All Characters belong to Sega except Ciara, Crystal, Sophia, Rosa, Adrian, and Alexander.

Ch. 9 Love Lost

I twisted and turned in the bed. My hands reached for Sonic, but he wasn't there. I opened my eyes and saw that he wasn't there. I sat up in the bed. Ciara was staring at me curiously. "What are you doing in here," I asked, pulling the covers up and around me. She raised an eyebrow.

"I could ask you the same thing," she said.

"I fell asleep here, now what are you doing in Sonic's room?"

"Fell asleep? Interesting. I was snooping around as usual."

"Oh. Is your mom and dad here too?"

"Naw, they dropped me and Crystal off and went back to the road."

"Where are they going?"

"I don't know. Another business trip I guess."

"Oh. Your brother is still here right?"

"Why? Are you missing him already?"

"No, I just need to know."

"Truthfully I don't know where he is."

"You don't?"

"Nope, but if you tell me the real reason why you're in here than maybe I'll recall where he went."

"I hurt my neck and Sonic was taking care of me."

"How did you hurt your neck?"

"I was trying to ride a skateboard and fell on my neck. Almost snapped it, but luckily not."

"Oh, well Sonic's downstairs."

"Okay." I got out the bed and ran out the room. Ciara followed me. When I reached the living room, I saw Sonic copying something out of an old dusty book. I smiled and skipped to him. I sat on his lap, surprising him. He smiled at me though and pulled me closer. Ciara watched us, almost seeming kind of sad.

"Ciara why don't you go in the kitchen and help your sister make breakfast," Sonic said. She muttered something as she walked out the room. Sonic kissed my cheek, then my temple, the bottom of my jaw, and then finally my lips. I kissed him back, finally feeling free. I didn't have to hide my feelings anymore and that made things a lot easier for me. His arm wound around my waist and his other hand went to my neck. My hands got tangled up in his quills, almost tugging at them. Sonic pulled away after a few minutes. "Hey beautiful," he said. I blushed.

"Hi," I said. I looked down at the book Sonic had been copying out of. It was small and thin. I picked it up and flipped through the pages. All of them had pictures on one side and a long script on the other. Most of the pictures were of hearts and flames. Other pictures were drooping roses, and dark meadows. One picture stopped me though. I studied the picture, wondering if what I was seeing was real. The picture was of me and Sonic. I looked almost scared, but angry, looking fiercely at the spectator, leaning opposite from Sonic. He, on the other hand, had his arms crossed across his chest, looking completely angry, glaring at the spectator. I tore my eyes away from the picture to the script. It talked of a horrible curse and a tall tale of forbidden love. One day the decision will be made. Will the world end or will the curse be shattered forever? The only thing is: When will this day come? The text kind of creeped me out. Sonic never said anything about a decision.

I looked at him to see him also staring down at the book. "What decision," I asked softly. His eyes went to me, anger flashing through them.

"The decision to either join them or do what's right," he replied.

"What is the right thing to do?"

"You don't need to worry about that Amy."

"But I want to know. How do you stop the curse?" He looked away.

"It doesn't matter Amy."

"But you said we're the only ones who can stop it."

"We are the only ones, but it only takes one of us."

"But I don't want to let you go off and do something dangerous. You could kill yourself and I wouldn't know."

"Stopping the curse does require me to-. Never mind."

"So you do have to die? Sonic, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't you to take it into your own hands."

"But I'm not going to let you-"

"Amy, it's either you or me. You're the last doppelganger like me, but I know my destiny, you don't. You have so much to live for. So much to achieve. I'm not going to let your potential go to waste," he said softly, looking at me. I shook my head and felt tears in my eyes. He pulled me closer to him, hugging me. I felt my tears come out.

"Please don't leave me," I choked.

"I won't. Not for now at least."

"I mean not ever."

"Sorry to disappoint you then."

I followed Sonic into the dark cave. We had found in some old textbooks where we could try or start to find Adrian and Rosa. We had followed all the steps and it led us to this giant cave. We haven't talked since the conversation about the sacrifice. I didn't want to let Sonic go. I didn't care about the curse. Sophia and Alexander could stalk us all our lives, but it wouldn't matter as long as me and Sonic were together. We could have a small ceremony, with a big reception party. Honeymoon in Hawaii and raise two or three kids. But I knew that wasn't going to happen. No matter how much I dreamed it would, I knew it wouldn't.

Sonic stopped in front of a giant gate with a small, rusted lock on it. The gate was wedged between a huge opening. Sonic pulled off the lock easily and pulled the gate open. He took one step in and motioned for me to come with him. I grabbed his hand and the torches in the hallway lit fires. Sonic led me down the long hallway. I kept looking around, looking for some kind of door, but all I saw were weird paintings. All the images were painted in red liquid and for a second I thought it was blood. I got a little closer to Sonic who was still holding my hand. We finally reached a door. Sonic opened it and we saw a small living room. We walked in, shutting the door behind us. Adrian sped into the room and looked at us curiously. He looked just like he did in my dreams. He smiled at us. "Well, looks like you guys found us," he said, his accent thin. Sonic smirked.

"Wasn't easy, but we did it," he said. Rosa sped into the room to see what was going on. She looked just like me, but with longer hair and matured features. She smiled at me.

"Hello Amy, I have been waiting for you," she said before walking off.

"Does she," I whispered to Sonic. He nodded. I let go of his hand reluctantly and followed Rosa down a short hallway that led to a balcony. It showed off the dark night sky. I stood next to her and leaned my hands on the railing like her.

"You're afraid," she said, almost as if stating.

"Um no," I lied. She smiled as she looked at me.

"Not of me. Of losing the one you love."

"Oh. You know about that?"

"Amy, I knew it before you were even born. I've had the feeling myself."

"When?"

"When Adrian first turned Dark. It was terrifying. I kept thinking that he was going to lose the fight. I couldn't stop thinking what I was going to do without him. He made it though."

"But Sonic's not."

"True."

"What's going to happen afterwards?"

"The curse will be lifted. Sophia and her mate will be destroyed automatically and you will gain your powers."

"Powers? What powers?"

"Magical powers. I can't explain since there are so many, but I do know that you'll use them for good."

"How do you know that? How do you know that I won't use them to avenge the world?"

"I know because you remind me much of myself when I was your age. I felt like I wasn't where I was supposed to be until you meet that one special person. Adrian never left my side and I know that Sonic won't leave yours. You'll know what to do when you receive your powers. Even if your heart is telling you to avenge him." I sighed.

"It's not going to be easy, is it?"

"No. But sometimes the right kind of love is the love that lets go. Just because you let him go doesn't mean that you're letting him go for good, because he'll always be in here." She put her hand over my heart.

"But there are so many things I want."

"And there are still things I want."

"Like what?"

"When I was your age, I couldn't help but think about what it would be like if I wasn't princess. I wanted a husband who would kiss me when he got home. I wanted little babies that would resemble Adrian and I. I used to dream about me and Adrian sitting on a front porch somewhere surrounded by our grandchildren. Their innocent smiles, effervescent laughter, and the thought of knowing that we started them. I still dream about the perfect wedding, the perfect cake, the perfect honeymoon location, the perfect children. Yet, all we're going to be is this. Never moving forward while the world keeps moving."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not something you should be ashamed of. It was our destiny and we had to follow it through. What do you dream about when you think about your future?"

"Um, when I was five, I used to dream about a big fancy wedding in the Disney castle. I would wear a big princess gown and my husband would be Aladdin." I laughed. "We would have our honeymoon in Disneyworld. When I was eight I thought of raising seven kids with a husband who loved me for me. When I was twelve I thought about becoming a journalist and date a movie star. Now I see nothing."

"You're confused?"

"Yes. There's just so much to take in and every day I keep coming up blank about what tomorrow's going to bring."

"If you listen closely to the wolves and their heart beat, you can hear the future."

"Why wolves?"

"Because they are the wisest of animals. Owls are the symbol, but wolves bring courage and love no matter what other people think about them."

"Okay, I'll keep that in mind." Rosa smiled at me and hugged me. I hugged her too, knowing this might be the last time I ever spoke to her.

I made sure Sonic was asleep before slipping out of bed. I threw on some clothes quickly. I picked up my duffel bag. I looked back over at Sonic. I sighed quietly and went up to him. I kissed his lips gently, being careful not to wake him up. "I love you," I whispered before slipping back to the door. I ran out the house quietly and ran to the secret altar. It was raining, thunder and lightning were also active.

I walked to the altar, just when I was about to touch it, I heard his voice. "What are you doing here," he asked. I turned and looked at Sonic.

"How did you find me?"

"You're a horrible sneak and I followed you. Amy, do you have any idea what you're doing?"

"I know I'm saving your life."

"My life doesn't matter if you're at stake." He sped up to me.

"Let me do it, please."

"No, now I need you to go home. Now."

"But, will I see you again?"

"Please Amy, just go."

"Not until you answer my question."

"I don't know. Now go."

"I'm not leaving you."

"Yes you are," I heard Rosa say. Sonic grabbed my arms and spun my around. I felt other arms surround me and drag me away from the altar, away from Sonic. "No," I screamed. Rosa tightened her arms around me so that I couldn't move.

"Hurry Sonic, Adrian won't be able to stall them for long," Rosa yelled. Sonic nodded and quickly went to my duffel bag. He grabbed the emeralds and set them on the altar. He started murmuring something and the emeralds started glowing. Sonic's fur also started to glow. I heard a bang and Rosa's arms left me. I turned and saw her and Sophia fighting. I turned away and ran up to the altar which was now covered with a blue aura. The aura seemed like a shield as it wouldn't let me in. Sonic was still murmuring something. I wanted him to stop. "Sonic," I screamed. He didn't seem to hear me. Rosa grabbed me again and pulled me back. The aura was becoming white and started to come toward us. I couldn't see Sonic. I felt a rush go through my veins as the whiteness overwhelmed Rosa and I. "I love you," I heard Sonic's voice whisper in my ear. I felt his lips press onto mine one last time before the whiteness let up. Sonic was gone and so was Sophia and Alexander. I felt tears fall down my cheeks. Rosa turned me around and hugged me. I cried into her shoulder. My soul mate was gone forever.

I walked into my own house with dread and loneliness. My parents frowned at me. "Amelia, where have you been," my mother asked. I looked down.

"Just be glad I'm home safely," I said before continuing up to my room. I shut the door behind me. I automatically looked at the picture I drew of Sonic. His eyes had lost the gleam they had in them though. His smirk seemed to have turned into a frown. And I could've sworn I saw a small teardrop in the corner of his eye. Another drop was on the floor next to him. I looked away and laid in my bed. I kicked off my shoes and pulled the covers around me. I closed my eyes and went into darkness.

I wandered around in the darkness. "Amy," I heard a voice ask. It was familiar. I turned and saw him. I smiled and ran toward him. He smirked and opened his arms. I lunged myself at him and landed in his arms. He picked me up and spun me around. He put me down and looked into my eyes before kissing me softly.

I opened my eyes and felt sadness come over me. It was only a dream. That's the only place where I would be able to see him. I would be happy in his arms in a fantasy only to wake up and face the reality: he was never coming back.

I was literally crying when i wrote the end of this chap. He died :'( Why do i torture him, geez, like what kind of person am i? Not a nice one to Sonic. I guess i kind of tortured Amy too in this chap. I'm such a heartbreaker. In almost every story i write, something bad happens. I'm just a natural diaster creator. Anyway... PLEASE REVIEW! And don't worry, this isn't the end.