Chapter 14: Ring a Ring of Roses

This was... horrible. It was vile! I was so SMALL compared to any other geezer out there. And, being so slim didn't help that much, either. But, the vile part was the gals. Pinky and... was it Cream? Oh, hell. Well, Tails had blurted out that I was gonna bladdy marry 'im! Stupid boy.

Well, you can guess what Pinky and Cream did. They straight away... the next morning, took me to the shops to get a... eh... a...

Wedding dress.

Oh, God.

"This one."

"No. This one."

"Na. Too big. This one looks-"

"Crap. Try this..."

"No, Amy! This one."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Shat the hell up! Stop ear bashing, will yer? It's a pain in the backside!" I exclaimed, the two gals watched me, then smiled.

"C'mon, Marine," Pinky exclaimed, "help. It's fun."

W... what?

"Fun? Ha... that's a good one, mate," I laughed, but my sarcasm did nothing, as the two Shelias had grabbed me and pushed me into the changing kinda room you find in a shop, and threw me a dress.

This was the last time I went through any kind of relationship like this, mate!

Blaze

He's unbelievable. I'd rather be in Marine's shoes... well, actually, maybe not. But, this was still a pain! Tails had gone to buy a ring, with Sonic's help, and they needed my help!

Well, what in Sol's name would I do?

"Hmm..." Tails was looking inside the window at the rings.

Huh. He's sure getting into this, wasn't he?

Sonic looked with him, and I stayed behind them, sighing impatiently. Sonic turned to me, grinning.

"You never know, Blaze. You might have to do this one day... no, wait. It'd already be done for you..." his eyebrows raised, "oh, well."

I folded my arms.

"Hey, hey, hey!" a voice called from behind.

I suddenly found a load of arms wrapped around my shoulders.

"How's it hanging, mate?"

"How's Marine doing with this new stuff?"

"It's gonna be ripper."

"You're coming, right, mate?"

The Coconut Crew had unfortunately come with us. I sighed, and put a hand on my forehead.

"Shouldn't all you be getting suits like you said you would?" Tails asked, now looking at them.

The crew looked at each other in the faces, then grinned.

"You take good care of our leader," Muzi said, the others nodded, still grinning.

"Leader?" I asked, my eyes narrowing.

"That's roight, lav. She's been leader since she was an ankle-biter," Tabby explained, his hand gesturing how small Marine was, he then sniffed, "she's growing up now."

I raised an eyebrow, as Tabby went into quiet sobs, his crew patting him on the back.

"So sweet!" he wailed.

"Alroight, mate. Alroight."

I looked at Tails who'd just rolled his eyes, Sonic was waving at me. I waved back, absently.

"I'm going in. Blaze, I need you," Tails explained, walking into the brown coloured shop.

I cleared my throat, and the dears let me go. I walked towards the door, but Sonic stood in my way.

"Sonic..." me and Tails mumbled together.

He looked down at me, and smiled a little.

"Let me ask..." he said, "have you got... a boyfriend?"

I blinked twice.

"Um... no," I replied, politely as possible.

"Oh... ur..."

"SONIC!" Tails exclaimed.

"Whoa, easy, bro! Be fair will ya! You got your girl-"

My eyes widened as I realised what he was getting at.

"No. No, no! No one ever said that Sonic was gonna ask me out!" I exclaimed, glaring at Tails.

The fox folded his arms, and gritted his teeth.

"Your Highness," he muttered, through his teeth.

"Blaze... I wasn't," Sonic said, in a very high voice.

"Huh, keep telling yourself that, bluey," I retorted, and walked past him, into the shop.

You know, that felt good.

Marine

Kill me now. Please. Kill me now, before they see me. I scrunched my eyes closed. I had actually put the dress on. But, it wasn't me. I shook my head, and took it off. (I still wore my clothes on, underneath.)

I opened the door to the changing room, and threw the dress in Pinky's face. She squealed slightly, and Cream laughed at her.

"Haw haw."

"Can I choose..." I made my voice calmer, "a dress by maself?"

"Sure!" Cream chirped, "I'd thought you'd never ask."

I sighed, and walked past the two. This certainly was a 'Wedding Dress' shop. I went out of the room, and banged my head on the door frame deliberately. This was torture.

But, I needed to get going until Pinky found out what I was doing. I opened my eyes and quickly scanned the shop.

!

Blaze

I only had to open the door, to find a massive crowd around me.

"Princess Blaze!"

"Can... can I have an autograph?"

"Wow. It's... oh, my God. It's you-"

"Don't be stupid. Of course it's not the real Blaze. This girl just looks like her."

I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, I doubt that."

"Excuse me!" I turned to that voice.

He's always there! Even when some guy coughs, he's just there!

"Who are you?" one of the crowd said.

"I am Princess Blaze's personal bodyguard. I'm Sonic the Hedgehog," Sonic explained triumphantly.

I slapped my forehead.

"No, Sonic..." I murmured.

"Look, Blaze," he whispered, "I'm just trying to fit in."

"Well, don't," I retorted.

Tails came through the small crowd and glared at me. Ha! His face, when he's angry...

Har har har har!

"What are you doing?" he asked, pointing at me.

"Excuse me. You must address Blaze as 'Your Majesty'-"

"Sonic, cut it out!" I interrupted the hedgehog.

"I don't have any scissors."

"Urgh!" I exclaimed, and went out of the shop.

I wonder what the shopkeeper's face looked like. I couldn't see anyway, as more people came along towards me. There were even a few flashes of cameras which just made me...

Angry.

"No. Pictures." I snarled at a little boy, who had a tiny camera in his hands.

Marine

Yes. This one was great. But, I'm not a dress kinda girl. I remembered I used to wear, most of the time, my green tank top. I wondered where it was. Must be... somewhere.

Somewhere where my S.S Super Marine would be. Blimey. That tiny midget was in scraps now. But, I've improved. I once built myself a proper ship... but...

It didn't work now.

Oh well, this looked like it would be the best I could get. Anyway, I wanted to get out of this shop... and quick!

I got out of the damn thing, and when I was dressed properly, I opened the door and chucked the dress at Pinky, who was beaming.

"Oi!" she exclaimed.

I huffed, and sat on the bench, and put my green shoe on.

"Hmm..." I looked up to see Cream watching me.

"You gotta problem, mate?" I asked, dully.

She nodded, and pointed to my shoes.

"You need some shoes," she replied, smiling.

"I've got some bladdy shoes," I retorted, gesturing, with my free hand, my shoe.

"I meant for the wedding, you scavenger. Now, come. Let's get that dress," Cream explained, she grabbed the dress from Pinky, who had just pulled it off her.

I ain't explaining what the dress looked like, to yer.

The dress was sold quickly, Cream being mistaken for the bride, and I was soon being tugged out of the shop.

Blaze

"EVERYBODY, STEP BACK BEFORE I-"

"Sonic! Shut up," I said, as level-headed as possible.

He looked at me, with an annoyed look.

"Just trying to help," he muttered, his hands pointing towards my crowd.

A few notebooks and pens were being pointed my way.

"No. NO autographs!" I exclaimed to them.

There were a few disappointed groans.

"God, some help you guys were," I heard Tails voice from nearby, "I've got the ring. Hope it's the correct fit, though."

"You mean you just bought the damn thing like-" I clicked my fingers "-that?"

"Of course," Tails replied, in a tone saying 'well, duh!'

"Well, if you're done, I'm going!" I exclaimed, and quickly ran out of the... wherever it was.

I soon found Sonic running with me, he had his hands behind his back, and was grinning at me like this was an everyday thing.

Show off.

I looked away from him, with my eyes shut.

My foolishness made me collide into a lamp post.

Clang!

Marine

I have no clue on what to say from here. But, I knew I was in another nightmare. But, this was real. I was a girl from a random island in the middle of nowhere. I haven't seen these kind of buildings before. Sure, Southern Island may have a few... but, they were nothing.

I was standing in front of a MASSIVE shoe shop called 'The Big Shoe Shop'.

Very imaginative name.

"This place," Pinky gasped, "is the best! You can get any kind of shoe here."

I looked at her, uninterested.

"I couldn't have put it better maself, mate," I muttered, unenthusiastically.

Pinky smirked at me. Cream wasn't looking, she was more bothered at looking at the building.

"So, Marine," Pinky started, circling me, I followed her every movement, "You and Tails, hmm?" she looked me up and down, my hands turned into fists. I can be pretty powerful, when I want to be, and not just with my mouth, "I guess he wasn't all that bad with the choosing," she giggled.

My eye twitched.

She giggled again, Cream didn't seem to notice.

"He likes you, then?" she asked, teasingly.

I rolled my eyes.

"Interesting. I wonder what he sees in you," Amy muttered.

Grr... this girl was getting on my nerves.

"More than you'll ever know..." I muttered.

"What?"

"Okay! Let's go!" Cream exclaimed, wrapping her arms around me and Pinky.

We all went into the shop, me trying to pull back. But, I didn't stand a chance.

When we came into the swishy doors we were greeted by some random geezer, he smiled at us.

"Hello, ladies," he said, trying to sound good-looking, he was a bull... literally he was, "what shoes would you be looking for?"

Cream and Pinky looked at each other with a smile.

"Wow, we get our own guide," they chorused together.

What a bunch of drongos!

Pinky and Cream turned to the bull again, and nodded their heads, then gestured to me. I looked to the floor.

"We need some white shoes... sort of for a wedding for Marine, here."

I don't think I have ever blushed so hard.

Blaze

Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow...

What the hell just happened?

"Blaze...? Blaze, please be okay." I recognised that voice as Sonic's. But, my eyes refused on opening. My head really hurt.

"Blaze," that was Tails, for sure, "can you hear us?"

"Yes," I croaked, my voice just about coming through my mouth.

I heard the two boys sigh with relief.

"God, Blaze. You bumped straight into a lamp post," Sonic explained.

I could tell he was grinning. My eyes finally fluttered open, and I saw Tails and Sonic lingering over me. Sonic was grinning, yet he had worry in his eyes. Tails was just looking down at me as if I was a piece of technology he'd never seen before.

I sat up, to realise we weren't in town anymore. My head still hurt though.

"Ow..." I groaned, stroking my forehead, "where am I?"

"Marine's," Sonic replied, gently, "Tails, go get a wet flannel."

Tails left in a second. It was just me and Sonic in the room. My eyes were closed by the pain, but I opened them to find Sonic watching me.

"Maybe, you should not run in town," he explained, smirking.

"I run a lot, you know? I don't need you to tell me what to do or not," I retorted.

He laughed gently. I didn't see what was so funny.

Then, I suddenly flinched. His hand gently brushed my head where it was injured, it trailed down to my cheek, and his fingers brushed my cheek.

Is it me or... did my eyes just close?

I opened my eyes quickly and saw Tails coming towards me. I saw I was sitting on a sofa in Marine's lounge. I looked outside and saw it was dark. Seeing Sonic stroking my cheek, Tails said:

"Well! If you wanted to be alone that bad, you just needed to ask," Sonic quickly removed his hand upon hearing Tails.

He handed me the cold flannel. I took it from him, and held it where my slight bump was on the head.

"How long have I been out?" I asked, my voice clear.

"Quite a while," Tails replied, "about an hour. You should have seen Sonic, he had put you in his arms and was running back here."

"Tails..." Sonic groaned, and looked down.

"Huh. Knight in shining armour," I muttered, smirking.

"Quite so," Tails laughed.

We all then heard the door open, and two girls' voices coming closer.

"I hope Tails won't mind."

"Tails? It's more Marine I'm worried about."

"Don't you think they are cute together?" Because I had such amazing hearing, I heard that whisper.

"Dunno."

Then, they showed themselves. Amy and Cream stood there with a very happy face. Tails got to his feet, I looked down, holding the flannel closer to my head.

"Where's Marine?" he asked, looking at the two.

"Some way away. The guy who gave us a lift here was really cool," Amy explained, "Sonic!"

"Nooooooo!" Sonic wailed, his head banging against the sofa arm.

"Ow!"

I then realised that wasn't coming from Sonic. I sighed.

"Marine..." I murmured.

"WHAT?"

"'Old your 'orses for a second, mate!" footsteps were heard coming to the lounge door.

There stood Kylok and the raccoon herself. She glared at the floor.

"I just saved Marine, here, from the shoe shop, Tails. Maybe, the gal should stay 'ere from now on," he explained.

Marine's head then looked at him, but still glaring.

"I'm not an..." she started calmly, "ANKLE-biter."

"Yeah. But, you're a moody teenager," Kylok replied, "no need to kick yer doors, either."

"Humph!" Marine looked away from him, eyes closed.

I looked over at Tails to see his expression. He was smiling, and looked down at the floor with his eyes.

Amy and Cream were leaning against the wall together, they exchanged glances.

I looked at Sonic, who slowly looked at me with his eyes, we quickly looked away.

"I'll go," Kylok said, gently, and left.

There was a long silence. Suddenly, Tails clapped his hands together making me and Marine jump in surprise.

Marine

He almost gave me a heart attack! Anyway...

"I know when the wedding is," Tails said, looking right at me.

I looked away, blushing. I heard Cream and Amy giggle.

"Well, when is it? How do you know?" Blaze asked, her voice accusing.

"Well," Tails said, proudly, "I met up with an old friend... or enemy, and we've settled an agreement. The wedding's tomorrow."

Whoa!

I slipped over, and banged the back of my head into the door.

"Ow," I muttered, I looked at him, he was looking right at me, "Tomorrow? No."

"Yes," he replied, grinning.

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Yes... I mean, no!"

"You said 'yes'," Tails concluded.

"Did not!" I retorted, childishly.

"Did too," Tails replied, laughing.

"Did three," Sonic said.

Everyone looked at him.

"It's supposed to be funny," his voice cracked on 'funny'.

I saw Blaze give him a pathetic expression.

"What time?" Pinky asked, her voice made me shiver.

"Ten. Sharp," Tails said, folding his arms.

"Who is this geezer you settled with then?" I asked.

"Captain Whisker."

"Captain Whisker?" I shrieked, "you mean the fuzzy-faced bloke?"

"Who's Captain Whisker?" Pinky and Cream asked together.

"Long story," Sonic replied, he looked at Tails. "I'll be your best man."

"... Thanks. I knew you were gonna say that sometime," Tails muttered, he then looked at me.

"... I must be getting to bed na," I said, quickly before he could say anymore, "I'm rather sleepy."

Blaze

I watched the young raccoon leave the room. My eyes then went to Tails, he was still smiling. He turned to all of us and whispered:

"Make sure you're all up very early the next morning. I have an idea."

The next morning

We'd done as Tails had asked: we were up and out before Marine: I had been quite amazed at how long she slept nowadays, but mind you, she was a teenager, and a pregnant one at that - when she was ten, she woke up at the crack of dawn and yell 'Wake up, you drongos!' until the whole island was awake. How Setter had managed to survive long enough for us to see him remains a mystery to me...

Anyway, Tails (obviously), Sonic, the Coconut crew (by Tails' request), and I were standing outside. Oh, don't forget Cream and Amy! Tails had made sure everything for the wedding was ready - I was quite amazed by his organisation skills. I said to him:

"You really want this to work, don't you?"

"... You have no idea..." was his reply. He turned to the crowd as a whole. "Right, well thank you for your help today. I guess I should propose to the girl!" he said, rather jokingly, yet I could sense his worry.

In reaction to his speech, me and the Coconut Crew laughed (through politeness on my part); whereas Sonic, Amy and Cream burst into tears. Noticing their emotion, I asked:

"What's wrong?"

Sonic turned to me, "Our little boy is growing up..." he explained, rather shakily.

Tails turned to make his way into the house, wearing his suit he had recently bought, when the Coconut Crew stopped him with a 'Hoi, mate!'. He turned.

"Good luck mate, and oo tha'!" Tabby exclaimed.

Tails nodded, then replied with a 'Shhh!'. He opened the door to the house, and went inside.

Marine

Morning already?

I feel so tired, I groaned, and pulled my quilt higher up me. Then, I heard my door open. Must have been the wind. I closed my eyes.

Hold on. When is there ever wind in Southern Island? Never.

"Marine..."

That was Tails. I groaned.

"Go away," I muttered.

He laughed.

"No," he said, "please can you get up?"

"Mmmphh."

I heard the guy sigh, then suddenly the quilt was ripped away from me.

"H... hey!" I exclaimed.

YES, I wear pyjamas. I glared at him, but suddenly my glare faded away when I saw his face and what he was wearing. My mouth fell slightly open, and my heart started to beat uncontrollably.

I sat up, slowly, and looked down, shyly.

I've never been shy before in my life. Then, I knew what it was like.

It's a tough corner.

"Marine..." he started.

I felt an odd emotion sweep through me, I'd felt it before. It was when he came last time. I had that really new and unusual feeling. It felt cold and warm, and it made me feel sick.

I looked up at Tails, to see he was having trouble on what to say. Suddenly, he was only on one knee.

"Oh, no," I whispered.

He took my limp hand, and I gritted my teeth and looked away.

"Marine..." he started, I couldn't breathe, "will you marry me?"

That guy knew! Why was he asking me again?

"Yes..." I whispered after what seemed ages.

I couldn't bring myself to look at him. I felt quite ashamed. But, I then felt something cool on my fourth finger on my left hand.

"Thanks," he whispered.

I then realised he had given me a ring. I quickly looked at him, and then at my left hand he was still holding. I then noticed the ring: it was golden set with a small sapphire. It was a beaut.

He stood up and smiled down at me.

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't make this corny, mate!" I muttered.

He smirked.

"I'm not. Just doing what I must," he replied. "I'll see you in a bit, then."

I was about to reply with an 'oh', but my lips couldn't be used. I gasped when his lips were pressed against mine, it only lasted for three or four seconds.

To my annoyance, I wanted it longer. I wanted him to stay.

Wait. What is the matter with me?

His face then moved away from mine, and he was soon gone.

It took me quite a while to open my eyes again.

WOW! Please review.

End of Chapter 14