Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the storyline. Alan/Orion, Sarah, Harrison and Project Odin belong to TheIrOnFORGE, thanks for all you're help in getting me motivated :). The rest of the characters belong to Sega.
Chapter 12
Amy walked at the back of the group, memory flashes of the things she'd done while under Scourge's influence slowly coming to her. What was at the forefront of her mind was killing a dark hedgehog. She would continuously glance up at Shadow who was separate from everyone else.
She knew it couldn't have been him, because she didn't remember any red. 'Did I kill someone?' She wondered.
She jumped nearly a mile in the air when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Sorry Rose," his deep voice sent a weird shock through her body, making her feel slightly guilty and she wasn't sure why.
"What is it Shadow?" She asked regaining her composure.
"You seemed distracted...why aren't you with-"
"I'm trying to sort out my thoughts," she replied softly as she began walking again. She'd noticed that the group had moved quite a bit away from them.
"Amy..." She stopped and turned back to him.
"What is it?" She asked curious, her head tilted ever so slightly.
He cleared his throat and a faint blush spread across his muzzle. "Never mind."
"If your sure," she smiled as she turned and hurried after their friends.
'Why do I get this way when I see her or think about her.' He wondered shaking his head as he followed her at a slower pace. He shook his head and sped up.
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
Amy caught up with Sonic and pulled him away from the group. If anyone noticed they didn't say anything.
"What's up Ames?" He asked when she stopped walking.
She looked up at him, her eyes glossy. "We need to talk...I-I think..."
"What?" He asked turning her head up to meet her eyes. He held her gaze for a bit. "Amy what's wrong...please we've been apart for so long that I don't want you to pull away."
"It's just, I think," she took a deep breath trying to steady her emotions. "I think I killed someone."
"You...killed..." He looked at her confused. "You think?"
"I've been getting these flashes since I woke up back there." She said her gaze falling. "I keep seeing this black hedgehog...as I stab him in the chest...it was so brutal..." She sniffled.
"Are you sure that it really...happened?" He asked nervously. She met his gaze once more, as she nodded.
"I'm certain."
"He can't have been good...if you needed up killing him." Sonic said trying to lift her spirits. "Hey look at me." She focused her eyes on his. "Hey you are the purest soul around," she scoffed at that. "You are, because otherwise they wouldn't have to do the things they do to get to you."
"You really believe that, don't you?" She asked as she gave a smile. "This is exactly why I fell in love with you...you're so selfless."
"Not really," he glanced away for a second. He then looked up at her with a smirk. "But as long as we're together I'll be fine." He pulled her into a sweet kiss.
"I don't know what I ever did to deserve you," she replied with a giggle, one that he hadn't heard in so long he thought he'd never hear it again.
"I missed that sound," he wiggled his nose against hers briefly. "And all you had to do was be you."
"Mom...dad?" They turned faces ablaze when Anais interrupted them.
"Y-Yes?" Sonic stammered.
"I was wondering," she looked at the ground shyly. "If maybe we could...spend some time together."
"Oh baby, of course." Amy wrapped her daughter into a loving hug. "What do you want to do?"
"Let's just rest, for a while." Anais said with a happy smile, as she looked up at Sonic.
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
The group had separated for the time being, Knuckles and Rouge went towards her house, Vanilla, Tails and Cream went towards my the Rabbit residence. Shadow disappeared into the forest, and then Orion, Sarah and Harrison went to Angel Island, the only place they all had in common.
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
Rouge walked into her house and collapsed onto her couch. She buried her face into a pillow, as fresh tears sprung to her eyes.
"Rouge?" She felt the cushion next to her depress, and a familiar hand on her head, stroking her hair. "Baby look at me."
"My heart feels like it's been shattered, stepped on and thrown against a wall repeatedly." She said her voice muffled by the pillow.
"I know...believe me I do..." His voice trailed off as a thought occurred to him. "He knew...that bastard knew and he didn't tell me...and now it's too late."
"Knuck-" he stood up abruptly. "Hey what's wrong?" She sat up as he headed towards the door.
"I have to talk to a certain bastard," Knuckles growled as he limped out of the room.
She hurried from her seat and ran after him. "Knuckles wait!"
He stopped his fists clenched, he glanced back his face in a poor attempt at keeping calm.
"Will you tell me where you are going? Please?" She asked as she caught up to him.
"That bastard Orion...he knew but he wouldn't tell me," he explained his voice strained. "He told me I would figure it out soon."
"Oh Knuckie...he couldn't have known what would happen?" She said as wrapped her arms around his back. "Please you have to calm down."
"He has to pay," he pulled himself from her grasp. "Maybe you should talk to that little fox too...I'm certain he knew as well."
"Tails...how could-" she thought back to when he helped her, how sad he'd looked after he eased her pain. "He-he knew," she backed away from Knuckles. She turned and ran, he sighed at the broken expression she'd had on her face as she turned from him.
He knew she was hurting, but he needed to go to Orion alone.
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
Orion looked out over the vast expanse of land from Angel Island.
"Alan," he turned towards Sarah and Harrison they both looked troubled.
"What is it love?" He asked coming over to her.
"It's all my fault...we're all going to die." She whispered sadly.
"No one is going to die," Orion said tilting her chin up.
"But I've seen..." She sighed. "I've seen a horrible vision when you saved me...so much blood and loss."
"Sarah you don't know that it will come to pass as you see," he said softly.
"The future is never set in stone," Harrison chimed in. "After all Anais was reunited with her parents...but you saw that they wouldn't be."
"It's based on the choices we make," Orion said pulling her attention back to him. She stared up into the electric blue of his eyes. "Everything will turn out as it should be."
"I knew you'd be here," an angry voice interrupted the moment. They all turned to see a furious Knuckles standing there his fists clenched.
"Knuckles you seem upset," Orion observed. "What is bothering you my friend?"
"Right now I don't think I should be considered a friend." He said, he also shot a glare at Sarah and she flinched. "This is all your fault!" He screamed at them.
"Do not take this out on her, she wasn't herself," he turned to his wife and son. "You two go, I'll be fine."
"Yeah go, it's your fault she's so broken she can't even look at me." He shouted hatefully after Sarah as she and Harrison ran from them, before they rippled and vanished.
"Hey you're fight is with me," Orion growled. "Leave my family out of this."
"You knew," Knuckles said lowly. He glared up at Orion. "You knew she was pregnant, you could have prevented what happened!"
"Yes I knew she was." Orion agreed. "But the outcome would have been the same, knowing wouldn't have changed the fate of the child."
"You don't know that!" Knuckles screamed. "Maybe he would've been fine, if I told her..."
"Told her to leave?" Orion asked with a short laugh. "You really believe she would have left you?" He saw the slight twitch in his head. "You know she wouldn't have gone, and it would still be the same only one hundred times worse."
He stepped closer to Knuckles.
"Would you really have been able to tell her? Would you really have resigned her to her fate?"
"No...you don't..." He fell to his knees, his expression hopeless and broken. "I don't..."
"Knuckles do not despair," Orion put an ashen hand on his shoulder. "I will take care of the one who caused all this, he will pay for everything he's taken and everything he's done to any of our friends." His features showed his determination.
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
Cream had not let go of Cheese since the moment he was handed to her by Sonic.
"I'm so glad you're ok?" She giggled happily as she squeezed him tenderly.
"Chao chao," he whimpered.
"Don't worry you're safe now," she whispered kissing his little forehead.
"Hey how are you doing?" Tails asked, she looked at him a bright smile on her face as she scooted closer.
Vanilla was in the kitchen making some lunch, since none of them had eaten since the day before.
"I'm better now," she said lightly. "Thanks to all of you."
Tails blushed and scratched the back of his head. "But I didn't do anything."
"That's not true," she said softly looking into his eyes. "You saved Rouge."
"I didn't...not really."
"What do you mean?" Cream asked confused. "If not for you, she might have..."
"I mean I knew she was pregnant," Tails said his voice so sad it broke the little rabbits heart.
"Miles there is absolutely no way you could have predicted the out come," Cream said placing a hand on his cheek guiding him to look into her eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong, you saved Rouge that's what matters."
"Not to them," Tails said glumly. "Maybe if I'd just voiced my concerns earlier...maybe..."
"You can go over the ifs a million times," Cream stated, she sounded like her mother talking like this. "But I don't think it would have mattered, it was fate that took hold and it wouldn't have changed. I don't think Rouge would have left Knuckles to fight on his own."
"Maybe you're right," Tails said his face still grim looking.
Suddenly they heard the door open and slam closed. It made Cream jump and start shaking.
They relaxed when they saw a frazzled Rouge appear in the entryway, but only slightly.
"Rouge what's...?" Cream started to ask, when she realized the angry stare Rouge was giving Tails.
"Did you know?" Her voice sounded so broken, and furious. When he didn't answer her right away, she closed her eyes, her fists clenched tightly. "Did. You. Know." She punctuated every word angrily.
"I-I suspected," Tails answered ashamed. "I'm so sorry Rouge."
"Don't give me that!" She shrieked, her eyes opened and they were ablaze with emotion. "You treated me and you had to have known...that scanner confirmed it didn't it?"
"How did you know..." Tails trailed off. "Yes it did...but you have to believe me..."
"I don't have to do anything!" She yelled her whole body was shaking she was so furious. "How could you not mention this?"
"Would you really have me tell you devastating news when I wasn't even sure I could dull your pain?" Tails asked incredulous. "Knuckles looked so scared, you were bleeding...I saved your life!"
He was now standing and there was only about a foot between the two. Suddenly Rouges hand snapped out and slapped him across the face.
"If this is the result...I'd rather..."
"You'd rather what?" Tails asked holding his now stinging cheek. "Would you really rather be dead?"
She flinched harshly at the word dead. "Maybe...maybe it would be easier...instead of this gaping hole in my chest."
"You can't mean that," Cream whimpered tears running down her cheeks. Her friend basically just said she would rather die, and it hurt her deeply. "You have to survive...Knuckles would have been...please don't talk like that."
Rouge dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around herself, as she curled inward her forehead resting against her knees.
"Rouge I didn't mean to not tell you...but I was waiting for a better time," Tails said as she began to sob heavily.
"I-it's not fair..." She sobbed.
"Life rarely is," a new voice said softly as Vanilla came in and knelt next to Rouge. She lifted her head up so she could look into Rouge's broken gaze. "Dear I would like to have a word," she turned to the younger two. "Alone."
"Right." Cream pulled Tails from the room.
"Did you know that Cream wasn't my first pregnancy?" Vanilla asked gently as she guided Rouge to her feet and to the couch. Rouge shook her head as she sat down. "It was the fourth time of trying, when it finally took." She smiled benignly. "It does not get better, but the ache will dull and you will survive."
"But what if I never get the chance again?" Rouge asked with a sniffle.
"Have faith, I believe that you will get your family." Vanilla let Rouge rest her head on her shoulder, as her tears slowly flowed. "There is a reason that Cream doesn't know her father...the first three pregnancies were from a relationship...but because of my depression we broke up..."
"Is she...?" Rouge asked her voice stuffy.
"Yes. And the truth is I don't even know who he is." Vanilla said with a sad smile. "But he must have been a good man, to give my girl such spirit."
"Do you ever wonder..."
"If one of the other pregnancies took hold?" Vanilla asked looking far off in her thought. "Rarely I'm glad with what fate has given me...Cream is the best thing in my life. Do not despair too much Rouge, you'll get what you're looking for."
"Thanks Vanilla." Rouge said with a short laugh. "I really needed to hear that."
There was a knock on the door, and Cream came in looking at Rouge with a tiny smile. "Knuckles is here for you."
"Tell him to come in here dear." Vanilla said and Cream nodded and ran back to the door.
"Rouge?" Knuckles asked uncertainly. "Hello miss Vanilla."
"Knuckles dear," Vanilla nodded. "Take good care of her."
"Don't worry," Knuckles gave a small smile. "I intend to." He walked over and scooped Rouge into his arms.
"Knuckles your arm..."
"Don't worry," he chuckled. "Sarah took care of it." The name made her tense up. "She didn't mean it you know?" He said as he left the Rabbit house.
"Of course I do," Rouge said softly. "But that doesn't make what she said hurt any less."
"I know," Knuckles said as he made it back to her place. He sat on the couch, with her still in his arms. "But I do have something I want to talk about with you."
"What is it?" She asked fearing he no longer wanted to be with her.
"Don't be scared," he tweaked her nose lovingly, giving her a reassuring smile. "I know we haven't been together that long and all, but I know I love you...so much," her eyes widened slightly, it was the first time he'd said it so openly. "And I have a question for you..." He looked into her eyes deeply, searching for any doubt. He found none when she smiled and pulled him into a kiss.
"Ask me," she said softly.
"Will you marry me?" He asked and new tears sprung to her eyes as she nodded her head rapidly.
"Yes...yes...yes!" Each yes was punctuated with a kiss.
"I don't have..."
"We'll worry about that later," Rouge replied kissing him again, this time deeper. "I love you so much Knuckie."
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
At the Rose house found Sonic and Amy asleep on the couch. Amy was leaning on Sonic, who had an arm draped protectively around her body.
Anais sat on the floor in front of them watching TV. She glanced back and smiled at the scene. She was so glad she'd found her parents.
Suddenly the TV beeped with a news report.
"This is Mila Hannover," the anchor woman said. "There has been a string of disappearances lately with no evidence, only a few energy fluctuations..."
Anais flipped the channel to a different station, hoping to find a movie to watch. She then crawled onto the couch and snuggled into her parents when she didn't find anything. Sonic woke up enough to make room for his daughter, before falling back to sleep.
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
Shadow sat beneath a tree over looking a lake. The water was still enough that the sky reflected off of it. He threw a pebble in and watched the ripples as they grew bigger.
He imagined the ripples as if he told Amy about his jumbled emotions when it came to her. As each ripple came he thought of all the reasons why he shouldn't.
"I shouldn't feel any way for her." He growled at himself. "She's happy with faker."
"You know talking to yourself is never a good sign." Shadow whipped his head towards the voice to see Orion standing there.
"What would you know." Shadow snapped turning away from him.
"Quite a bit actually," Orion replied smartly. "I know you have feelings for Amy...and while I don't think you should directly act on them, they are a good thing."
"I've always thought I was like how Project Odin is described," Shadow said. "Unfeeling, heartless."
"You've never been heartless," Orion said. "You've always proved yourself when it comes to your friends...Odin has no regard for life whatsoever."
"You speak as if you know me." Shadow said staring at the ash figure dubiously.
"I was on the ark," Shadow's eyes widened. "After all it was Gerald who found me when I first came to this planet...I was unconscious the whole time you were on the ark with Maria...but I could hear everything."
Shadow looked sad at the mention of his passed friend. "She was a good girl..."
"That's probably what draws you to Amy." Orion replied. "From what I learned of Gerald's granddaughter she was a very kind person, always putting her friends before her."
"She was," Shadow said. "I loved her so much."
"There you have your answer about Amy," Orion said. "It may not be the same way as Maria but the feeling is the same."
"I...love her?" Shadow asked curious, he couldn't wrap his head around it. He shook his head. "No it can't be."
"Don't deny your feelings," Orion said. "You'll just make it worse on yourself."
"I guess it follows with my whole life, I fall for someone who is taken," Shadow sighed running a hand through his quills.
"I know the road ahead is rocky, but you'll make it." Orion said.
"There's no way she will ever returns feelings," Shadow said blatantly. "Not while Faker is around."
"Do you intend to get rid of him?" Orion inquired with a knowing smirk.
"I may not agree with that blue hedgehog, but I would never do that to Amy or Anais." Shadow said gruffly. "Besides it's not like I hate Sonic."
"I know you will do what's right."
"Whatever you say."
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
Amy squirmed in her sleep, her arms twitching. She awoke with a gasp, to a dark room which caused her to panic. She screamed when the door opened and a figure stepped in.
"P-Please don't!" She shrieked holding her hands up defensively.
"Amy...Amy it's me!" A familiar voice said taking hold of her hands, then the light flipped on and she could see his face. "Amy what's wrong?"
"I-I thought I was back...in that awful basement," she said her breathing still heavy. "Oh Sonic...it was awful." She buried her face in his chest. When her breathing finally calmed down he spoke again.
"Ames it's ok, he can't hurt you anymore." Sonic assured her.
Amy looked up at him when her vision swam, and a pain exploded behind her eyes. She swayed, thankfully he still had a hold on her or she would have fallen off the bed.
"Amy what's wrong?" Sonic asked panicked.
"M-my...head..." She whimpered as she balled her fists into her eyes, trying to relieve the pain.
"What-"
"It's gonna explode..." At that moment he felt a dull pain in his side, which he ignored because he was more concerned with Amy. Suddenly she went really still, scaring Sonic until she drew in a long breath, then she went limp.
"Amy!" Sonic looked at her face, he could hear her breathing softly. "Amy...please wake up!"
"Dad...?" He looked at the door and saw Anais, she had tears in her eyes. "What's wrong with mom?"
"Oh Anais...she's gonna be fine." He said trying to reassure both him and his daughter. Suddenly the edges of his vision darkened, he shook his head trying to clear it.
"Dad!" Anais screamed as he fell off the bed, Amy bounced against the mattress. "Dad wake up!" She shook him, then her mother. "Why won't you wake up?" She whimpered. "H-Harrison..."
She buried her face into her hands. "Please wake up..."
"Anais, what's wrong?" She looked up and saw Harrison crouched in front of her.
"They won't wake up!" She cried pointing to her parents, surprised he didn't notice them when he appeared.
"I'll go get help...maybe Tails...or my dad..." He vanished.
Anais sat sniffling, she pulled her fathers head into her lap and stroked his quills. "It's gonna be ok...I promise."
Suddenly there was a pop. "Wow I didn't know you could do that."
"Mr. Tails!" Anais yelled, he came in at a fast pace. "What's wrong with them?"
Tails pulled out a scanner from his bag. "Well they're still alive..."
"But?" Harrison asked sensing something bad was to follow.
"But there's a strange poison in their blood," Tails said with a heavy sigh. "It must be from the relics that they were stabbed with."
"I-Is there a way to sa-save them?" Anais hiccuped, her eyes were red.
"Maybe...if I can find where they were kept...maybe..." He walked a few feet away thinking.
"Mr.-"
"G.U.N. it has to be the answer!" Tails shouted suddenly, causing the two children to jump in surprise. He pulled out a laptop and started typing.
Anais sat quietly, waiting. She reached up and took hold of her mothers hand. "It's gonna be ok." She whispered to herself. "It just has to be."
"I've found something!" Tails said, Anais stared up at him hope in her eyes. "There's an abandoned facility near by..."
Her eyes widened and she violently shook her head. "No you...you can't!"
"What's wrong?" Tails asked confused. "It's the only way to save your parents."
"But that's where he took me!" She said still shaking her head.
"Who?"
"I don't remember his name." Anais said. "But he was really scary and mean!"
"He was ruthless," Harrison said. "He doesn't give much thought to life or death when it comes to others."
"It must be Project Odin." Tails said thinking back to the hacked files he found. "I'll take Shadow and Knuckles and we'll go look." He walked up to Anais and crouched in front of her. "Don't worry I'll save your mom and dad."
"I hope so." She said giving him a watery smile.
Before he left Tails and Harrison put Sonic up on the bed and laid Amy next to him.
"Keep an eye on them, ok?" Tails smiled at Anais, ruffling her quills.
"Thank you, uncle Tails." Anais said which made Tails blush.
"I'll be back as fast as I can." He flew out of the room as quickly as he could.
"I have to go, my mother is calling." Harrison said. "Remember I'm just a call away."
"Ok." Her smile dropped as soon as he was gone. She climbed up onto the bed, snuggling between her parents. "Don't worry guys uncle Tails is on the case."
She closed her eyes.
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
Amy woke up with a gasp, she had just dreamt she was drowning in her own blood. She looked around at her surroundings, realizing she was in her bed, with a warm body next to hers.
She looked over, her face softening at the sight of her daughter and boyfriend sleeping. "What happened?" She tried to think back, but it was too blurry.
"Amy!" Sonic shot up suddenly, nearly making her fall off the bed from scaring her so bad. Anais then shot up scared.
"What?!" She cried fearfully.
Sonic looked over and noticed both his girls were perfectly fine. "N-nothing, just a nightmare."
"You had one too?" Amy asked shocked.
"Y-Yeah," he said. Amy wasn't used to him being shaky or scared of much.
"What happened?" She asked softly.
"I...you...blood..." He said shaking his head, going quiet. "Don't make me..."
"It's ok Sonic, it wasn't real." She said her hand resting over his.
"A-Are you guys ok?" Anais asked worried.
"Fine, why?" Amy asked confused. "Did something happen?"
"You both...passed out," Anais said her brow furrowed. "You don't remember?"
"No," Amy shook her head.
"Don't worry," Anais said determinedly. "Uncle Tails went after something that can help you."
"What do we need help from?" Sonic asked finally regaining his senses.
"The poison," Anais stated. "He said it was the stuff you were stabbed with."
"Where did he go?" Sonic asked.
"The abandoned G.U.N. building." Anais stared at Amy, who's eyes widened.
"But that's..." Amy then remembered when Sarah said she healed someone. 'Could they be the same?'
"It's what, Ames?" Sonic prompted.
"Where that dark...bastard took Anais." She said a dark look running across her face. "He almost killed her."
"He took some of my energy," Anais said remembering the feeling of being drained. "It was so scary."
There was a loud crash from the front of the house. They all jumped up and ran in the direction it came from. The front door was smashed in, it now rested in the middle of Amy's living room.
A dark hedgehog walked in, his black coat flowing around him.
"You." Amy and Sonic said simultaneously, they shared a shocked glance. They didn't have time to question it as he ran at them, knocking them out of the way and grabbing Anais by the neck. He lifted her his piercing eyes boring into hers.
He then glanced at Amy. "You almost denied me my revenge, and you will pay with your daughters dirty blood."
"No!" Amy screamed flinging herself at him, only to receive a boot to the face, slamming her against the wall. All her breath was expelled from her lungs. She could only watch helplessly as Sonic tried to attack him.
But with a powerful punch to his side Sonic was sent sprawling.
"Ana..." Her world went black as she watched him walk out with her struggling daughter.
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
"What exactly are we looking for?" Knuckles asked impatient.
"We're looking for a cure for the poison that's killing Sonic and Amy." Tails said.
"It would help if we knew what it looked like." Knuckles grumbled.
"It would help if I knew what the relics looked like." Tails muttered to himself.
"A jewel encrusted dagger." Shadow stated.
"How did...never mind," Tails shook his head. "Do you know where they come from anything like that?"
"They were recovered when Dark Gaia made an appearance." Shadow said. "There is only one cure...only enough for one person."
"Only one?" Knuckles asked surprised.
"We'll find a way to save them both." Tails said determinedly.
"Just keep that thought alive." Shadow said bluntly. "The cure is in a box...it was never actually completed."
"How long was it supposed to take?" Tails asked.
"Three more days," Shadow said. "Hopefully they have longer."
"It's already been in their system for three days..." Tails said as his scanner suddenly beeped.
They stood in front of a plain black box with metal accents.
"Is this..." Shadow nodded. Tails swallowed thickly.
"You can do it Tails," Knuckles assured the young fox.
"I hope your right."
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
"All this time he's been hunting me," Orion murmured to himself. He stood on the edge of a cliff, looking down at the water. "It's because of me...that we are all doomed." He shook his head. "I won't let it be so, I will kill him," his voice turned hard, angry. "Even if it destroys me."
He turned and walked until he shimmered away.
xXThe Things We Leave BehindXx
AN: I really hope you all enjoy this chapter, it was a slower chapter before the biggest struggle of the story! Until next time:)