Author's Note: ~Waters of Change~
M-kay guys this probably has lots of mistakes etc in it, but I will fix those when I get back. Reason being I am going away to drizzly old Wales for a week. I wanted to finish this and post it quickly so I could let you know :) Anyway sorry for leaving you people on a cliffhanger ;) But yeah, I hope this nice, long, juicy chapter makes up for it :D I think it's my longest yet! Anyway, I'll ease your anticipation. Read on ...
Critical
Something occurred to Sonic. The tears from Rouge, the meekness of everyone, the overly cheerful doctors, Knuckles closing up… it could only mean one thing. The one thing Sonic didn't want to hear. He knew what Knuckles was going to say…
"The thing is… Amy's dead."
That was what Sonic expected to hear. But instead, Knuckles' lips formed around the words "She's in a critical state."
Relief washed over Sonic, but only for a second, before he broke out into a cold sweat of worry. Critical. It reminded him of the pulsing red lights that went off whenever he infiltrated one of Eggman's numerous bases. It was still bad. In some was, worse. Amy was still out there, suffering. He had made up his mind.
"I want to go see her." he stated.
"Erm, Sonic, I'm really don't think-"
"I want to see her NOW!" Sonic shouted. His emerald eyes blazed with determination. Knuckles knew there was no backing out now. He sighed.
"Okay, okay. But it ain't gonna be pretty." he grimaced. After a discussion with the doctor's they managed to hook Sonic up to a wheelie thing so it could support the wires he still needed. They were ready to go.
Sonic made his way down the cheap, brightly lit corridor with Knuckles, the echidna leading the way. The lights hurt Sonic's eyes, and the narrowness of everything made him feel enclosed. He acted braver than he felt, but I carried on walking. He had to see Amy. He wanted to see her as soon as he could, but his heavy legs and medical equipment dragging behind him prevented him. He hated how slow and… old he felt.
Soon, they reached the other side of the hospital. It was very quiet here compared to the reset of the building. A sign was on the wall ahead, stating
"Clean Room
NO ENTRY except for medical staff, or with permission
Sterile clothing must be worn at all times"
Sonic gulped. A clean room. That was where they put really ill patients, so they didn't get more ill. He was liking this less and less, but he had to see Amy… the damage he had caused. Knuckles approached a doctor nearby, and after a few small arguments, they were allowed to see Amy.
"It ain't gonna be pretty" warned Knuckles. Sonic said nothing.
There were shutters over the windows so they couldn't see in. Sonic and Knuckles entered a small room contected to the clean room, and both put on the jackets and gloves in there, before being sterilised. Finally, it was time to go in.
"You ready?" asked Knuckles through the mask. Sonic nodded, unable to speak. Knuckles reached out a gloved hand, and slid open the door.
Sonic heard Amy before he saw her. Or rather, he heard the metallic beep of the heart monitor. It seemed slow… too slow. And then there she was, lying carefully between the covers. She seemed to have a gazillion and one wires attached to her, all plugged into numerous machines. Her eyes were closed, but her lids flickered, as though she was lightly dreaming. Her face was full of worry, hurt, and coldness. Now she was in the light, Sonic could see just how badly she was hurt. Grazes and cuts, some just bruises and scrapes, some long, deep ones, covered her body. They were all clearly visible through her matted, grey fur. She looked so… weak…. and cold and hurt and…
Many emotions rushed though Sonic's mind. First fear, for her life and if she was going to survive. Then guilt, because it was his fault she got into this mess. Then anger.
Anger towards her, for being so stupid. Then anger towards his friends, especially Rouge, for not looking after her. Then anger to himself.
"I was so stupid." he thought. "How could I have let this happen? This whole time I've been… prancing about as though I was indestructible. As though I would always be there to protect my friends, as though if I was there, me, the hero, then everything would be fine. But I've just made things worse…. that's all I seem to do nowadays. I just tear apart everything around me… everyone's lives… all gone… because of me."
An anger hot as molten rock started to form deep within him. "I just ruin everything… and nobody cares about me really, they just want me to protect them… I'm nobody's friend, especially after this…" Sonic suddenly collapsed to the floor, on hi hands and knees.
"Whoa, hey Sonic buddy, you okay?" asked Knuckles with concern, kneeling down beside him. The hedgehog began to shake, the anger erupting inside him. All of his… it was just a lie. Just pretend… His fur began to darken, and bluish, blackish smoke clouded up the helmet.
"Sonic?" asked Knuckles, with growing concern. He thought he heard a faint… cackle, froffm inside Sonic's helmet. Then, Sonic stood up, still shaking. Then silence.
"Sonic, cut it out." demanded Knuckles, sounding braver than he felt. Then Sonic ripped open his suit, and yelled out. Knuckles was thrown back into a machine, and he gasped in surprise. Sonic had changed into a swirl of black and blue smoke vaguely in the form of a hedgehog. His eyes were white and pierced through the darkness, staring with anger at Knuckles.
"You don't have to lie to me… all this false concern… it's not working." his voice was deep and echoed around the small room. Doctors began to gather around in the small side chamber, and started to put on sterile clothes.
"All of this is my fault, don't you see! I don't even deserve to be your friend. I know what you're all thinking. And why not? I'M A MOSNTER!" he lashed out and knocked over another machine.
The doctors were franticly trying to open the door, but Sonic blew up the control panel with the wave of his hand. "Now I realise" he continued. "Now I know what I am and why I shouldn't exist." he began to advance towards Knuckles, who was still trying to catch his breath on the cold tiled floor. The doctors pounded franticly on the door, machines bleeped like mad.
"You're all saying this isn't my fault, but you can't stop those evil thoughts of guilt ripping apart my mind!" he screamed. "They burn like molten lava flowing through every nerve in my brain! I CAN'T ESCAPE IT!" he lashed out at Knuckles, the Dark Sonic taking over. Knuckles ducked, and rolled under Sonic's giant claw as it lashed out. He made for the window in an attempt to smash it, but Dark Sonic was on top of him like a shot. He lashed out again, this time with smoke trailing from his hand. It pinned Knuckles up against the wall, grasping him around the neck. Knuckles choked in surprise.
"Sonic don't… don't do this!" he forced out. Sonic only grinned, and tightened his grip.
Then, tough the screams, and the roaring in his ears, Sonic heard a noise. A single bleep, then a long, loud one, drowning out everything else. Amy's heart rate monitor. He stopped, and slowly turned. In the fight, he had knocked loose most of Amy's wires. The things keeping her alive. He gasped, and fell to his knees, letting go of his friend. The echidna landed on his feet, and rubbed his neck. Then he stopped when he too, heard the beep. Everyone was silent, the doctors, Sonic, Knuckles, everything. Then havoc started.
Knuckles ran to the door and smashed it open with his fist. The doctors came running in, forgetting about keeping sterile. The only thing that mattered now was keeping Amy's heart pumping. While they were working on Amy, Knuckles rushed over to Sonic's side. He was back to his normal self, the last wisps of black smoke fading away to nothing. He was breathing heavily, his head pressed against the wall. He was clearly exhausted, his energy drained frofm the anger.
How could he have been so stupid? Letting his anger get the better of him, again! And now… he'd made things worse. He felt his heart pumping the blood through his veins in time with the doctors pumping at Amy's chest, charging up. "Clear" one shouted, and Sonic winced at the sound of electricity. Knuckles shook him, but Sonic didn't react. The only thing he could hear was e pumping. "Clear." sounded the doctor again. Clear… clear. Sonic tried to. He tried to clear his head, to focus on keeping Amy alive. He groggily got to his feet, and stumbled over to Amy's side. Knuckles reached out a hand to stop him, but decided against it. Sonic mumbled something, like a sleepwalker, as he made his way to Amy. The doctors shook heir heads, giving up hope. But Sonic hadn't. The doctors parted as he reached for Amy, and clasped her cold, lifeless hand. He leaned over, and put his lips to her ear… and blew chaos energy into her ear. Millions of tiny crystal fragments scattered into her body. Knuckles gasped in wonder, along with all the other doctors. Silence…. Sonic's shoulders sank.
Then Amy gasped, and began breathing normally.
The doctors stared in wonder, first at Sonic, then at Amy then at the machine. They began checking her for any long-term damage. They didn't even notice Sonic sink the floor, his exhaustion overwhelming him. Except the echidna, who made his way to his best friend's side…
Good? I hope so :) Anyways see you guys in a week! Hope you forgive me for thinking Amy was dead :) It was just to make it more interesting ;) So yeah, until next time! I will correct it when I get back