AutoKnight01, rugtugba, Novus Umbra, Constanza Rose, JazzTheHedgehogSingingStar, Avitala, ZehHyperactiveAuthor, Soul the Catt, Mana the Cat Magician, 01sonamy01, Writer's Freedom, SherryBlossom, poka, Ghost the Hedgehog, Kurdave, OddSakura, enustikehtelkcaJ, MyLoveForYou, SonicAndAmy'sPen, HaosBlossom, Alyssacookie, Mike Prower the Fox, ItsStephanyx3, PastaxRocks, xEmberChanx, r0ckst4r1, RikkuMcClowFox:
This is a story of heartbreak, unrequited love, drama, understanding, empathy, and irony.
It's a story about humbling Sonic, breaking Amy's heart to mature her, teaching Blaze about true love, and... Silver's just lucky, I guess. Tails, Cream, and Vanilla are moral support.
Wait, why does this sound like the last chapter? Read on, guys and gals...
...ooo...xxx...ooo...
Chapter 10: Together
...ooo...xxx...ooo...
"Are you sure, honey?"
The pink hedgehog looked down at her gloves for a minute, away from the bright blue glowing lights of the portal that Tails, Cream, and Vanilla were about to step through. To go to an almost-fairy-tale style wedding between a princess and a commoner in another dimension. It was the type of thing Amy had only dreamed of and read about, and now she had the chance of a lifetime to be a part of it, and to go to a romantic event...
And who else did she know that was likely to be married soon? If she missed this, she'd have to wait a long time to go to another one. None of her older "friends" were the marrying type (Knuckles? Rouge? Shadow?) and Tails and Cream were barely preteens, if that. And Sonic...
She sighed. Sonic... would be married to her one day, Amy kept telling herself that. But still... right now... he hadn't wanted to come, at all. Was it because the thought of Blaze being married was killing him that much? Had Sonic really wanted to marry Blaze? Did Sonic ever think about marriage in a positive way, meaning maybe someday he actually would propose to her, kneeling in front of her with a huge shiny ring and a question he already knew the answer to...?
No, she was just being an optimist and putting a positive spin on it.
The truth was, right now the poor hedgie was probably running his legs off, still hurting from this news that his old flame was permanently moving on from him. Oh Sonic... she couldn't get the image of him crying out of her head.
"Amy, I did a bunch of calculations, and I figured with the time warp and everything we need to leave now... so this is the last chance to change your mind..." Tails ventured, breaking her thoughts.
Change her mind? Ha, that was something Amy Rose did seldom. Especially when it came to a certain blue hedgehog. And if he was hurting, how could she go and enjoy herself and have fun if she knew that meanwhile, Sonic was upset?
Amy surveyed the three of them. Tails had managed to slip on a nice, crisp suit, and both rabbits had donned matching pretty pink dresses. They all looked so nice... Amy knew that she should be going with them. It was a dream come true, a fantasy. It would be hopeless romantic central over there, and yet... Amy couldn't leave Sonic behind, in the state that he was in. Couldn't.
She was going to give up one of her dreams for him.
"I'm not going," she quietly affirmed her earlier decision. "I... don't want to leave him here, when he's hurting... Sonic needs me." She paused and set her mouth in a determined line. "You guys have fun, and take pictures, okay?"
Cream's mouth twinged into a frown, Vanilla had a hint of a smile on her face, but Tails just shrugged, not understanding either hedgehog's behavior. This love stuff makes no sense... he thought, but when he turned to Cream and her mom, he felt something stirring.
"Alright, dear. We'll see you when we get back," Vanilla said and stepped toward the dimensional portal.
Cream ran over to hug Amy, looking at her sister with milk chocolate eyes. "I hope you and Mr. Sonic feel better..."
"We will, Cream... have fun, okay? You can tell me all about it when you get back."
The younger rabbit nodded then leaped away, lingering at the edge of the portal. Tails just gave Amy a smile before taking Cream's hand and leading the two rabbits into Blaze's dimension. Without another thought, Amy left Tails' workshop to go on a hedgehog hunt.
...xxx...
He'd tried running.
He'd tried not running.
He'd tried eating.
He'd tried borrowing the Tornado.
He'd tried bugging Knuckles, picking a fight with Shadow, and provoking Egghead.
But nothing, nothing could make Sonic shake how jealous and heartbroken he was feeling.
Uuuugh, this shouldn't be happening to me! I was so over her.
I was. She was eating my dust, firmly in my past, and I'd gotten to the point that every time she'd cross my mind I'd sigh, yes, but... I'd started thinking of her less and less... and Amy helped with that, helped me forget, but... now... I found out she's... with someone else, and why does that hurt so much?
I was so OVER THIS!
Marriage.
Ugh.
Marriage is just much "I do" about nothing.
What is with all the obsession with marriage around here, anyway? I mean, not just Blaze but Amy too. What's so appealing about wanting to bind yourself to someone else for the rest of your life and vow to love them forever? Why willingly give up your freedom?
That just wasn't Sonic's game. He just couldn't ever see himself willingly letting himself be permanently attached to someone else. The thought frightened Sonic, who had no master but the wind, quite a bit. And yet... the thought of Blaze getting married was tearing him up inside, twisting his stomach in nausea as he pictured Silver and Blaze together, kissing and-
Oh, why should I care if she's getting married? It's not like I ever wanted to marry her, anyway! I just wanted to be with her forever, just us together... but no, there was a difference.
I'm sure, I just... can't think of it right now. Huh.
But it doesn't matter, does it? There's nothing I can do. Blaze is with someone else, making her vows...
He paused, as his feet had carried him to one of his special places. Not much really, just the site of a large, couple-hundred-year-old oak tree in the middle of a tall-grassy meadow. Its gnarly branches held some of the best crooks for sleeping and relaxing to look at the sky... In a few quick leaps, Sonic jumped through the limbs and came to rest on one of them, trying to forget.
I shouldn't care. I really shouldn't. Argh, why won't this just go away? Why can't I just forget?
And everything was going so well... me and Amy were getting closer... I was starting to maybe kinda like her... maybe... and then why does this whole thing have to come up?
Before another thought could cross Sonic's mind, he suddenly felt the whole tree he was lying on shake violently. He was up in a flash, fueled by adrenaline, surveying the surroundings, his mind already going through the possibilities - earthquake, Eggman-
The tree shook again, this time so hard that Sonic almost fell out of it, but merely slipped and painfully landed on the branch below him. What in the world...? His eyes kept scanning his surroundings, when suddenly he caught a glimpse of the source of the tremor.
Nothing other than a bright red and yellow Piko Piko Hammer, attached to an unavoidable pink hedgehog.
"A-Amy!" he stuttered, flabbergasted to see her here, of all places. "H-how did you find me?"
"You showed me this place." Her tone didn't have a bit of cheeriness.
I'm becoming too predictable... Sonic jumped from his branch to the ground, still shocked to see the girl. "What are you doing here? You should be at the wedding!" his eyes had a hint of pain reflected in them to pronounce that.
Amy clutched her hammer more tightly as her expression grew rather fierce, sending a pelt of fear down Sonic's spine. Oh crap... it'd been so long since he'd seen Angry Amy that he'd forgotten how downright terrifying she could be... wait, was she mad at him? Gulp. Sonic took a step backwards, only for his back to be met with the rough bark of the oak tree.
"I should be at the wedding? Sonic, I can't believe you," she spat, her temper flaring as soon as she'd realized something. "It's you that really should be over there! Why should I? Don't you see? I don't even know Blaze... but she's one of your good friends! How can you not show up to her wedding just because you're jealous? All you ever do is run from your problems! You should be there supporting her... especially if you do still have feelings for her!" She paused from her rant, still breathing heavily, before delivering the line, "Oh, I would go to your wedding!"
At that confession, Sonic's jaw dropped and Amy's expression softened, this time the girl in shock.
Would you really Amy? she questioned herself. Don't you realize... you could be in Sonic's shoes? You actually were for a long time... do you really think you could drag yourself to Sonic and Blaze's wedding...? Seeing Sonic's hurt expression, she winced. Oh, was I too overwhelming again?
But all Sonic could think was...
She was so utterly and completely right.
He stared into her eyes, once again astounded at Amy Rose, and how well she understood him, like no one else could. This girl never ceased to amaze him, to enlighten him on the truth of what he was truly feeling and his own behavior. It was almost like, she had part of his heart. She'd been rather overt with her outburst, but still... maybe her slap in the face would be the only way to get through to him and just what he needed.
She was right. He really, really shouldn't be here moping around and feeling sorry for himself. It wouldn't solve anything and it was unlike him. He needed to man up, stop running, and face his fears for once. He had to suck it up and go to the pre-wedding. It might be the only way that he could get over Blaze...
Amy mistook his silence for distress, and spoke in a much softer tone, "Sonic, you can't keep moping around. Blaze is a friend... look, I'm sorry, I really didn't come here to yell at you, but I felt like you needed to hear that..." the girl suddenly approached him and touched his arm lightly, feeling remorseful for being so harsh when he was already hurting. "I really came here to see if you were okay... I... I didn't want to leave you here all alone, by yourself and heartbroken... I wanted to be here for you... to help..."
Sonic glanced back at her. "Wait... you stayed back because of me?"
Amy nodded. "Yes, I didn't want you to be here all alone and hurting."
"Aw Ames..." the strangest thing was happening in his heart. Yeah... part of it was guilt, but it was also more. Amy had really given up one of her dreams, to attend a romantic ceremony, for him, to stay here because he was being unusually difficult? What was with this amazing girl? "Amy, you shouldn't have... you should be over there, having fun, soaking it all up..."
Realizing something, the hedgehog suddenly leaped to attention, startling the girl with the passionate fire in his eyes.
"C'mon Amy, let's get you a dress," he said, all business, and without further warning, scooped her up and sped off.
"Sonic, I'm not going alone!" A very startled Amy protested, closing her eyes to not get dizzy as they traveled at supersonic speeds.
"Who said anything about alone?" He looked down at Amy. "Look, you're right... I need to let go. And this... might be the only way to do it. 'Sides, I'd hate to think that I kept you from the wedding of the century because I was still being an idiot..."
Amy's eyes opened wide. "You mean... you're going after all?"
Sonic came to a halt in front of a bridal store. "Yep... now hurry up and get pretty, or we'll be late." His eyes now held a light glimmer, and a subtle blush was on his cheeks.
Amy looked at him with glittering eyes, then at the bridal store, then back at Sonic. He was going to go, for her? "Oh, Sonic... you don't have to do this for me... it's not like I know Blaze all that well..."
"Hey now, don't gimme that, I know that yer dyin' to go to hopeless romantic central. And yer not gonna make me go alone, now are ya? I'm goin' no matter what, but... I need a... date, don't I?"
They both froze at those words, before two matching, genuine smiles lit up their faces for the first time since they'd found out about this betrothal ceremony.
"Oh Sonic...thanks..." Amy was about to hug him, but then her eyes drifted over his unclothed, toned body. "But you're not... going like that, are you?" It was impossible not to blush at the thought.
Sonic rolled his eyes. "Oh please, Amy... you can drag me to a wedding but you're not getting me into a tux."
Amy couldn't help but lightly giggle at the typical Sonic comment, and but before she could run inside the bridal store, she felt Sonic grip her wrist, causing heat to rise up her arm.
"By the way, uh, I don't think you have to worry about going to my wedding or not. I don't plan on getting married to anyone el- I MEAN, any time soon, EVER..." he quickly covered up and let go of Amy's hand, now redder than his beloved shoes. Man, why'd I go and say that? "Anyway, hurry up, or we're gonna miss it!"
"Oh my Sonic..." Amy grinned before dashing inside to buy the first dress her hands touched.
...xxx...
Leaping out of the portal into the other dimension, Sonic hit the ground running.
"So... do you know where this whole wedding thing is taking place?" he asked Amy, now clad in a frilly light blue dress, who was nestled in his arms.
"Ummm..." Amy suddenly wished she would have paid better attention to the message, but at the time she'd been torn in her decision between a wedding and her Sonic... though it'd been a no-brainer, she'd ended up getting both. "Near the beach maybe? That'd make a good, romantic place..."
Sonic nodded and turned towards the ocean, hugging the banks, his green eyes desperately scanning for some signs -
"There we go!" he said, seeing a huge, diverse crowd, multi-colored banners strung across the tree boughs, and signs advertising for the betrothal ceremony. Festive, light music from instruments Sonic couldn't dream of naming filled the air, beckoning them to come and see.
"How'd you know it'd be here?" Sonic asked her, his brows knitting in wonder.
"I don't know, I just thought it'd be a good place to hold it on an island..." she trailed off.
"Hm, well I hope we're not late," Sonic muttered and turned quickly to approach the wooden entrance arch to the event.
Once the hedgehog had slowed down, he eyed the two tough looking guards, dressed in the official royal symbol, lingering at the entrance.
"Shoot, they're not going to let us in without an invitation," Amy whispered up at Sonic.
"I can fix that," he smirked, a plan quickly forming in his mind.
He gripped Amy closer to his chest and then streaked by the guards at near Mach 2, knowing that would get their attention, and then doubled back at a slower pace to zoom in between them and in the entrance without being seen.
"You hear something?" A guard asked, frantically looking around.
The other shrugged nonchalantly. "Musta just been the wind..."
That was fun, Sonic smirked again before looking for a place to sit in the crowded area.
Slipping into two spare seats in the back row, the two of them barely had time to let out a nervous breath before more music filled the air, signaling the ceremony was beginning. Sonic and Amy met eyes in relief and victory.
Whew, just made it!
Sonic's eyes were then turned to the altar in front, where Silver was standing next to the priest, looking rather nervous. It was right then that Sonic suddenly remembered that he was actually at Silver and Blaze's pre-wedding, and about to witness the permanent loss of a former love... he let his green eyes scan over the rival hedgehog, but oddly enough... he didn't feel their symbolic emotion.
Silver looked clearly uncomfortable in the limelight, with every eye on him up there... and for a second, Sonic's heart went out to the guy. He's just a normal guy who got lucky with Blaze... I should be happy for him... I guess... Sonic tried to picture himself standing up there, about to pledge his life away... not happenin' man... so no, Sonic didn't feel envious of the sterling hedgehog one bit.
And then... she started walking up the aisle.
Aw maaan...
Blaze looked so... so... gorgeous as she made her way up between the rows of people gathered - the lilac cat was clad in a pale yellow and violet dress which was just form-fitting enough to show beauty, yet loose enough to show modesty and purity... it tore at Sonic's heart, as it'd been seemingly ages since he'd last laid eyes on her.
But when she finally stood at the altar, and gazed at her groom-to-be, even from this distance Sonic could see the obvious love present in her eyes, and the love that Silver was returning in that gaze. And when the cat and hedgehog took hands ceremoniously, it was like two puzzle pieces were being snapped flawlessly into place, their jagged edges fitting and molding around the other resulting in a perfect match.
Everything just felt so right...
And then... something quite odd happened to Sonic's mending heart, as he studied the couple at the front and faced his fears. It was like a weight was suddenly lifted off of the muscle... and he felt relieved. Free. Relaxed. The longer the (otherwise boring and tedious) ceremony carried on, the freer and lighter Sonic felt. He felt like... he could let Blaze go now, as she was being promised and bound to someone else. He didn't have to worry about her anymore, or keep part of his heart in her name...
Sonic had thought that his jealousy would be worse coming here, but he found that now that he'd come to face his worst fears... he could let her go... now that she was happy.
Blaze... I loved you, but... you're not the girl for me... it's time to say good bye... I think... I was more over you than I thought...but it wasn't until I came here, faced my fears that I realized that... and could see you to let you go...
Good bye, Blaze... and good luck.
Another weight lifted from his heart, and it soared and floated in sweet freedom and release. Sonic's unusually deep thoughts were broken by the unexpected sound of sniffling.
Turning his head curiously, Sonic was shocked to see Amy as the culprit, though in hindsight he shouldn't be. The girl's eyes were welled up, though a smile tugging at her lips proved that it wasn't from anguish, but unbridled joy. Amy's romantic soul was clearly loving this whole atmosphere, soaking it up.
If Amy could be this happy at the not-even-wedding of a girl she used to hate and a guy she didn't even know... he shook his head but smiled. That was Amy for you.
Sonic then felt something - not the typical warm, fuzzy feeling that came from doing a good deed (which bringing Amy out here had been), but more than that. His now light, free heart... may have just found a new reason to beat.
Amy being happy was really a sight to behold - and since Sonic hadn't seen it in awhile, he was reminded just how attractive her smile made her look. Her lips were smooth and pink, complimenting her fur and quills and soft peach muzzle. He suddenly felt an odd urge to raise his hand and start caressing her velvety face... then she would look at him, and her emerald eyes would be swimming in happiness... he would brush away the three cute bang-quills, and then pull her into his arms and never let her go...
For a minute he pictured Amy in a pure white wedding dress, and himself dressed up - NO WAY man, what are you thinking? That would never happen! He chuckled and shook the crazy thoughts out of his head. Like that would ever happen... him getting married. Ha. But still, coming here, feeling the magic of this whole thing... he could suddenly see why Amy loved this stuff so much.
Just then, feeling his eyes on her and hearing him laugh, Amy turned to Sonic, causing the hedgehog to spin away in blushing bashfulness. What? Had he been looking at me? Or... is this whole thing just tearing him up inside?
"Sonic, are you okay?" she whispered, leaning up closer to him, blinking away happy tears.
"Y-yeah, never better..." he said, looking back at her but raising his hand to scratch his ear.
In that motion, however, his hand met Amy's face halfway up to his own, sending a pleasurable sensation up his arm at the contact. The girl's eyes widened in shock, though more tears squeezed out of them, soaking Sonic's glove. And then, to her utter surprise but delight, Sonic's fingers gently swept across her face, wiping at her tears.
"Don't cry, Amy..." he said with more tenderness than Amy had ever heard from Sonic before in her life. "Be happy, but... don't cry, 'k?"
Her heart melted at his words and soft gaze, and they increased her euphoria to an almost unmanageable level. Another tear fell, but Sonic caught it before it could drip to her chin. Amy sniffed but remained motionless, never wanting Sonic to remove his hand from her face.
I'll cry all day if that'll make you hold me...
"Sonic..." she whispered as she got lost in his shiny jade eyes, and everything else around them, the crowd, the wedding, the beach just faded into nothing. All she was aware of was his hand caressing her muzzle, and his own face getting closer and closer...
Ohmygosh he's going to kiss me... he's leaning forward... he's going to... he'sgoingtooooo...
"I now proclaim Blaze the Cat and Silver the Hedgehog... betrothed!"
The priest's untimely pronouncement snapped Sonic out of it, and he retracted his hand about an inch from Amy's face.
I was so close... Her countenance fell in disappointment, but Sonic's reassuring smile kept her hope alive, and her heart surged as she realized... he wanted to kiss me... he wants to...
"Thanks Amy..." he said and let his hand fall down to intertwine his fingers with hers, his thumb stroking the top of her hand. "I'm glad I could make you happy... I hope there's more where that came from..."
Sonic's green eyes reluctantly moved from Amy's pretty, joyous face and up to the cat and hedgehog couple who were melting into each other's arms. But his heart wasn't bothered a bit by the scene... as his heart may have just found a new home.
...xxx...
After the ceremony, everyone got up to mingle, and Sonic and Amy approached Silver and Blaze in the reception line to pay their respects. Sonic hopped back and forth impatiently before Amy took his hand and smiled fondly at him, though her dreamy thoughts were still on how oh so close she had been to Sonic giving her her first kiss.
Finally, the group right in front of them moved on, leaving Sonic and Amy next with Silver and Blaze. Two pairs of golden eyes widened upon seeing Sonic there. Silver immediately tensed up and was about to get his psychokinesis ready when Sonic stuck a hand in his direction, as a sign of peace.
"Hey. Congratz, you two," the blue hedgehog said, grinning genuinely.
At seeing his innocent intent, Silver relaxed and extended his own hand to firmly shake Sonic's. Silver was too happy to think of holding a grudge.
"Thank you, Sonic, I appreciate it."
"You're the man, Silver. You deserve Blaze," Sonic nodded at him, and then let go of his new friend's hand, glad to have patched things up between them.
Then... Sonic turned to Blaze, his former flame. Her amber gaze was guarded, a little distrusting... but when Sonic extended his hand to shake, just like he'd done the first two times they were to be split up... the cat obliged and shook lightly.
"Blaze, three things: sorry... thanks... and good luck," Sonic said simply, chastely releasing her hand.
The bride-to-be gave a small smile, glad that he hadn't come to crash her betrothal party. Knowing him, he could've done that but... he ended up doing the right thing. Just like Sonic always did. Blaze would always respect Sonic as a friend, even though she would never love him romantically. "Thank you, Sonic... you're welcome to come back to our world any time you'd like," she offered.
Sonic smiled in return. "Huh, thanks, but... I'll pass. There's just too much water here." He chuckled. "Seriously, though, you might see me around."
She nodded, and then her eyes drifted to Amy, just now noticing that Sonic was holding her hand. Her eyebrows raised.
"What-oh she's..." his blush betrayed him, and his jaw unhinged before he managed to say, "This... is Amy. She's uh, we're uh..." oh man, his mouth had just suddenly decided to stop working. Why had he been put on the spot like this? He could feel Amy's gaze on him, pleading for her dreams to come true.
Please, Sonic... just say it... say that the almost-kiss wasn't a fluke... please...
She felt his hand squeeze hers protectively, and her heart soared as Sonic said, "We're... together."
Oh... there wasn't a more wonderful perfect fabulous word in the English language as those eight letters.
Together.
Me and Sonic, together? He'd said it, he'd said it, he'd said it...it wasn't a fluke and he does care about me! Euphoria swept through her being, warming her body from her head to her toes. It was all Amy could do to not throw herself at Sonic and hug him, kiss him, love him... but at the same time, her knees were weak and her eyes were welling up again, this time not for someone else getting together... but for herself. Finally... Oh Sonic... I love you so much... and you... do... too...
"Later guys," Sonic said and then, feeling unusually giddy, turned to give Amy a heart-melting grin, pulling his girl off to another part of the party.
...xxx... A/N ...xxx...
The only reason I didn't start these notes with an earsplitting squeal is because my inner fangirl died from squealing while I wrote the "Sonic wiping Amy's tears" scene. But she'll be back, don't worry. :DDDD I'm still giddy as heck, though. :DDD
Why I went with a pre-wedding:
1. It makes Sonic realize he has to get over Blaze (because she's officially unattainable, as Sonic's not a girlfriend/fiancee/wife snatching kinda guy) and makes him have to face his problems and thereby release his feelings for her. Before he was just running and avoiding dealing with anything... but now he realizes that he can let Blaze go now that he's seen her.
2. It makes Sonic have a new respect/appreciation for weddings and why Amy loves them so much.
3. It shows Sonic and Amy's love for each other above all else (Amy staying behind from a dream "wedding" for him, Sonic agreeing to go to said wedding for her.)
So... there's still some more that needs to be written, in terms of tying up some loose ends and filling up the few holes this story has...
Besides, they didn't kiss yet... and you KNOW that no SonAmy is over until Sonic and Amy kiss! ;)
So stay tuned for at least one more chapter... Okay, I've held it back admirably: I'M SOOOOO HAPPY! EEEEEEEEEEEK!