrow morning."

Sonic took deep breaths, then he growled and reached for Scourge. "Why, you...!" However, his chains held him back. "You lying, twisted mangy creep!"

"Keep the compliments coming," he laughed.

Sonic looked at him with pure anger, wishing he was free so he could rip his fur off. "You won't get away with this."

"Oh, face it, will you?" Scourge grabbed him tightly by the neck and pinned him to the wall. "Even if you could beat me right here and right now, Amy still wouldn't remember you. Just accept that you've lost and that Amy is mine."

Sonic choked a bit, not just from Scourge's hold on his neck, but from sadness, too.

Scourge let him go and watched him sink to the ground in despair. "Hurts, doesn't it?" he teased. "Well, I'd better go and rest up. Got a really big wedding day tomorrow. See ya later, Blue."

Once he had teleported away, Sonic looked up and pulled something from his glove. The key that Scourge had around his neck! "Well, at least he was dumb enough to get close for me to take it from him," he remarked, almost satisfied, but he couldn't believe that Amy had forgotten about him... He gripped the key then unlocked himself.

"I'm not gonna give up. I'm gonna find Amy and I'm gonna help her remember me." He couldn't lose Amy like this. Not after he'd just realized his feelings for her. Amy had been good to him and even growed up a bit, too. She had turned into the lovely, mature young lady she is now, but still remained the kind, caring thoughtful woman who had been a friend to him for a long time...

Clenching his first, he vowed, "Amy, I swear, one way or another, I'm gonna bring your memories back."

(Please don't be angry that Amy has lost her memory! We all know Amy loves Sonic too much to forget him forever. Just wait until the next chapter. Don't lose hope! Until then, God bless.)