A/N: Merry Christmas, guys! Sorry I didn't get this out sooner. I've been busy hanging out with the fam.

Sorry if it seems like there are too many perspective skips. I promise, next chapter will have a little less... hopefully.


The day went by slowly... too slowly.

Amy found herself glancing at her watch every five minutes, groaning to herself when the time just wouldn't speed up.

Scourge, too, was irritated that the day waxed long. He paced up and down in his quarters, too anxious to calm down. He refused to eat much of anything, thoroughly annoying Miles with his behavior.

Finally, when sunset drew near, Miles left the castle. Amy didn't know where he was going, but when she saw him striding through the village, she got a sinking feeling.

He was supposed to be prepared for this.

Sonic paced up and down the park yet again, his teeth chewing at his bottom lip.

"Sonic, please, stop pacing and sit down." Cream pleaded quietly. "We're all worried."

He glanced at her for a moment, but thankfully, he stopped and slumped to the grass near Tails, drawing his knees to his chest.

Tails patted his shoulder and went back to scanning the area with his eyes.

Shadow appeared only a few moments later, folding his arms as he stood over where Rouge was sitting. Knuckles shifted a bit when he realized, but when Rouge took his hand in hers, he relaxed.

"Are we all here?" The princess asked, stepping off the sidewalk and onto the grass as she shrugged a tote bag off her shoulder.

Tails counted everyone twice before nodding. "Yep, we're all here."

"Good." She nodded. "It's almost seven. Miles should be here any moment."

Sonic managed to suppress a sigh as he got up again, pointedly ignoring the looks from Cream and Tails.

"What if we fail?" He thought to himself, staring into the darkening night sky. "What if... what if Amy fails? No, she wouldn't fail... but still... what if she disappears forever?"

Finally, their tension was assuaged a bit when a sudden flash of light encompassed the park.

Sonic turned his back to the light until it faded, and then turned to see Miles standing there with a serious expression, as usual.

"Good evening, Mobians." He said stiffly, turning to look at the portal swirling next to him. "I believe it's time."


The clock was getting unbearable.

Amy growled to herself, glaring at the infernal machine.

"Stop mocking me," she hissed at the clock face. It read only 10:16.

She paced for a few minutes more before deciding to leave her room.

She walked down the hallway until she stopped at a window, where she watched the night sky. She just happened to be looking when she saw Miles in the gardens below, with a group of people.

She gasped, turning to race down the hall towards the throne room.


Scourge narrowed his eyes when the doors opened. "So you got here safely."

Miles nodded, bowing to his king. "Of course. I brought you the Mobians."

Knuckles and Rouge looked around the throne room, tightly hand-in-hand. Cream looked like she'd skipped quite a few nights of sleep. Tails held a neutral expression, close behind the rabbit with his hand on the belt around his waist, where his blaster was holstered. Shadow walked stiffly, a frown on his face. When the group came to a stop, he folded his arms across his chest.

And Sonic... Sonic walked with eyes narrowed into a slight sneer at his counterpart.

Scourge stood from his throne, adjusting his jacket lazily.

"Alright, listen up." His voice filled the room, demanding. "Miles will show you to your rooms. Females and males will be in different wings, don't fight me on this."

Cream hesitantly rose her hand.

"Question. Yes." He pointed to her. "You."

"I-Is... is Amy in the girls' area?" She asked timidly.

"Yeah. The girls will be staying in the wing where Amy is." He gave her a brisk nod. "There are a ton of guest rooms in those sides."

Knuckles rose his next.

"Yes."

His eyebrows dipped into a frown. "Why, exactly, are you splitting us up?"

"Good question." Scourge said wryly. "Reasons."

"You can't even explain to us?" Sonic asked, mild irritation in his voice.

Scourge's blue eyes fell on the hedgehog, and his lips tugged into a wry grin.

"Nice to see you again, Sonic." His voice took a sarcastic tone. "I can't tell you right now, mostly because of a concerning situation. I'll tell you all later in the battle room."

He sighed harshly, but didn't say a word more.

"Miles, show 'em their rooms." He waved off his servant, sitting back down on the throne.

Just as the fox was about to leave, Amy opened the doors and gasped.

"Cream!" She cried out, embracing the rabbit tightly. "You made it!"

"Amy, I'm so glad to see you." Cream's lip trembled, but she hid her face in Amy's neck to prevent anyone from seeing the emotion.

"Amy." Sonic was at her side at an instant, grabbing her shoulders. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"No, no, I'm fine." She was surprised at that. "I'm not captured, I'm not beaten... everything's fine."

He didn't seem too convinced, but hugged her tight for a moment. "I'm... I'm just so glad to see you in person."

She smiled slightly, patting his back. "I missed you too, Blur."


Later that night, after everyone had been settled in, Amy walked out into the grounds to sit among the flowers.

She sighed quietly to herself, slumping onto a bench while she looked up at the sky.

"Is this a mistake?" She mumbled to herself, hiding her face in her hands. "What if nothing works...?"

"Ames?" The sudden voice made her jump. Whirling around in her seat, she spotted Sonic walking up to her through the bushes.

"What the hell, Sonic?" She hissed, clutching her heart. "You scared the Rings outta me!"

"Sorry, sorry." He chuckled, sitting next to her. "Something on your mind?"

"I guess." She shrugged, looking back up at the black night sky. "I'm a little nervous about tomorrow."

"Anyone would be." He scooted an inch closer, turning his body so that he could look directly at her. "I mean, you're twenty-four, still in your prime, and you're getting married."

"I still can't believe it." She gave a half-hearted chuckle.

"None of us can." Sonic laughed with her, casting her a pleasant smile. "I mean, I can't."

"That's because I'll forever be that weird little hedgehog that chases you and begs for a date, right?" She joked, although a tinge of frustration leaked into her voice. "To be honest, I think they'd be more shocked if you suddenly announced that you were getting hitched."

"Nah, not me." He agreed with a 'heh'. "I don't know if I'll ever settle down."

"Yeah... we know." She looked away, a frown overshadowing her face. "We know."

"Hey." He gently grabbed her face, turning it so that he could look into her eyes. "I haven't completely written it off, Ames."

"But why wait?" She asked. "We won't be young forever."

"Sometimes it seems like... I dunno... I don't want someone I love to worry themselves half to death about my safety." His thumb brushed across her cheek, and the movement wasn't lost on the rosette.

"We already worry ourselves sick for you, Sonic." She reprimanded. "I know I have... so many times."

"I can't say I don't appreciate it." He smiled, something that almost seemed... adoring. "I worry about you too. Every battle."

"I'm flattered." She gave a half-smile. "I guess tomorrow, you'll have to worry more than you ever have before."

"Yeah, I guess I will." His expression suddenly became serious. "Listen, Ames, if this truly is our last night together as friends- no, as- well, never mind that, there's something I need to tell you."

She winced when he mentioned 'friends', but she forced a smile anyway. "What did you need to tell me? It can't wait until tomorrow morning?"

"No." He shook his head. "This is the last time we can be alone so that I can tell you."

"Well, alright then." She rose an eyebrow. "What is it?"

He slid off the bench, getting on his knees in front of her. He let go of her chin and clasped her hands gingerly in his, almost as if he thought she would break if he squeezed them.

"Ames, in case neither of us leaves the battle in once piece tomorrow, or in case everything goes according to plan," He gazed earnestly into her eyes. "I..."

He squeezed his eyes shut tightly. "I love you!"

When her mouth fell agape, he opened his eyes and gazed into her wide amaranth ones, tugging her hands to his chest.

"There hasn't been a day I haven't thought about you. I've loved you since the incident, and I've worried about you far longer." With every sentence, he gently shook her hands in his.

"I..."

"Please, don't do this." He pleaded. "Call it off, assassinate him, come back to Mobius. I'll date you. Just please..."

She grew uncomfortable with every beg, and finally cut him off by getting her hand free and pressing her index finger to his lips.

"Sonic..." Her voice was quiet, trembling with hidden emotion, "... I can't."

"What do you mean?" He asked when she removed her finger.

"I can't." She stared back at him, more determined. "I can't call off this mission."

"Why?" He demanded, frowning slightly. "Has he coerced you? Threatened you? Manipulated you?"

"No, no, and no!" She gasped, almost offended. "Why would he do that?"

"Because he's an evil tyrant who needs to be stopped!" He insisted. "Amy, think about this! He's obviously planning to destroy everything we love! What better way to do that than to marry you and then force you into servitude or kill you?"

"I have thought about it!" Her voice rose, but she closed her eyes to calm herself before continuing. "Stop talking to me like I'm that twelve-year-old girl who doesn't know anything except that she loves Sonic with all her heart!"

"Amy..."

"No." She shook her head vigorously, pulling her hand free from his. The tears threatened to spill over her eyes, and she turned away from him so he couldn't see her wiping them away. "Sonic, please, let's not talk about this."

"But... but Amy-"

"I loved you too." She whirled around to stare at him, tears dribbling freely down her flushed cheeks. Her eyes narrowed. "But now? I don't know how much I'd still love you romantically."

She let out a wry laugh as she turned away again. "Confession noted, Sonic. Good night."

She stormed away before he could do anything but call after her. "Ames! Amy, wait!"


A/N: And scene! Fun fact: I was originally going to make this a cliffhanger.

Please tell me what you thought, feel free to speculate on what will happen next, and I'll see you guys later!