*Note from the author: Things are about to get serious in this story so just a heads up. As much as I love lighthearted, humorous stories, it just doesn't seem fit for Sonic story not to have a certain degree of danger and adventure. Please be sure to review, I would genuinely like to hear your thoughts on the story so far.
Fear
…..
2 Years Ago…
"….But like I was saying, Becky does not want to be the flyer after being dropped like that."
"Amy, she'll get over it, come on!"
The pink hedgehog shook her head at her mongoose friend, Jackie, as the two girls walked through the park. There were joggers, some children laughing on a playground, and dogs barking further down. Still dressed in their cheerleader uniforms, the girls were walking home from practice. Clearly frustrated, the purple mongoose prodded her friend.
"Look, you're the captain now Amy. Just tell her she needs to get over it."
"Jackie, she broke her tailbone. I totally get why she would afraid to be thrown again."
"Oh my God, Amy, that was like 3 weeks ago! And it's already healed up, so she is just being a baby! She is the best flyer we have to she has to do it whether she likes it or not!"
"Jackie seriously? You want me to force her to do it? She cried today at practice when we tried a basket toss!"
The redheaded mongoose stepped in front of Amy, stopping her in her tracks. Their eyes locked.
"Amy, you need to think about what's best for the team, not just Becky. Look, you have already made some enemies making captain this year and beating out the seniors. You need establish some authority otherwise no one is going to listen to you! All the seniors you beat out want Becky to fly so you better do it. "
"I'm not going to force her to do it! Cheerleading is supposed to be fun and exciting, not scary and painful! Lucy already said she wants to fly so why not? We can make everyone happy!"
"Lucy doesn't know what she is even doing, it's going to hurt our performance when we compete! Look, Amy, as your co-captain I'm trying to help you make the best choice. Who cares how they feel, we need to win so you can prove yourself as captain!"
"I still think Lucy should get a chance to fly. I'll teach her myself even if it means staying later to work with her."
Jackie, clearly annoyed, rolled her eyes and began to walk off from the young hedgehog.
"Whatever then, if we suck it is all your fault. It's already bad enough you hang out with that lame rabbit friend of yours. We'll see how long you even get to stay captain or even a cheerleader at this rate…."
Amy fought to keep her anger in check as the purple mongoose strolled off.
"Who the hell does she think she is?! And why drag Cream into this?!
She plopped down on park bench as a couple kids ran past her, enjoying a game of tag. She was thrilled she had scored high enough to be captain but now she had to wonder how anyone could even enjoy it? The responsibility, the new friends and enemies, and pressure almost was too much to deal with on top of school work. Now she would have to find time to balance her studies with all this already and train Lucy?
Maybe I shouldn't be captain… I've never really been a leader like-
She tried to stop herself from even thinking his name but it along with a flurry of old memories came back with it.
Great, as if I didn't feel bad enough already…
Upset, the hedgehog sighed as a familiar pang of heartache washed over her.
Sonic,…
She moved here with Cream to start a new life, free from him. While she did do her best to stay busy, weak moments would allow his image to seep back into her mind. Would she ever be free the hold he had on her? Sonic was a natural born leader, fearless in his desire to do the right thing. Even if the right thing was the more difficult path, Sonic would have gone to hell and back before doing something he knew was wrong….
… So wait, I know what the right thing to do is. If I am going to be a leader, captain, I am going to do the right thing even if…
"…it is more difficult than giving in to the wrong, popular choice."
Amy found herself smiling, as a new found confidence set in. Empowered, the young girl stood up as the sun started to set behind the trees in the park. She knew what she had to do, even if her fellow cheerleaders didn't understand. And she was definitely not about to lose her closest friend Cream to please the popular crowd she wanted desperately to fit in with.
Well, I guess I can thank Sonic for that boost of morale support.
As she started back down the path, a gust of wind hit her and the surrounding foliage. Startled, she put her hand over her eyes to shield them.
"What the—"
And just like that, it was gone. There hadn't been more than a breeze all day, where did that come from all the sudden? She looked around, with a strange hope in the back of her mind.
Was that?...Could that have been?...No, stop it Amy! It wasn't him!
"Just the wind I guess."
The pink hedgehog continued home as a pair of emerald eyes watched her from the cover of the trees at a distance. Another wind gust with a flash of blue and the figure was gone.
….
Present Day…..
Darkness greeted the young girl as her eyes slowly opened. She found herself shaking and soaked to the bone laying on a cold concrete floor. Confused, Amy peered out into the darkness, trying to make sense of her surroundings.
…Where…Where am I?
She attempted to sit up when she realized she couldn't feel her right arm. Fear suddenly seized her as she reached over with her left hand, unable to feel her own touch. It was dislocated and had been for a while. The sudden motion did bring forth a surge of white hot pain from her ribcage. She let a muffled cry escape her as she did her best to drag herself to a small light spanning on the floor of the room. Though she didn't know why, the light brought her a small amount of comfort against her growing panic. She had to get to it. Shaking violently, Amy looked around desperately.
"Sonic?...Sonic, are you here?...
The dark room was uncomfortably silent and she waited for a response somewhere in the darkness. Her own heartbeat filled her ears as she remembered Sonic's pained expression before she awoke here.
Did he escape or did that thing….no….there's no way that monster killed….no….
Tears began to fill her eyes as she curled up on the floor. Overcome with grief, she shut her eyes and cradled her trembling body.
"Sonic"
The young girl sobbed softly in the darkness, helpless and alone. As if on cue, the door to the room suddenly opened and the sudden burst of light caused her to shield her eyes. As they adjusted, her heart swelled with hope at the black silhouette of a hedgehog standing at the door way. A small, joyful smile crept to her lips.
"Sonic, thank God! I knew you would find me!"
Here to save me again, like always!
The figure said nothing as it slowly made its way over to the relieved pink hedgehog.
"I am so happy you are okay! I was worried that…. Sonic?"
Something was off as the figure coldly made his way to the crumpled young girl on the ground. Glowing red eyes could be seen as the figure loomed over Amy. A horrific realization hit the pink hedgehog as a sinister metal claw reached out for her. Tightly shutting her eyes and attempting to back away, the pink hedgehog screamed out in absolute terror.
"SONIC!"
….
"AMY!"
His eyes snapped open as he jolted up in the white hospital bed. Sonic looked frantically around, heart racing as he took in his unfamiliar surroundings. Tails immediately ran to his bedside, attempting to get his panicked friend to lay back down.
"Sonic, hey! Calm down!"
"Tails, where is Amy?"
Emerald eyes searched the room finding only his fox friend and Cream. With a bit of hope, he turned his attention to Tails.
"Where is Amy, Tails? Please tell me she is here."
The young fox starred at the floor, unable to meet his best friend's eyes. A pang of fear and guilt appeared on the hedgehogs face. Cream walked over and took the fox's hand in her own, worried.
"No way,…Tails where is she? Is she alive?"
"Sonic, we don't know yet…"
Anger flashed in the cobalt hedgehog's eyes as he attempted to get up from the bed, ripping off wires and bandages in the process.
"Sonic stop! You have broken bones and fractures! You have to stay here!"
"I am going to fucking kill Eggman for this!"
"Calm down! Stop it Sonic!"
"He is so dead! This time he went too damn far!"
Grabbing Sonic's shoulder, Tails fought to keep the enraged hedgehog on the bed. The young rabbit tearfully held her hands to her face as she watched the altercation between the two. Fighting both his friend and the throbbing pain from his body, Sonic found himself forced down by both Tails and Knuckles who had ran into the room to help.
"Knock it off Sonic! You are worthless until you heal up!"
"Shut up Knux, you don't know anything!"
"Guys stop it!"
"You stupid hedgehog, what do you think you can do like this? You can't even run right now! All you'll do is get your dumbass killed."
"You wanna bet, jackass?!"
"DAMNIT, I SAID STOP!"
Both Knuckles and Sonic were surprised at the outburst from the usually composed fox. Shaking with emotion, Tails looked pleadingly at Sonic.
"Sonic, I know you are upset but we are too. We have been looking for Eggman all day and when we find him I swear we will let you know. Knuckles is right, all you would be is a liability on us right now if you came with us. I'm sorry, but it is the truth."
The cobalt speedster looked away, his expression unreadable as he sat back against the pillows propped up on the bed. The red echidna stepped back and crossed his arms as the young fox continued.
"We will find him Sonic but you need to stay here. We and…Amy are going to need you back running at 100%. Do you understand that?"
Sonic groaned miserably as he looked back at his friend. Though his fists were still clenched tightly, he seemed to have accepted his current predicament. Tails ran a hand across the fur on his head and sighed heavily.
"Tails, I failed her…."
"What?"
The fox was shocked to see tears forming in Sonic's eyes. The cobalt hedgehog stared down at his hands, the hurt plain on his face. His body was shaking as well as his voice.
"I failed her… I couldn't save her. She was depending on me, Tails and I… I … let that abomination take her. If she is ….. gone I …I don't know what I'll do…."
Guilt laced emerald eyes met his best friend's blue ones as the hedgehog sat there, wrapped up in misery. Tails placed a compassionate hand on his idol's shoulder, encouraging him.
"Sonic, we will get her back, I promise. You did everything you could to save her, you can't beat yourself up over this."
"She was terrified, Tails. I could see it in her eyes….I can't get that image out of my head…her face..I'm so sorry Ames…."
Immediately, Tails embraced his friend as Sonic broke down. The cobalt hedgehog moaned despairingly and gripped the young fox tightly as Knuckles looked on with a sad expression on his face.
…..