Final Vision
Event 14: The Moment We Had…
High above the slumbering town in the autumn sky, the sun neared the surface of the horizon giving birth to a healthy array of milky lavenders, soft peaches, and striking clouds of tangerines. Set against the horizon's colors in a hard silhouette was a female figure scouting the rooftops with watchful eyes. In a graceful and silent wind, she leapt from top to top with perfect poise and posture until finally landing onto the roof of an apartment building giving her a 360 degree view of the quaint setting. Her body shivered against her will and she breathed into her palms and rubbed them together to warm her frail fingers.
"…So cold…" her voice whispered out a puff of heated air.
One last look at the town and she was done. With a running start she leapt off the rooftop and made a graceful descent to the pavement. From the light of the sky, an elongated shadow was cast upon the ground spanning at least the length of two compact cars but gradually decreased in size as the jumper touched down. Landing on bended knee, a pair of soft peach ears flopped to the pavement to the sides of the young girl which were promptly tossed back behind her head as she rose.
"Nothing suspicious out here tonight." Cream said. "Better head on back and get some rest."
With the last of her strength, and also some help from the cold weather, Cream dashed the whole four blocks back to the hotel trying to stay in motion even as she stopped to open the door to the room. But just as she had the key just centimeters from the keyhole, the maroon door opened itself and an upset Amy waited on the other side.
"What are you doing out here this early in the morning!?" the hedgehog kept her voice low.
"I'm just worried Amy." Quickly the rabbit pushed her way into the room anxious to feel its warmth. "What happened two days ago wasn't just a shocker, it was also a wake up call for us."
The younger of the two was already on her bed kicking off her sneakers. Amy sighed closing the door and went back to her bed on the far side of the room and seated herself.
"Trying to figure out The Beast's movements and attacks isn't as simple as looking for obvious clues. He may start putting his plan into motion in the middle of the night or at some other time when we least expect it!"
"And what if you're apart of that plan?" Amy replied. "It's the middle of the night, no one in this town can pick up on signs of that monster, and with Shadow still developing his powers to sense him, it'll probably be too late when he finds out you're in trouble. Face it Cream, you're an easy target out there alone."
The young rabbit scooted to the edge of her bed meeting Amy face-to-face.
"So? He managed to get you right in front of Shadow's place and guess who had to figure out that you were in trouble?" A short snort from Amy was all that was returned. "Your reasoning is no better than mine since we're always vulnerable no matter what time it is."
Flustered and exhausted from the small bicker, Amy felt it best to just agree for the sake of her feelings.
"Fine, we're not safe anywhere at anytime. But we do have to work together Cream. Not one of us can take on that thing alone which is why it's important that we stick together and inform each other of what we're going to do."
A simple nod was all that Cream responded with and the girls were on level with each other again. Feeling a sudden oncoming of sleep, Cream yawned once again against her own will and slouched over ready to sleep the moment her head touched something soft and comforting.
"Maybe you're right about that 'sticking together' stuff. All-nighters are pretty tough anyways." In a slothful manner, the teen dragged herself to her pillows and fell into them head first. "Goodnight Amy. I think I'll take the day off."
"The entire day!?"
Amy leapt from her bed to Cream's and shook the slumbering girl but it was no use. She was already in a deep sleep leaving the hedgehog an entire day's work of 'guard duty' over the town. Downhearted, and quite frankly irritated again by her friend's laid back behavior, Amy sulked back to her bed sighing once more. She laid on the mattress to try and at least get in a couple of more hours of sleep.
Daybreak and Amy was up and about with the rest of the citizens making her daily rounds. She had made it apart of her daily routine to stop by Maria's grave and give the departed soul some quick info on what's been happening recently. As useless as it sounded, Amy felt that the girl had to know what became of her "brother". Another stroll up and down the main street and a little after the lunch hour, a visit was made to Shadow's home.
Two gentle knocks came on the iced over door before it opened slowly. Pushing back her hair from her eyes, Amy peered into the room and, just as she expected, saw Shadow meditating diligently before his portrait.
"Hey." she spoke softly. "How's the meditation going?"
"Making progress, though I won't know how much until The Beast shows up again." Shadow responded with closed eyes.
With another smile, Amy entered in admiring the peaceful atmosphere Shadow had in his attic. As she stooped over to observe some of the piled knick knacks covered in ice in a corner, Shadow took notice opening a single eye and quickly closing it the moment she turned back.
"Want to see a new trick I learned?" the dark hedgehog inquired.
"Really? Sure!" Amy approached him hoping to see something small but amazing.
Quickly gathering his inner energy, Shadow focused it creating a blue aura around his body. When fully powered, the hedgehog released a gentle wave of energy from all directions of his body creating a spectacular effect. Snow began to lift up from the floor, icicles that broke off floated in mid-air and furniture closest to the center of the room rose a few feet off the ground as well. Along with everything else, Amy was in the air caught off guard and very unstable floating with her hair dancing about her face. Once the shock of being in mid-air wore off, the young woman took notice to the single snowflakes that mingled about her in wonder. It was as if she was caught in a snow globe.
"Shadow…" The awestruck hedgehog touched a passing icicle. "When did you learn how to do this?"
"A few hours ago. It only has a small radius but if I increased my inner powers…"
"Then you could do this to the entire town." Amy finished off.
Quickly she had gotten the hang of her new zero-gravity status and figured out how to swim around in the small affected area. Unbeknownst to her, Shadow had stood and made a short leap into the air floating along with everything else and still holding up the energy.
"Amy…" he addressed her.
Elegantly, Amy turned in place and her heart leapt. There before her was Shadow in an ethereal presence among the snow holding out his hand towards her, his red scarf swaying around him as if Maria's arms were protecting him from afar. She began to reach out for him, for her heart, little by little making her way towards the one she yearned for. Just for a second and only one tiny second, they were the only ones in the room. In their heavenly world, reaching out for each other…anticipating the touch of their fingers…their palms…and finally their bodies becoming one. Closer and closer…Amy's heart pounded against her ribcage. Closer and closer…Shadow desired for her in his arms. They were there, their fingertips just mere centimeters from each other, ready to make contact, ready to join…
Then it happened, the one moment Amy hoped would never come. The sensations was lost as everything, the icicles, the bits of snow, and floating furniture, crashed to the floor…and so did she along with warm feeling in her heart. As the disheartened hedgehog looked up from her place in the snow, Shadow had lost his glowing aura and was now at the other side of the room looking out the windows in alarm. Her heart ached, she had to know why. Amy quickly pushed herself up calling out Shadow's name, even reaching out to him. But her voice fell on deaf ears as the hedgehog quickly vanished in his wind of snow and ice.
"…Shadow?" her heart called out.
In her emotionally weakened state, Amy managed to stand on her own and stumbled over to the windows overlooking the town. She saw nothing, not even a dark cloud of fog. So why would Shadow rush out in such a hurry? Maybe his powers grew enough for him to sense The Beast's powers. If so, then Amy had no time to waste and dashed out of the attic.
Black heels clacked against the pavement carrying the apprehensive hedgehog across the street, round a corner, and face-to-face with the most shocking sight. Horrific screams filled the streets as hundreds, maybe even thousands, of innocent people ran about and writhed on the ground. Children cried, women shrieked, and men gnashed their teeth at some unknown force that Amy couldn't see.
"Oh my god… What's happened to them?"
Dodging and stepping over innocent victims she couldn't help, Amy felt that she had to seek out Shadow immediately and find out what was going on. As she continued on, something grabbed the sleeve of her jacket and yanked her back. It was a middle aged man crying out in agony.
"HELP ME! PLEASE!"
Tears pours from his red eyes. Caught up in the madness, Amy went with her first instincts and frantically tried to get the man off of her. As she fought off his desperation she caught a glimpse of it. A glimpse of what made the people cry so dearly. In seconds, sweat began to pour from the man's face profusely. Then his skin began to sag and droop melting right off his bone structure. The panicked woman's senses went into overdrive and a scream from the bowels of her stomach surged out through her mouth and even gave her the strength to shove the suffering man away.
Now with only one goal in mind, Amy rushed through the unruly streets shouting the name of her hero.
"SHADOW! SHADOW!"
Her eyes watered over in fear but never slowed her down. Finally a sign of hope came from a side street to her right. Several flashes of blue light lit up a small narrow street and Amy made a beeline in that direction. Upon her arrival she could see Shadow just ahead of her fighting off what seemed to be waves of people either attacking him or pleading for his help…but it was his method of offense that came off as strange.
Instead of shooting his usual blasts of ice and snow, Shadow shot off soft but quick flashes of light at each body that got too close. The ones that were hit would stumble away as if they had just been shocked and then fell to the ground unconscious or greatly dazed and shivering. Still determined to reach him, Amy pushed her way through the crowds and to Shadow who almost attacked her but stopped at the last second.
"Amy!" Shadow quickly sidestepped around her and took out another oncoming victim. "What are you doing here?"
"What's going on Shadow? What's wrong with these people?" Amy said.
"It's Ergos. He's put some kind of heating spell on everyone." He made another shot at another crying person.
"Ergos?"
"His name. It's his name he's given himself." Another attack to a mid-sized woman to his left. "He's challenging my skills and my patience. Seeing if I have what it takes to save all of these people without killing anyone."
Amy ducked low as Shadow sent another blue light over her head to a group of teens that was behind her.
"But what are you doing? How are you saving them?"
"Putting them into a deep sleep. Ergos' spell heats their bodies and so I counter it with a cooling attack that negates the spell. Haa!"
Another two persons went down in a shiver, their skin turning a pale blue. It was then when Shadow felt that it was time to move on. Grabbing Amy by the hand, the two forced their way through an army of moaning and sweating people, flashes of blue light curing them of their ailment. It wasn't until they reached the middle of the main street that they were ambushed. It seemed as if Ergos was catching on and hastened his hostile takeover. Fighting off and curing people as he went, Shadow did all that he could to manage the chaos. Amy was just barely hanging in there, shoving away every hand that pulled and nicked at every inch of clothing and hair.
"Shadow!" the young woman shouted from under a mountain of people. "I can't handle this any longer! Can we just get out of here?"
"Just hang on! I have to save these people before they die!" was Shadow's final words before he sunk beneath a wave of people.
Amy tried to call out for him but she, too, was overpowered and taken under. What may as well have been the end of the duo was only the beginning. From under the pile of possessed bodies came the trademark blue light growing brighter by the second. Suddenly an icy but mostly windy gale threw back the people piling over the hedgehogs, both freeing them and curing all of those affected by the attack. A few stragglers still clung onto Amy, all which were easily taken care of by a few flashes of light from Shadow. Their bodies dropped unconscious and calmly the dark hero lifted up his friend. She didn't even bother to open her eyes as she embraced the black and red hedgehog.
"Shadow…I can't do anything. I can't do anything to save these people. Can we please leave?" Amy wept.
"Don't worry." He placed his hands on her. "Everything will be ok if we stick together."
"Stick together" It was those trigger words that had reminded Amy of someone else she cared for: Cream. Without a single word to Shadow, she took off down the street forcing her way through the mobs that came at her. Shadow looked on at a lost for words before returning to his task.
Taking out her metal staff and quickly changing it to her hammer, Amy used the weapon to safely bulldoze her way through the crowds as she neared the hotel.
She shoved away a final small group and was finally at the door to her and Cream's room. The door exploded off it's hinges upon the hammer's command and a desperate Amy stepped into the room. It seemed as if an ambush had just occurred. The small two bed room was turned upside down with bed linen scattered everywhere, furniture smashed into pieces, their personal items destroyed, and gaping holes in the walls and ceilings. Not a trace of the girl was to be found, so Amy went back out into the chaos and ran into--
"Cream!"
Standing along in the half-empty parking lot was a mildly beaten rabbit. Her long ears dangled behind her moving timidly in the wind while her bangs hid her eyes. It was eerie seeing such an energetic girl in a stoic state. Was she dead? Had Ergos gotten to her as well? A single step is all that Amy took before Cream reacted violently. Screaming wildly and flailing her arms, the girl attacked Amy who could only hold up her metal hammer in defense. A few attacks were blocked by the weapon but one scratch got through and so did another that tugged at the pink hair. A short yelp was emitted from the hedgehog and gravity pulled her down to the ground. The oversized hammer clanged upon impact as it spilled from delicate fingers and the onslaught of small but fierce hands continued.
She knew she had to stop Cream but was unable to find the strength for it. So Amy resorted to her last line of defense: Arms covering her head taking the brute of the attacks. In all of the insanity she thought that it was over. That Ergos, upon his first plan of attack, had hit their Achilles Heel. It was then that she heard it; her hedgehog ears heard the truth. Behind the wild screams was a faint cry of help…literally. It was hard to notice at first but Cream wasn't screaming and shouting a battle cry. She was crying desperation, which only increased curiosity in Amy.
Taking a risk of serious injury to her face, the pink-haired woman managed to move an arm and shove Cream away. The girl stumbled back but only for a second or so, more than enough time for Amy get to her feet. As soon as she was up right, Cream came back for a second round. This time Amy's curiosity was confirmed. Her screams were, in fact, cries of anguish as her eyes told the story. Bloodshot eyes with rivers of tears pouring from them.
"AMY! Please get away from me!" her strained voice cried. "I can't stop myself! I don't know what's going on!"
Forced into a dodge roll, Amy moved herself from Cream's path to try and think of some non-violent way to resolve the situation.
"Just calm down Cream!" She warded off an attack. "Shadow is here. He's helping everyone and saving them from this attack. Just hang in there, I'll get him for you!"
"No Amy! It's not that!" The rabbit grabbed onto Amy's arm and slammed her into a nearby car. "This is different from the others! I can't stop myself! Nothing can! You have to get away from me, far away!"
Despite the revelation, she knew that Amy wouldn't understand for the hedgehog didn't leave and still remained there in the parking lot trying to think of some way to save her young friend. Nevertheless, Cream knew what was going on and had to get it through to Amy…no matter what the costs. Allowing the strange force to overtake her, the rabbit ripped the passenger door off of a car next to her and charged at the concerned woman.
"Please! Forgive me!" Cream shouted as she came at Amy.
It was a near miss with the hedgehog sidestepping out of the way, just inches from where the door impacted. Now she finally understood that the entire situation, including Cream's troubles, was just way out of hand for her. So she took the only option she had left and ran.
Picking up her hammer along the way, Amy dashed from the scene and managed to outrun Cream who had given chase. Back into the streets she went, this time not holding back as she shoved away the sweating and melting people that approached her. Getting back to Shadow was all that mattered at this point, a goal her heart would gladly fight anyone for in order to achieve. So still being careful but still asserting her authority and rights, Amy pushed and shoved away many and even stopped to fight off a few stronger men. Within seconds her goal was in sight still defending and curing the helpless as they neared him.
"Shadow!"
For a second he glanced at her and immediately cleared away a small perimeter around him with a full circle attack.
"Get over here, quick!" the black hedgehog called back.
Slight relief was felt for Amy could only assume that Shadow must've found a solution to the problem. With haste, she finished off her opponent and rushed for the one she desired. Pressing on, the hedgehog's mind slowly forgot about the frightful beings that surrounded her and hounded her. All she could see in that moment was a fighting ghost who battled with grace and beauty as the misty blue light he used seemingly surrounded his body. Closer and closer she grew until she was--
"Ow!!"
Again her hair was the victim of another's hands and so Amy fell back into battle with more pleading foes.
"Grr… Get away from me!" she yelled at a few. "Shadow! I'm almost there!"
He didn't respond but she was sure he heard her. Finally the path was clear and Amy continued on just as Shadow began to gather up power confusing her a bit.
"What is he doing?"
Suddenly Shadow opened his eyes and held out a single hand towards her…Amy's heart skipped a beat. It was just like before back in the attic when he reached out for her from his heart. Only this time his hand was out in desperation, but what kind? Desperation of wanting to protect her? Desperation of saving her from some impending attack? Or perhaps…
"He just wants me by his side fighting…"
No matter, she was a short leap from him which was all she needed. Her hammer retracted back into its short rod and using two guys ahead of her as stepping stones, Amy hopped onto them and leapt into that air towards the outstretched arm of the dark hedgehog. Wanting emerald eyes stared deeply into determined crimsons and their fingertips met. In one swift motion, Shadow took Amy's hand and pulled her in swinging her body around until she touched down clinging to him.
"This ends now." is all he said before he released his energy which had created a bright sapphire aura around him.
The next feeling Amy experienced was a sensational movement of wind, snow, and ice envelop her and Shadow. A snowy storm around them so powerful that all Amy could do was shut her eyes and hope to open them in some place peaceful.