Chapter 14 A Change of Heart

Amy seemed to have gotten her wish, over the next week Dusk never showed up. Either Bokkun, or Decoe and Bocoe would bring her the 'food', but they didn't act the way Dusk would.

While Dusk would mostly stay silent, Decoe and Bocoe would rattle on and on about how great Eggman is and how powerful his newest robots were. Bokkun was the most obnoxious of them, always teasing Amy about her being locked up and occasionally tossing a small bomb in the cell with her.

Amy didn't admit it aloud, but she actually missed Dusk a little. Amy didn't like Dusk in the least, and learning that Dusk came from her DNA made it worse...but at least Dusk wasn't annoying. She stayed quiet, and leaned against the wall...only giving out the occasional comment. That was much better then (or at least preferable to) a couple chatterboxes or a bomb throwing imp.

Since Amy exploded at her, Dusk had seemed...different, less cheery. During her training sessions Dusk wouldn't taunt the robots like she normally would, she just fought in silence...and even then it seemed like Dusk wasn't giving it her all.

The same applied to whatever job Eggman assigned her. Cleaning the kitchen, checking on the robots, tending to a wound Bokkun gave himself, she was silent through all of them. Whenever she wasn't needed Dusk would usually be in her room or out on the flight deck. It appeared that she was staring off into space, but in reality she was trying to sort things out in her mind.

Then one night came where she seemed to finally return to normal...

Bokkun had just left the prison with a nearly full bowl of goop in his hands and a very large smirk plastered on his face. Inside, Amy was brushing the soot from another one of his prank bombs off of her red dress.

"Ooh, if ever get out of here...that little pest is going to get it." she mutters while brushing the soot away.

Amy hears the door open and looks to see a very unwanted guest. "What the hell do you want?" Amy growls at Dusk. Dusk says nothing, she simply walks up to the cell and extends a tentacle from her shadow through the bars. Before Amy could get away, the tentacle shoots forward and wraps around her, binding her arms against her body.

"You are coming with me." Dusk says hollowly. She presses a combination into a keypad on the wall besides Amy's cell. A 'ding' is heard and the bars retract into the ceiling. "Try anything funny and I will constrict the shadow." She says seriously.

Dusk begins walking away. Since the tentacle is attached to her shadow, it tugs at Amy who is forced to begin walking after Dusk.

Together the two hedgehogs walk through the winding hallways of the Egg Battleship. Dusk stays silent the whole way. Amy stays the same way...she didn't want to say anything to offend Dusk since it would mean she gets crushed.

After about five minutes of walking the pair came to a set of double doors. Dusk presses a button that causes the doors to slide open, and the duo walk out onto the flight deck. The door closes behind them.

Finally Amy speaks, "Great, what are you going to do? Toss me overboard?" Surprisingly Dusk doesn't even go near the edge. She takes Amy to the center of the flight deck and lowers her hand, causing the shadow to dissolve.

"You're removing my restraint?" Amy asks in confusion, "Why?"

"Believe it or not, I'm trusting you to not attack. Actually, the only reason I had you bound was because I didn't want you running off and causing trouble."

"Then why bring me out here?" Dusk answers by gesturing upwards. Amy looks up and gasps.

Above them were thousands of twinkling stars, even the faintest of them showed up. There weren't any clouds to block their view either, and a new moon was out tonight leaving the only things above them were the stars.

"I figured you could use a change of scenery from the metal cell." Dusk admits.

"This view is nice, but I still don't like you." Amy says dryly.

"I know." Amy lowers her head to look at Dusk, "...and I'm sorry...for lying to you."

Amy doesn't respond right away, instead choosing to watch her copy for a couple seconds. Dusk's voice sounded sincere, but she was looking downward so her face was hidden. Amy was also pretty sure she heard a sniffle or two.

"Honestly Amy, I didn't mean to upset you when I told the truth, but that lie about the DNA was the only one I spoke, and even then I only lied to keep from upsetting you...but we both know how that turned out."

Now Amy's feeling guilty...Dusk really wasn't as bad as she thought. The purple hedgehog was only trying to keep her feelings from being hurt, and Amy exploded at her in response.

"No Dusk...I should be the one who's sorry." Amy admits, causing Dusk to look up. "I was only mad at Eggman for doing what he did...I never meant to explode at you. Guess I let my anger at Eggman out on you. Sorry."

"Its alright. You acted the way I figured you would, but...I still feel bad for hurting you."

Amy waves her hand and says, "What's done is done."

About a minute passes in awkward silence. "So..." Amy holds out her hand, "...friends?"

"You really want me for a friend?" Dusk asks.

Amy nods, "Sure." Dusk smiles a little and shakes Amy's hand.

"I'll tell you this now, I can't help you escape. But I will try to make your stay at least...bearable."

"Thanks. And first to go should be that awful goop." Amy says and shudders a little.

Dusk laughs a little, "I know. It almost seems like Eggman's incapable of reading a cookbook."

Now Amy laughs, "Exactly! He can build all of these fancy robots, but he can't cook!" Both hedgehogs burst out laughing and it takes them a minute to calm down.

"Seriously though Dusk, I really shouldn't have yelled at you." Dusk waves her hand, silently saying 'its okay'. "But its strange...I'm both mad, and happy at the same time."

"How so?"

"Well, I'm really mad at Eggman for what he did. But also happy that...that I have a sister now." Dusk gives Amy a curious look.

"A...sister?" Dusk repeats.

"Yea...you may be on the wrong team, but its still nice having a little family."

"You still have it backwards, but you're right. It is nice having a sister."

Dusk lies down on the flight deck and looks up at the stars. "Care to join me?"

"And do what?"

"Make shapes out of the stars. Before this ship launched I did it with the clouds, but stars seem more entertaining."

Amy smiles and lays down beside her sis. The two spend at least half-an-hour drawing patterns in the night sky. They find both normal constellations and create their own which include a Chaos Emerald, Eggman's face in a scowl, and a chao head. Soon the ideas run out, and Amy and Dusk are just lying there, enjoying the cool night air.

"Hey Amy?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for doing this with me. Whenever I did it alone, I always wished I could do it with someone else. With you it is so much more fun."

Amy snickers a little, "You're right, stargazing is fun with someone else."

"So you've only done it..."

"Alone, yes." Amy finishes, "I've always wanted to go stargazing with Sonic, but he doesn't like sitting still. He always has to dart around and be moving." Amy sighs, "Sometimes I just wish he'd spend one little night with me on a date. We don't have to go anywhere special or fancy, I'd just like him to slow down for a night."

"Sounds like you've got it bad for him." Dusk states.

Amy lets out a couple laughs, "You've got no idea." Dusk chuckles a little and the sisters lie there for a couple more minutes.

"Sorry Amy, but I think its time we head back inside." Dusk says while standing. Amy also gets up and places her arms by her sides.

"Not so tight this time."

Dusk smiles and forms another tentacle. She carefully wraps it around Amy's body and the two of them walk back to the brig.

Amy walks into her cell and Dusk lowers the bars again. "I'll see what I can do about breakfast tomorrow." she says while making the tentacle disappear. Dusk turns to leave and gets about halfway before Amy calls out to her.

"Hey Dusk? Did Eggman ask you to take me out of the cell?"

Dusk stops for a second, then turns and shows a mischievous smile. "No."

"Does he know you did?"

"No."

"Are you allowed to?"

"...no." Both sisters laugh a little, then Dusk leaves and Amy lies down on the mattress.

A little bit of time passes, and Amy shuts her eyes in an effort to fall asleep. Shortly after she closes her eyes, Amy feels something soft land on her head.

Upon opening her eyes all she can see is red and Amy flails a little to shake the object off her. It falls to the floor and Amy sees that its a deep red blanket. She turns and sees Dusk quietly walking away. "Good night Amy." is all the purple hedgehog says.

"Good night Dusk." Amy replies. She picks up the blanket, spreads it out over her body, and sighs at the extra warmth it provides. Despite the uncomfortable mattress, Amy's sleeping peacefully in a couple minutes.

Yes, I do consider Dusk and Amy sisters. First off, Dusk can't be Amy's 'daughter' because Dusk's DNA is modified Amy DNA, not half-Amy half-something else. Cousin doesn't fit either, again because Dusk's DNA is mostly Amy's, with just a few key differences. Cousins have barely similar DNA...Dusk and Amy's are too similar for cousins. That pretty much leaves sister. Normal sisters share most portions of DNA, but still have differences...just like Amy and Dusk.

And as for how their friendship and relationship effects one another, be sure to keep an eye here!