There for You, Here for Me

by MistressMurder93

Time for me to mess around with the Sonic gang's social lives! Mwahahaha. Sonic and Mina are engaged, Silver and Blaze are having their first child, Tails decides to pop the question to Cream and Knuckles and Rouge won't stop arguing! Lots of pairings, a little bit inspired by Much Ado about Nothing. R&R!

21. One Day More

Chapter 20 - AT LAST! This is dedicated to all the Les Miserables fans out there (movie coming out in TEN FRIKKIN DAYS! I'm not excited at all)! Sorry once again for the long wait. Here's the super long chapter as promised :D Also, I've added a Meat Loaf song in it because I always thought I could lose a fan or two ;) It's a beautiful song. Look it up. It's called "Couldn't Have Said it Better". Personally, I think it fits Mina. I apologise if this is sloppily written in places. Enjoy, guys! :D

---

Their bottles of beer clinked.

"One more day," declared Knuckles.

"Less," said Sonic. "A day is twenty-four hours. We're looking at something like twenty-two hours and..." he checked his watch. "Fifty-eight minutes."

"Here's to that," said Knuckles, swigging his beer. Sonic did the same. "You nervous?"

Sonic answered too quickly. "Not me." He then got up, left the Guardian's kitchen and called up the stairs. "Honey, are you ready yet?"

Mina called back down. "Don't be callin' me 'honey' yet, young man! There's still twenty-two hours and fifty-seven minutes to go!"

"Really? I make it fifty-eight minutes!"

"You make it wrong!"

Knuckles smiled and rolled his eyes. It was kind of cute that they were both counting down.

"Yeah well, your face makes it wrong!" Sonic called back.

There was a brief pause, Sonic snorting with hushed laughter. Then Mina responded, her voice thick with mock-threat.

"You're lucky I'm still putting my shoes on or I will walk all over your epic cobalt ass!"

"Love you!" Sonic called back, met with a sarcastic grunt from upstairs.

Sonic retreated to the kitchen, bottle in hand.

"How long does it take for a woman to put her shoes on?" he asked.

"Easy there, junior," said Knuckles with a grin. "In twenty-two hours and fifty-seven minutes, you'll be stuck with that woman for life."

Sonic felt his stomach twist. He swore it was unnatural.

"I know," he said. His mind was in conflict. He didn't know if smiling and sweating was supposed to happen at the same time. To his chagrin, Knuckles was more observant than Sonic liked to admit and noticed his discomposure.

"Sonic," he said in a lower voice. "Don't sweat it. All you have to do is walk down an aisle."

And agree to be mutually attached to one person and be on your best behaviour for her forever and ever and ever forever, Sonic thought alarmingly.

"You wait til it's your turn," Sonic replied. "Then we'll see who's got it easy. There was a stall selling chilli dogs at half the regular price at the market today – I walked right past it."

"That bad, huh?" asked Knuckles with a sort of kindly smirk.

Sonic gulped down the remainder of his beer. Then he looked his scarlet friend dead in the eye.

"I haven't slept in six months," he said in a forceful whisper.

Knuckles didn't really know how to respond, so he said, also in a whisper: "That's a long time."

"I can't do it, Knuckles," Sonic continued, almost feverishly. Beads of perspiration were beginning to formulate on his brow. "The anticipation is killin' me! I mean, I know I asked to spend the rest of my life with her and goddamn it, I want to, because I love her, but the whole run-up to the event, the whole journey to this next day...this one next day...to prove to her that I'm worthy to be her freaking husband...it's got to me, man! It's way past surreal. Way past not normal. Way past...everything!"

Sonic's recent attitude was very confusing to Knuckles. Did Sonic want to spend the rest of his life with Mina? Really? He assumed so, otherwise he wouldn't have asked her. Then why all of this contradictive behaviour? Nevertheless, Knuckles tried to humour the situation.

"Hey, in a way, you're lucky you don't have a big scary father-in-law to appease to like most guys."

"Not helping!" Sonic hissed. "I don't care about pleasing anyone else – the only person I have to please is her. And maybe...there's a chance that maybe...maybe I just can't do that..." He trailed off, looking eerily vacant.

"Sonic, don't tell me you're about to walk out on her," Knuckles said, trying to laugh and failing.

"Pressure! That's what it is – pressure! Pressure to please just one person never seemed so hard! I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"Sonic, relax – it's just one more day, one last hurdle."

"Yeah, well that's easy for you to say." Sonic ran both hands down his quills. Then he spilled the beans. "There's a reason why marriage has never been my style – it's not for me, it's for her."

Knuckles leant in closer and a suggestion of accusation tinged his voice. "Exactly. This isn't about you. This is about Mina and how much you love her."

Sonic took a breath and held it. When he spoke, it was more controlled, but darker. "Not a human or hedgehog on this planet that could make me change my mind, bud. Once I've made up my mind."

Someone in the doorway cleared her throat. The men turned and saw a modest-looking, purple-haired mongoose wearing a long, sleek black dress. Matched with the engagement necklace, she was a picture of elegance. She even had a bride's blush.

"Ah. Here comes the bride," said Knuckles.

"Hey, beautiful," said Sonic. All of a sudden, he had transformed back to the cool and collected character he normally was, flashing his million-dollar smile.

"It's a night at the opera, right?" asked Knuckles, fiddling with the purple bow tie he had gotten himself into.

"Close," said Mina. "We're going to see Les Miserables at The Casino Royale Theatre."

"Casino Royale, I swear I've heard that name before," said Knuckles. "Wasn't it a book or something?"

"Don't ask me, I'm just going for the chilli dogs," said Sonic. He walked up to Mina and slid his hands around her waist. "And because my beautiful bride loves musicals."

"Look at you looking handsome," Mina smiled, fondling the deep red tie her beloved was wearing.

"I've made an effort for this evening," Sonic said softly, his forehead against hers.

"I'm gonna start the car up," said Knuckles. "We're taking my car, right?"

"Sure thing, Knuckles," said Sonic, and Knuckles slid out through the back door.

"I'm so glad you and Knuckles are friends again," said Mina.

"Well, I had to kick some hard butt to get an apology outta him, but I got there."

"No doubt," Mina whispered.

Sonic kissed her. And kissed her again. What perfume was she wearing? It smelled so good. Sonic kissed her chin and jaw, making his way downward. Mina closed her eyes and leant her head against his in an aphrodisiacal daze.

"We're gonna be late for the show," she murmured.

Sonic pressed himself into her, absorbing every element of her that he could.

"I don't care," he whispered as he held her. There was a moment's pause. "Baby, I'm not gonna lie, this has been such a stressful past few months." As he spoke, he had his fiancée's undivided attention. "You know how they say things never turn out the way you want them to? I just want tomorrow to be everything for you. I want it to be everything you've ever wanted. I know it's down to the bride to be bridezilla and whatnot, but I don't know how I could forgive myself if I don't provide everything you've ever wanted."

The tip of Mina's nose grazed Sonic's.

"You've been more of a bridezilla than anyone I know," she said lightly. Sonic smiled wanly. "And you're being too obsequious."

"Whatever the hell that means," Sonic sighed with a smile.

"Sonic," said Mina. "Everything I could ever want is right here."

A flash of anger ignited in the pit of Sonic's stomach. She was kidding, surely? No bride doesn't want a big wedding and a happily ever after. Sonic didn't know if he could live up to that standard and what's more, he didn't know if he even wanted to try anymore.

To try is to fail.

He kissed his fiancée on the forehead. "I love you – that's all."

---

"This had better be good," muttered Rouge as she took her place in the auditorium. "We could have just as easily gone to see Chicago."

"You would wish that, wouldn't you?" Shadow sneered beside her. "At least you can sit through a musical."

Rouge tossed her head back a little self-righteously in Shadow's eyes. "If you hate these things so much, why'd you come here?"

"Somebody's gotta watch the kid," said Shadow.

"The kids aren't coming," said Rouge. "Silver and Blaze are tied down with a one-week-old and Sonia and Auburn are taking the kids to the rehearsal dinner at The Mystic Resort later."

"Not those kids," Shadow growled slightly. Was Rouge playing dumb with him?

However, she didn't have time to answer because at that moment, the lights had gone down and the crowd hushed immediately.

And then the music began. Whatever contempt anyone in the auditorium felt for musicals, they had been pushed aside by a powerful overture.

"Look down! Look down! Don't look 'em in the eye! Look down! Look down! You're here until you die!"

As the dramatic melody continued in the prologue of the musical, Sonic stole a look at Mina by his side. It was only a minute or so into the show and she was pinned down in her seat, eyes wide, playing absent-mindedly with her engagement necklace. He thought it was cute. He could almost feel her heart hammering inside her chest. Music had such a powerful hold on her.

Mina's inner musical theatre geek came in her pants when Simon Bonham the Albatross fronted the stage as Jean Valjean. He had such a voice. Queen Aleena had to restrain herself from singing along as the beautiful Ruthie Rabbit sang the classic "I Dreamed a Dream". By this point, Cream was crying already. Tails put an arm round her and braced himself. He was told that the play only gets sadder. To Shadow, this was a new experience. He had regularly perceived musicals as fake, fancy flurries of feathers and too-bright lights and sequins and over-sung melodies. This musical was dark. It was nineteenth-century France. It had a fugitive as the main character, a bitter policeman as his rival, poverty, prostitution, drunkenness, thievery, deceit, violence and gore and despite it was a sung-through musical, it NEVER did anything over-the-top and it NEVER left out the dark things like on-stage death – with NO RESSURECTION! At last, a real musical. And Rouge...well, she was just happy that it had a huge number all dedicated to prostitutes. The "Master of the House" sequence earned a barrelful of laughs. Amy became particularly entranced with a petite mouse who played the role of Eponine. A girl who spent her street urchin youth chasing a guy she loved. Heartbroken to see him fall for someone of higher class. Something she could relate to. So she was satisfied.

In short, the musical had something for everyone there and at the end of the first half, the whole group had goosebumps.

"One day more!" they all sang, a dozen different melodies entwining with each other. Sonic felt his fur stand on end. Whichever genius wrote this music should have some sort of international award.

"One more day all on my own!"

Amy wiped a tear away.

"One more day to revolution! We will nip it in the bud! I will join these little schoolboys. They will wet themselves with blood!"

Shadow didn't know who they guy playing that Javert dude was, but still, Shadow could have sworn he grew a pair of ovaries for him.

"Tomorrow will be far away. Tomorrow is the Judgement Day. Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in Heaven has in store! One more dawn...One more day...ONE DAY MORE!"

Crowd orgasm.

---

"Didn't I tell you or didn't I tell you?" Sonic said proudly as the lights came up after the first half.

"Best musical ever!" Mina declared. "I'm still shaking!"

"They should have added more lovely ladies..." Rouge mused.

"I can't believe it! It's almost better than Hairspray!" Amy squeaked. "And that was just the first half..."

"I gotta give it to ya, Sonic – best thing I've ever seen," Knuckles admitted. "Better than all those dumb phony musicals you see on TV. Better than Cabaret, better than Chicago, Moulin Rouge..."

"Gee, I gotta go to the ladies' room," said Rouge nonchalantly. Knuckles recoiled in pain as she passed noisily by, for some reason. "Before they get packed."

---

She wasn't kidding. The queues were enormous.

"Okay, now Mina's gone, what do you really think of the musical?" asked Sonic as he waited in line with Tails. Tails looked a little blank.

"I...really like it so far," he managed. "So...so lemme get this straight. It's about this guy called Jean Valjean. I got that part. He was put in jail because his sister and her kid were starving to death and he stole some bread for them, then he gets his parole, then he becomes rich...somehow – I don't remember how...and then he goes to help his sister and her kid but his sister loses her job and becomes a prostitute..."

"No, that wasn't his sister, that was someone completely different." Knuckles, who had been nursing his foot whilst waiting in the line, caught onto the conversation.

"What?!" said Tails. "Then I really don't get it."

Knuckles sighed and filled him in. "The prostitute is just a different girl who happens to have a kid too and the Valjean guy helps her, but she dies, so he promises to go buy her kid off the drunk guy who's caring for her..."

"...Abusing her," Sonic put in.

"Right, abusing her...then she grows up and there's this other guy..."

"Marius."

"Right, Marius who falls in love with her and this girl who's also in love with this guy..."

"Who is the daughter of the Thenardiers..."

"The who?"

"The innkeeper and his wife."

"Right. So then the daughter of the Thenardiers falls for Marius who falls for the daughter of the prostitute who died..."

"While Valjean is still being pursued by Javert!" said Sonic dramatically.

"Who?!" Knuckles spluttered.

"The cop guy! You know – Two! Four! Six! Oh! One!"

"Right, so Javert is still following him and then the Marius pays the now-adopted daughter of Valjean..."

"Cosette."

"Right, Cosette is visited by Marius, but some robbers show up..."

"And Valjean thinks it's Javert who has found his hiding place at last, so he plans to take Cosette away to England before he can be discovered, separating Cosette from Marius forever!"

"Okay, do YOU wanna tell the story?" Knuckles retorted.

Tails, whose eyes were flitting to and fro like he was watching a ping-pong match, suddenly interjected: "Okay! I get it! It's a very, very long story."

"Not long now until the epic conclusion," said Sonic with an air of mystery.

"Which is...?" said Knuckles.

"They all go to war and they all get killed."

A beat.

"What the hell?!" Knuckles started.

"What for?!" cried Tails.

"The French Revolution," said Sonic as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Knuckles and Tails both stared.

"Most random conclusion ever," said Tails.

"Man, I ain't gonna enjoy this..." said Knuckles.

---

"You were right, Knuckles," said Sonic teasingly to a very wide-eyed echidna later on. "You look like you didn't enjoy that one little bit."

When the gang arrived at The Mystic Resort, an hour and a half of dramatic lighting, shocking gunshots and sorrowful theme songs later, Cream was still crying.

"That poor little boy," she wept. "And Val-Val-Valjean!"

She buried her face in Tails' fur as the engine of their limo hummed its way into its parking space.

"I honestly didn't see that coming," Knuckles pondered.

"Hits home, doesn't it?" Sonic agreed.

"So, in the end, who didn't die?" Rouge demanded, cutting through the mournful atmosphere.

"Uhm..." Queen Aleena mused. "Cosette, Marius, Mr and Mrs Thenardier, and...that's it."

"So! Favourite part?" Mina announced, trying to bring the mood up.

"Javert's suicide," said Shadow without a second's hesitation.

"Master of the House!" Tails cheered. Cream gave a muffled giggle at that.

"Hilarious," Sonic agreed. "Made me never wanna drink a beer again."

"Oh but you will," Rouge smirked. "Tonight's the big night before the big day. It's against the rules not to get hammered."

Sonic's mouth went dry.

---

They filed into the grand hotel, greeted by Sonia and her family, Manic and Magenta and a hundred other friends and relatives who were all present to celebrate the wedding. Sonic and Mina were showered with greetings and congratulatory welcomes. The Grecian-themed Mystic Resort hotel overlooked the sun-kissed meadows that rolled leisurely out to the horizon where the sun had begun its glorious descent. The botanical gardens were decked with heroic white statues of mythical gods and maidens and were dotted with fountains and sixteen-inch-deep pools of crystal-clear water. Amy hung back in her little black dress in the large entrance hall, where the big open doors welcomed soothing summer breezes in and she could hear nothing but the faint chatter of the crowd inside the building, the sweet evening song of the birds outside and the click of her heels on the marble floor. She was lost in thought. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop thinking about Eponine.

"On my own, pretending he's beside me..." she sang to herself quietly. She didn't know the rest of the words. She sighed and looked out towards the towering gates that they had just entered. She found them more encapsulating than she was comfortable with.

"Have one," said a voice. "They're menthol."

Amy turned. Shadow once again had made a sudden presence. He was offering her an open packet of cigarettes.

"You shouldn't do that," she said sharply.

"What? Sneak up on you?" he said blankly.

Yes and you shouldn't be as arrogant and pretentious as you clearly are and live in the delusion that you're better than Sonic, you big creep.

"Smoke," Amy replied instead.

"Oh, I don't smoke," Shadow responded with an air that implied he was being a bit of a snarky tease, though his expression didn't register that. He was still holding out the packet. Amy shook her head.

"You didn't wanna join the party?" she asked as Shadow lit his cancer stick and inhaled deeply.

"What party?" he said, blowing out a veil of smoke.

Amy wasn't in the mood for dealing with Shadow while he was being so nonsensically cryptic. Her anger bit at the back of her throat as he stood there so apathetically.

"If you hate parties and weddings so much then why are you here?" she snapped.

"Don't forget the musicals," he grunted, chafing against Amy's prickly mood.

"You go around with this whole 'oh look at me, I'm so non-conformist, I'm so anti-Sonic' attitude and yet here you are at a rehearsal dinner for his wedding."

"It's not a crime," said Shadow.

"Do you realise how dumb that sounds?" Amy demanded. "Why do you contradict yourself so much, oh Mighty Life Form?"

Shadow looked at her in the eye for the first time since he appeared.

"Why are you in such a bad mood?" he asked icily.

Amy scowled and marched over to the other side of the room. Shadow smoked. It was a moment or two before anything was said.

"I'm sorry, Shadow," she mumbled. "It's been a really...really weird day."

"It has been. I went to see a musical."

Amy almost laughed. Then her eyes burned with tears. She turned from Shadow, reluctant to show any further emotion than what had already been displayed.

"If you must know, I'm here because I felt that you needed a shoulder to cry on, for want of a better expression," said the ebony hedgehog. Amy turned around, trying not to let the jab of stun in her stomach front her expression like it was threatening to do. Shadow didn't even look at her. He carried on smoking.

"Y-You're here because of me?" she said slowly.

Shadow shrugged. "Someone has to be."

"It didn't have to be you," Amy said, with a hint of bitterness.

"Better me than Rouge," said Shadow bluntly. "You're welcome, by the way."

"Sorry," Amy sighed. "I feel really stretched out emotionally. This whole wedding thing is tipping me over the edge."

"No doubt," said Shadow, flicking some ash off the end of his cigarette. "Any more compulsive shopping I should know about?"

Amy flushed. "No."

"That's good."

There was a pause. Amy sighed.

"You really shouldn't smoke," she said finally.

"Why not?" asked Shadow.

"Because it can kill you."

Shadow shrugged. "We're all dying anyway."

"You're making it worse, speeding it up."

"It's my life."

"You should quit."

"You should get over that hedgehog."

Amy looked like she had just been slapped. How dare him! She considered deflating his big ego with her hammer but she knew he'd dodge it.

A wave of nausea and panic hit her.

Sonic always dodged it. Yet she continued to take a swing at him. Why?

Because it was the only way she could affect him. She could never affect him like she does. The way she speaks to him, laughs, touches, plays and claims him right in front of her very eyes. What made it worse was that Mina had absolutely no foul intention in her. There was no reason for Amy to despise her other than the very fact that she had betrayed her and stolen her knight for herself. And Sonic let her, because she can affect him. With more than a stupid hammer.

There was absolutely no point in attacking Shadow for telling her the brutal truth. There was no point to anything.

Shadow tossed his burned-down cigarette out of the doorway. He just didn't care.

She could feel herself breaking apart inside. Pain tore viciously away inside her, staining her with a deep, black spell of misery and loneliness. Her face crumpled. It took all of her strength not to burst into tears.

Arms came around her. Accompanied by a warm, smoky smell lined with mint.

Amy sank into Shadow's embrace and calmed herself. His arms around her suddenly made her feel like she could keep it together. Nothing was said. Moments drifted past as Amy dragged the agony piece by piece out of her system with deep, cleansing breaths.

"Some people have everything," she murmured into Shadow's fur. To her surprise, it didn't reek of cigarettes. It smelled a little leathery with notes of coffee and men's perfume – soothing. "Don't they?"

"That depends on what you think is worth having," Shadow replied.

Music started up somewhere in the building. The pair turned their heads towards the entrance doors to the main hall. The party had kicked off. Amy broke away, sighing.

"I'm sorry, Shadow," she murmured.

"Hmmm," Shadow mused. "I have a feeling someone's a little hormonal."

Amy stared at him, blushing.

"How did...?" she began, but felt it was futile asking. The guy must have a sixth sense somewhere. "Well, whatever. Sorry I've been a little...a little bitchy."

"No need to apologise, Rose," said Shadow. There was an undertone of warmth to his voice.

"Sorry."

They looked at each other. And she left. Shadow watched her go.

---

Alba chased her cousins around the hall, passing by not-overly-impressed Knuckles at the bar.

"Slow down," he told them sternly.

"They're just having fun," said a sultry voice beside him. He turned to see Rouge looking down her nose at him once more. Knuckles snorted. Typical Rouge.

"You understand the concept of fun?" he grunted. "I would have thought that word wasn't in your vocabulary."

"Honey, I am all about the fun," she said as she turned to the bartender. "Could I get a small martini? Dry, please."

"You're all about the fun?" Knuckles continued with a frown. "Every time we have a conversation, you end up crawling right up my butt – that's not fun for the both of us."

"Ouch," said Rouge. "Somebody's on their man period."

Knuckles swigged his cider self-righteously. To his surprise, once Rouge had her martini, she sat on the stool next to him.

"Listen, Knuckie," she began.

"Knuckles," Knuckles said gruffly.

"Whatever. Knux. Let's chill out for one night. I think you need a time out."

"Oh, I need a time out?" asked Knuckles, rather amused now that Rouge seemed to be stepping down.

"Yeah, you need a time out. You take everything way too seriously. Relax for once. Two of your friends are getting married – at least look like you're enjoying yourself here."

"You know, I actually was enjoying myself before you came along," he said snidely.

Rouge sipped her drink and addressed him with a smirk. "I know."

"Right," Knuckles muttered. The pair sat in awkward silence, sipping their drinks in the most forcibly civilized fashion you could imagine.

"Looks like Amy's date has arrived," said Rouge.

"Hmmm?"

Rouge gestured vaguely over to the door. "The painfully attractive badger with biceps the size of the Monte Crystals."

"How do you know he's her date?"

"The girls thought she could use a shoulder to cry on, so they invited Hunter."

"How insensitive."

"How tactless," Rouge agreed. "Of course, it's a pointless little hat trick. Poor Pinky wouldn't go for anyone other than Sonic. Even if they have eyes like the amethysts of Red Mountain."

"Do you think of anything but jewels?" asked the slightly irritated Knuckles.

Rouge faced him, leering. "Strong words from someone who makes love to an abnormally large emerald every night."

Knuckles inhaled deeply. He decided Rouge had a point. He does take things a bit seriously.

"Boy, you need to get a hobby," he managed to chuckle sardonically, looking towards Amy's suitor.

"I already have one," said Rouge.

Knuckles raised an eyebrow. "And just what might that be?"

"You can't guess? I get all my amusement by winding you up and ticking you off."

Knuckles quickly took a gulp of his cider to think through his reaction.

"Well it works," he said rather sharply.

Again, Rouge smirked. "I know."

Knuckles finished his cider and faced the bat.

"Rouge." Not a question.

"Yes." Also not a question.

"If you want me to enjoy myself tonight, I wanna ask just one thing of you."

"Of course, darling," said Rouge in her sultry tone.

"I would appreciate it if you lay off with the sarcastic remarks and all the sexual innuendos. It's not funny anymore."

"Oh, this is interesting – Knuckles the Echidna, Guardian of the Master Emerald, begging a woman to stop fooling around with him. Anyone would think you batted for the same team."

"What?"

"Sugar..." said Rouge, giggling under her breath. "Anyone would think you're gay."

Knuckles suppressed a blush.

"Whatever. Look. I'm asking you nicely," he said, gritting his teeth slightly. "At least for tonight. Find another way to have fun."

"I can do that," Rouge purred.

Knuckles stared her down for as long as he could. But Rouge could outstare a cat.

"Good," he said finally and finished his cider.

Rouge finished her martini.

"Would you care to dance?" she asked.

"Now what?" Knuckles demanded. "I just asked you to quit fooling around."

"I'm not fooling around. You and I should dance," said Rouge.

Knuckles could smell a rat. Rouge, asking him to dance? When pigs fly.

"I can't dance," said Knuckles, hoping he had made himself clear with that remark.

"I'll teach you," Rouge insisted.

"You're outta your mind," said Knuckles.

Rouge straightened herself up. The next time she spoke, it was through a tightened jaw.

"Knuckles, I'm trying to be nice to you for once. You might as well take advantage of it while you can."

---

"So who is this guy?" Amy asked Manic and Magenta as they guided her through the crowd either side of her.

"His name is Hunter," said Magenta.

"He's an attorney," said Manic.

"He's totally gorgeous," said Magenta.

"He's as smooth as butterscotch," said Manic.

"He's got a Ford Magneta 3000," said Magenta.

"And he's got a degree in shiatsu massage," said Manic. He sniffed. "Is it weird that I know that?"

"A little," said Magenta.

"Guys, guys, hold on, let me think this through," Amy protested. "I don't know if I can do this."

"Why not?" asked Magenta.

"I asked you never to set me up with anyone."

"Why not?"

Amy paused. "Ugh. You know."

Magenta stared at her. "Really? You're gonna play that card?"

"It's the only one I've got – I'm just not ready," Amy pleaded. Then she saw him. He was good-looking.

"This isn't like swimming after you eat, Amy. Say hi at least!" urged Magenta.

"Okay! If it will make you stop harassing me!" Amy cried. "How are my teeth?"

"Clear," Magenta confirmed.

"How're my quills, man?" asked Manic.

"God-awful," replied Magenta.

"Awesome. Let's go!"

Please don't let it be awkward, Amy prayed silently.

"Hun-TERRRR, mah mayun!" Magenta trilled. "This is the one we've been telling you about! This is Amyyy!"

"Hi," Amy squeaked.

"Well, hello there," said the handsome stranger, taking her by the hand and kissing it. "I expected warm company, but this? This is hot."

"Wow, what a cheesy line," Amy grinned, eyeing Magenta purposefully.

"I know – isn't he great?" she answered shrilly. "So he already knows your name, where you're from, where you graduated and what car you drive."

"But I don't have a...oh," said Amy. Her subconscious facepalmed.

"You both went to Havana for Spring Break – it's so meant to be," Magenta continued. She sounded like a commercial.

I'm so happy this isn't awkward, Amy thought to herself.

"Care to dance?" Hunter asked.

"Haha, I'd love to," Amy babbled before she could comprehend the situation. She felt like crying. Truly, madly.

---

"Oh, darling...please believe me...I'll never do you no harm," sang the band, leading couples young and old to dance. Knuckles swayed gracelessly with Rouge at the edge of the dance floor. They both watched Amy and her boy toy step onto the floor.

"And what do you know, they seem to be hitting it off," said Knuckles.

"Just like a fairytale," said Rouge.

"At midnight, she's gonna run and he's gonna hoard any shoes she leaves behind."

"Or they'll just get laid and never speak again."

"That's not cynical at all."

"No, it's not. It's being realistic."

"Realistically, they could decide later that there's actually more chemistry between them than they realised before, meet at the Four Seasons for drinks the next week, have the odd foreplay session every now and again before one of them realises that the other puts their Guardian duties before the relationship and calls it all off by running off with somebody richer."

"Except he can dance," said Rouge.

She and Knuckles sighed together.

"That's where we got it wrong," said Knuckles.

"That's where everything got wrong," agreed Rouge.

"Were we that much of a mess of a couple once?"

"I'm afraid we were."

"Dang."

Rouge shrugged and looked at her dancing partner. "Irreparable."

"Irreconcilable."

"And in spite of it all, you're still using any excuse to hold my hand, aren't you?"

Knuckles ground his teeth as he felt a blush creep over his face.

"It was your idea to dance," he argued.

"You agreed," Rouge returned.

Knuckles hesitated. "Who wrote this song?"

"Frank Sinatra Jr?" Rouge guessed.

"I could have sworn it dates back before his time."

---

"So you see, in order for the pyramids of Giza to come into existence, it would have required some metaphysical help," Hunter explained at the bar.

Amy gulped down some more Pinot Grigio.

"Wow," she gushed, feeling terribly underwhelmed. "Manic and Magenta never told me you were a scientologist."

Hunter cocked his head to one side, grinning. "I always save the best til last."

"Evidently," Amy said, emptying her glass. She'll pay Manic and Magenta back later. For now, she attempted to change the subject. "So how did you learn to dance so good?"

"I spent a year in Columbia," Hunter replied.

"Really?"

"Yes. I was studying the manifestation of Thetans and the impact they had on Latin America during their prophetic reign."

"Oh?" Amy found herself more attracted to the sight of her newly arriving Pinot than where this conversation was going. She immediately took a gulp. "So Hunter, tell me something."

"Anything, dollface," he answered. Amy's subconscious gagged.

"Apart from us being...manifested by aliens, do you believe in love at first sight?"

Hunter smirked. "I'm starting to."

"Oh, that's nice," Amy garbled as she chugged down more wine. "Do you believe that each of us are...destined...for just one other person in our lifetime?"

"You mean like a soul mate?"

"Yeah."

"Well..." Hunter hesitated with his answer as Amy waited eagerly. "I guess I do. They can't be called 'The One' for nothing. I don't believe that just anyone is fully compatible with just anyone. There's always just one person and one person alone who makes you feel..."

"Complete?" Amy tried.

"Yes," said Hunter. "That's exactly what I was going to say."

"Uh-huh. So, what if this one person you're supposed to be with is...with someone else?"

"Well, I always take into account the example of my mother and her husband. My mother was married to my father for twelve years, told everyone that she was really happy. Then one day, she met this other man from her church function and she told my father that she never felt anything like this before – she was finally completely in love. So she divorced my father and married this other man and they've been together now for seventeen years and they're still crazy for each other. It seemed like she wasn't happy until she married this guy and vice versa. It really was like they were meant to be."

"Mm!" said Amy enthusiastically, halfway through a gulp of Pinot. "Like fate brought them together at last!"

"Exactly! That's exactly it. How cool is this?"

"So you believe that even if the person you're meant to be with is already married, you can't just let that pass you by?"

"Well, if there's one perfect person for everyone, then fate will lead you to them...just like fate brought me here tonight."

He was touching her arm. Amy felt a bit lightheaded. Was it him or the wine?

"Well," she said, giggling gingerly. "Thanks for answering my questions."

"You're welcome, angel cake," cooed the badger. "And do you wanna know how I think you find your soul mate?"

"What?"

"You stop looking for them."

"I see..." said Amy. Then hurriedly, she picked up her handbag. "Well, I gotta go. It was lovely meeting you."

"Can I give you a ride home?"

"Mm-mmm," said Amy quickly. "I really gotta go."

"Can I have your number?"

"I've got my period," Amy stammered. Hunter looked uncomfortable. Amy enjoyed it. "I have to go to the bathroom and then I think—" She forced a yawn. "Then I think I'll go home. Get some rest."

"One more drink, come on," Hunter tried.

"Haha – no," said Amy, and left before he could say another word.

---

A flurry of bridesmaids with the one and only bride piled into the ladies' room.

"Not a bad music choice, Mina-girl," said Magenta.

"It's Ember's band," said Mina.

"I know! They're good!"

"Mina, come here, you have some smudged eyeliner on your face," said Sonia.

"I can't believe I've never seen Les Miserables until today!" Cream gushed as Mina and Sonia re-adjusted their makeup in the restroom mirror.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Mina agreed. "I'll be singing that song for months now!"

"Which one?" asked Sonia.

"All of them!"

"One day more!" Cream suddenly sang. Sonia almost re-applied her lipgloss all across her face at the sight of Cream suddenly bursting into song in the middle of the restroom. Her soprano voice almost shot through the roof. Cream did have a tendency to forget where she was at times. She was lucky she was meek and mild enough to get away with it.

"If only I knew the rest of the words," she sighed, coming back down to Mobius.

"One more day til you are married," Magenta sang to Mina, improvising the lyrics in Javert's theme. "You will tie the knot at last! You'll be ready for the future, you will kick its epic ass!"

Sonia giggled. "Just one more day and my little brother gets married. I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks," Mina said, not looking her way.

"Aren't you excited?"

Mina was fluffing up her hair. It fell in lilac ringlets down her back. Cream thought she had the most beautiful hair in the world. Mina's eyes were adjacent to her admiring gaze.

"Yeah...I guess..." she sighed.

"Are you alright?" Sonia mumbled.

Magenta pulled a face in the mirror. "Smile – it's the night before your wedding!"

Mina stared into the mirror. Her emerald eyes were glassy. So much so that Magenta stopped pulling her silly face. Mina could feel the outer shell of confidence and self-assurance that she had built for herself over the years beginning to crack. Suddenly, a strong current inside her being regurgitated her fifteen-year-old self back into existence and in that instant, she was lost. She was confused, at a loss for words, strength and reassurance. She crumbled there and then in the women's restroom and covered her face as tears spurted down her face.

Immediately, Sonia had her arms around her.

"Mina! What's the matter?"

Magenta stood awkwardly for a moment before gathering some tissues from the closest cubicle. Cream felt like she had just shrunk. Back to her naive six-year-old self who didn't know what to do in these kinds of cases.

"Miss Mina? What's wrong?" she quavered.

Mina didn't know what to do. Why was she crying? Why all this? Why now? She reprimanded herself for being so childish.

"I'm just being stupid," she quavered through her hands. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.

"You're not stupid, Mina," Sonia assured her. "Please stop crying – I've just helped you get your eyeliner right."

Mina wiped the tears away quickly. She was angry at herself. Stop acting like a fool, you fool.

"Sorry," she muttered. "I just don't know...I'm so scared." She dissolved into tears again.

"Dearest Mina," Cream whispered. "What are you scared of?"

Mina grappled onto a tissue Magenta held out for her and buried her face in it.

"Are you scared of tomorrow?" Cream asked sensitively.

Slowly, with huge, frightened eyes, Mina nodded.

"Why is that, Miss Mina?" said Cream, forgetting herself again and resorting to her innocent childlike antics.

Trying to regain her composure, Mina opened her purse and took out a piece of folded-up newspaper. She handed it to Magenta and then returned to the mirror to adjust herself.

Anxiously, Magenta unfolded the clip-out article and read aloud the headline. She took her time.

"Knothole's...number one blue...bachelor takes a life." She looked up with shock. "Well, shit!"

"It says 'takes a wife', silly," said Sonia, taking the paper from her. Magenta looked sheepish.

"I knew that. Please excuse me and my dyslexia."

"I thought we all decided to veer our attention away from the press," said Cream.

"Well, in this case, we'll make an exception and prepare to get really pissed off," said Sonia, who then cleared her throat and read out the article.

KNOTHOLE'S NUMBER ONE BLUE BACHELOR TAKES A WIFE

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, THE NATION'S ROBOT-BUSTING HERO, PREPARES TO SETTLE DOWN AND WED LONG-TIME GIRLFRIEND, POP SENSATION MINA MONGOOSE.

("Okay, that's you," she said, eyeing Mina.)

Last winter, at Casinopolis, downtown Station Square, Sonic the Hedgehog, 27, escorted singer-songwriter girlfriend Mina Mongoose away from the glare of the public eye. Witnesses that day happened to notice a token of nuptial commitment around the Mongoose's neck – nothing less than an engagement necklace.

Though the circle of Mobian heroes like to keep to themselves and avoid the pressures of celebrity life, an inside source officially confirmed that the Blue Blur and the pop star are to be married. The ceremony, attended exclusively by close friends and relatives takes place this Friday (21st of August) at The Mystic Resort hotel. The event itself will be aired nationally on TVSeven during the second week of September.

"IS HE SERIOUS?" SONIC HAS BEEN A FAMOUS SELF-APPOINTED BACHELOR.

Over the past six months, the reception of this news, however joyous, has been lukewarm. Widely known as a self-proclaimed bachelor, this mark of commitment seems to be a rather out-of-character turn of events for our spiky hero. While loyal fans support the upcoming marriage for this adorable couple (who last year celebrated their five years of dating), the majority of the public place their bets on just how long it will last.

("Whaaaaat?" said Magenta.)

Participants in such bets deny this scepticism as "cynical", opting to describe it as "merely realistic".

("Pah. Like there's a difference in this case," Magenta scoffed.

Sonia rolled her eyes and read on. "Princess Sally Acorn offers—"

"Princess Sally?! That bitch!" Magenta exclaimed.)

Princess Sally Acorn offers possibly the most reliable perspective, given her famous romantic history with the hedgehog, of the outcome of this arrangement.

"It won't last," she has told reporters. "I know what he's like. He's always seeking adventure and he has an addiction to freedom. Our relationship ended on the basis of his fear of commitment. Marriage represents everything he isn't. I'm personally amazed he's managed to make this one last for as long as it has, especially since one might argue he has chosen beneath him."

(At this point, Sonia had started to screech.

"First you insult my brother, now you slag off one of my closest friends?!" she yelled. "How many lives must you ruin, you evil, conniving little—!"

Cream grabbed the paper quickly and resumed to read aloud.)

"Sonic isn't called the fastest thing alive for nothing," stated a servant to the Royal Family who was a witness to Sonic and Sally's ill-fated betrothal. "He's fast to impress the girls, fast to win them over and fast to disappoint them. For him to commit himself to one woman forever? You can't be serious. He's a typical hero – flitting from one adventure to the next, fling after fling. No woman could tie him down."

Mina Mongoose, 27, seems relatively happy in her relationship with Sonic. Some say she is completely oblivious to the nature of Sonic's (quite literal) speed dating style.

"Some say love is blind," another source told us. "The fate of Sonic and Mina will be an obvious testimony of that."

Below this article were two photographs. The first was a large picture of Sonic and Mina leaving the casino subtitled: "Gotta go fast: Sonic and Mina flee the scene." Another was a close-up of Mina's engagement necklace. That was subtitled: "Flashing the crowd: Mina's engagement necklace." The last was a picture some photographer had caught of Mina linking arms with Sonic as they walked inconspicuously through the park. That subtitle was the worst. "Blissfully unaware: Mina clings to her commitment-phobic fiancé."

Cream folded the article back up and handed it back over.

"You're afraid Sonic is going to walk out on you?" she whispered. Mina blew her nose gently in the tissue.

"He walked out on Princess Sally, didn't he?" she said. "He turned down a royal proposal. He ran away from everything." There was a pause. "Running is his passion."

Sonia took her by the shoulders.

"No, Mina," she said firmly. "If he plans to run away at all, he would run away with you. He loves you, Mina. He does. I know. What does the press know? They only have their biased opinion and that bitter little skank we call a princess to account for. They know nothing about us."

"You know they get five hundred dollars per article, right?" added Magenta. "It's their fuckin' twisted job – to make up shit and print it on a paper, no matter whose feelings get hurt in the process. So just fuck 'em."

"Yes, just," said Cream. "...ignore them."

"I feel so stupid," Mina mumbled. "I fooled myself in the beginning and I'm fooling myself again, thinking I'm good enough to change him."

"He changed for you," said Sonia earnestly. "And you are good enough because he wants to spend the rest of his life with you. If he didn't, he wouldn't have asked."

Mina looked at her maid of honour through fearful eyes.

"I'm scared, you guys," she whispered.

"Mina, trust me, I know him," said Sonia. "He's my brother. And he has changed, for the better, to be with you."

"Not a day goes by I don't doubt our relationship. This newspaper story has just confirmed everything I know I should be fearing."

"Is that really true?" asked Sonia.

Mina nodded slowly. Sonia removed her hands from the bride's shoulders. Cream gently embraced the yellow mongoose.

"I've never doubted you two," she said comfortingly.

Magenta stepped forward cautiously.

"Mina-girl? I may not be the best with words (and I have a medical record to prove that), so allow me to quote the worst commercial ever aired. You're worth it. You've got the guy wrapped around your little finger! He might have run away in the past, but you're not a spoiled little wannabe monarchist whore. You're the best girl I know and he sees that. I can see that he sees that. He is going to marry you, no matter what those assholes at the journalist shit factory might say."

Cream looked up hopefully. "See? I'm not the only one. I know I'm not. Tails tells me almost every day that in the thirteen years he's been Sonic's best friend, he has never seen him act the way he does when he's with you. Trust me."

Mina hugged Cream tightly back, almost as if it were the last time they'd be seeing each other.

"Trust me," Cream repeated quietly.

Magenta and Sonia joined the hug as Mina got herself together.

"You know what?" said Sonia. "When I got married, I wasn't far off to how you are now. You're just nervous, you're over-thinking things – which is totally natural – and you're having doubts as a result. Just be cool. Trust Sonic that he loves you as much as he says and remember how much you love him too."

"Thanks, you guys," said Mina. The group separated.

"And if he does walk out on you," said Sonia dangerously. "He'll have me to answer to."

Cream laughed.

"Hey, I'm his sister – I have legal rights to kick his ass."

"Are you gonna be okay?" asked Magenta, stroking Mina's arm. She nodded, smiling bravely. She sighed and cleaned herself up in the mirror.

"Sorry about that," she said apologetically. Her bridesmaids protested, but Mina spoke above them. "No, this is my party, I'm the hostess, I'm supposed to be making sure you guys have a good time. So let's go back in and own that dance floor."

"Yeah!" Cream chirped.

"Right behind ya, girl," Sonia smiled. "Soon to be my new sister!"

Mina beamed, reassured, and led the way out.

"I am starvin' Marvin!" Magenta declared. "And I have every right to be."

Sonia turned to her on the way out.

"Have you told anyone yet?" she asked in a whisper.

"What? Oh." Magenta glanced down at her belly. "No, not yet. It's just you, Auburn and Manic. Probably the only ones who should know right now."

"Who's going to know next?"

"That I haven't figured out yet. I'm trying this new thing where I just make stuff up as I go along."

"Huh. That's a 'new thing', is it?" Sonia jeered. Magenta ignored her.

"I'm not gonna tell anyone yet. It's Mina's wedding – I don't wanna steal her thunder."

"Okay. Now let's go grab some grub."

"I'm totally craving those little whore-durve things they're passin' round..."

The door closed and a moment passed. A toilet cubicle unlocked. Amy stared after the gang, feeling hollow.

What...the hell did I just hear?

Amy tiptoed out. It was surprisingly soundproof in that bathroom. She gripped the edge of a nearby sink. She felt sick. She felt like she had just drunk a ton of bleach.

No, that would be the wine.

Amy looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were wide, blazing.

Mina...having doubts. Well, isn't this just so...meant to be?

Her breath was ragged. She felt like she was about to explode. Tears? No. Rage? Perhaps not. Absolute mania? Maybe. Her thoughts were rushing around her head.

Well, this is great. This is wonderful! Sonic and Mina are getting married, how nice. And Mina doubts their relationship! This is perfect!

Break into insane, wicked, wild, uncontrollable laughter? No. Instead, she turned on the faucet and splashed her face with cold water. It woke her up. A bit. She stood, gasping and face dripping with water as her thoughts somewhat slowed. Now it was just a heavy line of thought traffic in her head.

Soul mates. Two people brought together by fate. Sonic and Mina? Really?

She looked at herself in the mirror again.

...Sonic and me?

No. Yes! Please? Oh, I don't know! This is crazy.

"This is crazy!" Amy cried out hoarsely. She turned her back on her reflection and leant against the sink, clutching her forehead. "This is so...stupid..."

This is ridiculous. All this hype, all this fuss over one wedding. One wedding that, according to recent social stats, will have only a fifty percent chance of actually working out. Meanwhile, I wait on my big butt surviving on a diet of vodka and Ben and Jerry's, being surrounded by nine pet cats and hoping that at some point or other, he will wind up standing and waiting for hours outside my apartment every night in hopes that I may come down. Which I will, because we're supposed to be together. That's where fate will lead us. I'm positive. And now there's this huge, stupid party. For nothing.

"All for nothing," Amy mumbled to herself. Her speech felt slurred.

This is a catastrophe! Run away. I've got to run away. I've gotta get away from here. Anywhere but here.

Feeling dizzy and slightly sick, Amy crept out of the restroom and made her way to the exit.

On a side note, I am going to kill Manic and Magenta. 'Smooth as butterscotch'? Yeah, right!

The music pounded against her ears. Why did it have to be so loud? There was a statue near the entrance of an Adonis. Amy felt like hammering it to pieces for looking so pristine and perfect. Why did she have to be more turned on by a marble statue than by a perfectly (or half) decent badger?

Now, now. The twelve-year-old Amy Rose would do that. The twenty-four-year-old Amy Rose is a different person. She knows how to handle things. With a drink or two.

She rummaged through her brain as she walked, desperately searching for some sort of strategy file packed away right in the back of her mind. This couldn't be happening, could it? Sonic is getting married to Mina tomorrow and all this time, Mina was having doubts, some newspaper claimed that he was too commitment-phobic to marry her and (at least to Amy) this was because he was meant to be with Amy Rose the Hedgehog. She was sure of it.

HE WAS MEANT TO BE WITH ME!

"Hey Amy!"

Amy's insides jumped at that voice. She turned, her heart in her throat, as Sonic, smiling that goddamned perfect smile, came over to her, his beautiful face being illuminated by the lights on the dance floor.

I was just thinking about you, garbled her subconscious slyly.

"Where ya going?"

"Sonic, I, uh, I have to go."

Before I have a nervous breakdown.

"Oh hey, wait a minute," said Sonic, blocking her entrance. "Why are you leaving so soon?"

Whatever you do, don't look into his eyes. They will melt you and bid you to do whatever he says, said a warning voice in Amy's head.

"Well, I just...I have to get to bed early. I'm really tired."

"Please. Stay for the meal," Sonic pleaded.

Don't look into the eyes!

"Oh, yeah, I'm not hungry," Amy babbled, averting her gaze from his for as long as she could.

"Uh...not for the grub – for the speeches," Sonic continued. "Mina and I are gonna thank everyone for coming and give a certain couple of people the opportunity to give us their blessings for tomorrow."

"Sonic, I really have to go," Amy begged, making a last effort to dodge him and make her great escape.

"This is my wedding, Amy."

Amy stopped in her tracks. Those words. Those damn words. Hitting her like an ambush of blunt axes, gutting her where she stood. Her eyes smarted.

"I'd...I'd like you to stay."

More words. More stab wounds. Bleeding. Dying. Pathetic – I'm just so pathetic.

Amy turned around slowly.

"You'd like me to stay?"

It was the most wonderful feeling – feeling wanted. By him.

"Yeah." He smiled benevolently, making Amy's head spin. "Please?"

She had looked into his eyes.

---

As the party assembled to their allocated places in the dining hall, Shadow found himself being drawn to the bar.

"Scotch," he ordered. "Neat."

He sat at the bar and sighed heavily.

WhatWasSheDoing?WhatWasSheDoing?WhatWasSheDoing?

His fist slammed down.

"And make it snappy, chief," he snapped.

The hotel was run by humans. Shadow wondered if it was racial tension that brought them to such a job. The young man serving him was immediately unnerved. He gave him his drink quickly. Shadow took a gulp. It blazed unrealistically fierce down his throat. Was whiskey always this rough? The stuff was like fire. He sipped it steadily afterward.

"Are...are you Shadow the Hedgehog?" asked the young man at the bar.

Shadow eyed him. "No, I'm Morgan Freeman's grandson, the great George Freeman."

"Oh." The lad fiddled with his cloth. "Could I have an autograph?"

The murderous glare in Shadow's eye managed to urge the guy to leave.

What on Mobius did she think she was doing? Who was that guy anyway? Damn Manic. Damn Magenta. Setting her up like that. With such a stiff! On this day, of all days! What the hell were they thinking?!

The memory of Amy's tear-stained eyes flashed through his mind.

What is it with me and my memories?

It was always his memories that affected him the most. He didn't let memories hinder him as they were being created. They only ever plagued him once they had set in his mind.

Just like his memories of Maria. But that was a story from long ago.

Poor kid. Poor Rose. This godforsaken day has done nothing but screw her over. Like she hasn't been screwed over enough already. That poor girl.

There was that rare feeling again. Pity. He tolerated it for as much as he could that day, but by now, it was bursting through the roof. It felt like dipping into a hot bath on a freezing cold winter's day. It felt like needles – a million pins and needles. But then it felt needed. He did pity her. He knew what it was like to love and to lose. Yes, he knew all too well, and he'll be damned if he has to watch it happen to someone like her. Someone who shows such exuberance, such youth and beauty. This girl, who had tried desperately to stay young was now being wasted away by her age-old obsession with that blue hog. It was so sad to watch. No young girl should have her youth stolen from her.

Then.

Why the hell am I drinking? Have I seriously degraded to a self-sympathising wretch who sits all day getting wasted on scotch just because I can't get a grip? Why do I have to force myself to get a grip on anything in the first place?

It was all very confusing to him.

---

Mina's stomach hit the floor when she discovered the main course for the evening: chilli dogs.

"SONIC!" she shrieked in alarm.

A blue flash. Sonic was by her side.

"What?" he asked urgently.

Mina looked like she was trying to control a shipwreck.

"Can you please explain to me why this nice young lady has just told me that the main course for this evening is processed wieners served with chilli con carne in a bun?"

"We have a vegetarian option for certain guests, ma'am," said the redheaded young lady nervously.

"Chilli dogs?" Mina cried. "For the main course?!"

Sonic put his hands on her shoulders.

"Okay, okay, honey, I think there was a bit of a miscommunication," he said, trying not to panic.

"I ordered salmon!" wailed Mina in an uncharacteristic diva moment. "It was supposed to be salmon for the main course, not animal fat stuffed into a synthetic casing and smothered with cow entrails!"

"Mina! Mina," said Sonic hurriedly, taking her by the hands which she had begun to gesticulate with hysterically.

"Squeeze," he ordered. She obeyed, squeezing very hard. "Breathe," he instructed, to which she complied, inhaling deeply through her nose and exhaling strongly through her mouth. "Look at me," he asked. She did. "Hey!" he said warmly.

"Hey," she gasped.

"Hey. Everything's fine. Okay, you ordered salmon, but I messed up. But everyone seems to like the idea of a chilli dogs." He eyed his groomsmen meaningfully. "Don't you, guys?"

Tails, Knuckles, Manic and Auburn all caught on, nodding and agreeing enthusiastically.

"And for every vegetarian, pescetarian, vegan, what-have-you present, there's a meat-free, dairy-free option. So everyone's happy. Everyone's okay with that. Alright?"

"Alright," Mina breathed. "Alright. I'm alright."

"Yeah! She's outta the woods, people," Sonic proclaimed as Mina smiled brightly, back to normal.

"I'm sorry you guys," she said, sitting at her place. "It's just...it's my wedding. I just want everything to be perfect."

Sonic felt a slight lump in his throat at those words.

"Thanks, you can go now," he said to the still-nervous redhead who was still standing by them. He sat next to his bride. "Okay. Are we all here?"

"Looks like it," said Tails.

"Everyone here?" Mina asked Sonia.

"Everyone here?" Sonia passed down to all the bridesmaids.

"Of course," said Cream.

"Hells yeah," replied Magenta.

Amy scrambled to her seat. She felt the telling signs of too much wine taking their toll.

"Here," she signalled.

Sonia turned back to Mina.

"Everyone's here."

"Okay, let's roll," said Sonic. As everyone took their places, Sonic gestured over to the lead singer of Ember's band. He nodded, took his mike from out of its stand and walked over.

"Yo, wassup everybody?" he spoke into it. The congregation cheered back in response. "I love a great audience. Okay, as the lead singer of the band tonight, I'd like to be the first to congratulate the wonderful couple whom tonight we celebrate – the soon-to-be Mr and Mrs Olgilvie!"

There was applause as the mike was handed over to Sonic and Mina, who both stood proudly.

"Thank you very, very much, Un Flow – you played some really cool music tonight and we can expect more tomorrow."

"Hopefully some more McCartney-Lennon classics," said Mina into the mike.

"And some more Un Flow originals which are way past deadly awesome!" added Sonic.

The crowd gave the band some appreciative applause.

"McCartney and Lennon. Who were those guys?" Knuckles pondered.

"Well, I think I can speak for the both of us when I say that this night has had an amazing turn out and I'm so glad that so much of you are here. I don't have a clue why you're all here, but..." Sonic was drowned out by laughter. He slipped his arm around Mina's waist. "But thank you all so much for coming."

Mina contributed. "It's enough that I have an incredible fiancé. I'm just so grateful and kind of overwhelmed that so many of you have travelled so far and cancelled lots of different appointments just to come here and be with us at this very special time. It's literally the most perfect thing to see so many familiar faces in one room. Honestly, guys, I couldn't feel more appreciative for having you all here with us tonight. Thank you all so much."

The enthusiastic crowd gave some applause to this heartfelt speech.

"See, now you have to stay for the wedding," said Sonic cheekily, causing some more laughter. "Now while most of you – close friends, family, plane buddies and more – know myself and Mina very well, those of you who are a little absent-minded or no longer forty or just here for the grub, we'd like to take you for a little trip down memory lane and tell you all how we met. Okay, now, Mina knows nothing about this, but instead of just standing here and telling you all about it, me and the guys decided to put together a little something on that screen that – yeah, that Espio and Mighty are just dragging out right there, thank you, guys – a little something on that screen which will tell you our story. So sorry, honey, no long speech from you tonight."

That last sentence was directed at Mina, who glared at him in mock anger while the rest of the party chuckled.

"You forget – there's always tomorrow," she said threateningly.

Manic and Tails encouraged a chorus of 'ooooh's from the audience. Sonic looked sheepish.

"Uh, enjoy the video, folks," he said quickly. "Cue it up, Vector."

The lights went down and the crowd went quiet, apart from Alba asking her mother: "Are we watching Lilo and Stitch?"

Up on the screen, Sonic appeared, sitting in front of the Master Emerald. Mina guessed that all of the groomsmen had been involved.

"Hey, everyone. Hey, Mom. Hello, my gorgeous bride," he said. "If you are watching this video, it means I am dead and this is my will. Totally joking. Mina, remember when I asked you out and you just didn't know what to say? It was the cutest thing I've ever seen – your eyes went all big and wide and your mouth made this little polo-mint-sized circle and you basically did nothing but blush and fiddle with your hands. It was adorable. I can't believe that that beautiful, nervous girl has turned into my beautiful, confident bride. I'm not sure why you didn't say anything to begin with. But I will say one thing – now that I love you to a measure un-measurable, I can understand now. Sometimes I look at you and I just don't know how to tell you how much I need you in my life. So here's a little video that will hopefully explain at least a bit to you. And before you ask, yes, I did rifle through your iPod that night and yes, I have included your musical guilty pleasure in this video in the form of Meat Loaf and Patti Russo."

Some of the audience laughed. Mina put her face in her hands, giggling embarrassedly.

"Sorry I'm cutting off your speech time, but I figured that maybe the most is said without needing to say anything. You know what they say – silence is gold."

He grinned and the video faded out.

A title appeared:

October 11th, 3242

Home video of Mina doing back flips in her back yard. She was chanting the number of back flips she was performing before turning around to the camera and waving.

"Tada! Hey, Tails!"

"Hey, birthday girl!"

A subtitle:

As an additional birthday present, Sonic asked Mina to be his girlfriend on her twenty-second birthday.

A photograph of Mina, Sonic, Tails, Amy and Magenta gathered round drinking party drinks appeared.

She said...nothing.

A beautiful black-and-white picture of Mina gazing up at the camera while at her piano fronted the screen.

A brilliant piano riff came onto the speakers just as the video flipped to showing pictures of Sonic and Mina as they were growing up.

"Little lady," sang the voice of Meat Loaf as a very smiley baby Mina fronted the screen, influencing a chorus of 'awwww!'. "I think there's something on your mind."

Sonic in a high chair, face and quills covered with chilli con carne was presented on the screen, initiating some laughter. "I've known you long enough to know the words are not that hard to find."

School photos appeared. The slogan:

The lovebirds met while they were in high school, though their first meeting was less idyllic.

"And the harder you try, the longer you go, well there's nothing but love in those eyes anymore. You know what to say, but you never know how. You can keep your mouth shut, 'cos it doesn't really matter right now."

As more photos followed, their story was revealed through slogans.

An awkward teenage romance followed after a dramatic meeting during a life-saving mission.

"I will guide you all the way, because I know exactly what you're trying to say."

While Sonic embraced the life of a hero, Mina settled for her singing career.

There was a photo of Mina performing live.

"You have the right to remain silent," sang the song, prompting a video clip of Sonic dressed in an officer's uniform to aim a toy pistol at Manic who was wearing fake breasts, a purple wig and a mask with Mina's face on it. It made a lot of people laugh.

"I'll get the lights, you get that smile and you say nothing at all."

Alas, the pair went their separate ways.

"Well I couldn't have said it better myself."

A picture of Sonic overlooking a shoreline on a cliff.

I felt like I had lost my way.

"Tonight the conversation takes a fall."

I know it wasn't easy for her either.

"Just love me like you love nobody else."

But then...

I came to my senses.

A photograph of Mina looking hopeful.

I was supposed to be with you.

Cut to footage of Sonic, mouthing the words dramatically.

"I see the angels. They're standing right outside your door."

"They're watching over me, they're watching over us all."

The congregation laughed even harder to see Manic dressed the same way from the last clip, minus the mask but with a lot of Magenta's makeup lip synching the female part of the song.

"Well you can send them home tonight, cos you won't need them anymore."

"In your arms I think I've found the safest place to fall."

More footage of Sonic coming through a door melodramatically and being wowed by Knuckles wearing the Mina mask.

"When I step in the door and I stare at your face, there are so many things that I wish I could say. Well I struggle with words, but they put up a fight. You can keep your mouth shut, cos it doesn't really matter tonight."

I was meant to be with you, Mina.

"I will guide you all the way, because I know exactly what you're trying to say. You have the right to remain silent. I'll get the lights. You get that smile and you say nothing at all."

Screenshots of Sonic and Mina in random photographs they had taken of themselves together around Christmas time.

"Well I couldn't have said it better myself. Tonight the conversation takes a fall. Just love me like you love nobody else."

Footage of Tails dragging Mina outside on the eve of her birthday to see Sonic come home early from his most recent Eggman-defeating mission. The hippie van he had hitchhiked home in had been decorated with flowers and had the words "FIVE YEARS 3" spray-painted on the side. Mina was recorded laughing and recoiling with the sheer joy of it all.

"And I know you feel the same. You've been searching for the words, now you know what to say. Oh, yeah! Just say nothing. Don't say a word. Silence is gold. Don't say a word. Shhh..."

Sonic didn't know what he'd do without her in his life.

So at the end of the year, Mina was taken to Emerald Coast as a hostage by her insecure lover...

...and was refused to journey home until she had agreed to marry him.

Unknown to her, Sonic's sister Sonia was taking photos of the whole thing.

Mina gasped and looked her fiancé's way, who grinned knowingly at her. She stared at her Maid of Honour, who started to laugh.

Photos of Sonic and Mina on their luxurious romantic getaway at Emerald Coast began to play. First them drinking cocktails on the pier that overlooked the tropical waters, then of Mina kissing a dolphin. A humorous shot of Sonic being pinched by a lobster. Finally, Sonic down on one knee at a fantastic sunset as Mina reacted in pure ecstasy.

Sonic felt Mina's hand in his.

"This is the moment we've been waiting for!"

"If I exercise my right."

"And I will take your body language and hold it against you tonight. And I know you feel the same. I've wondered all my life – if this moment comes, would I know what to say?"

Cut to footage of Sonic and Mina slow dancing at Twinkle Park.

"Then you say nothing at all."

"So many times I stumbled on the words that I wanted to say."

Stars glimmered above them as they waltzed on a moonlit stone platform.

"Yeah, you say nothing at all."

"So many thoughts I should have just let my heart explain."

"You say nothing at all."

"So many ways we could turn the words around."

"You say nothing at all."

"So many nights our hearts came crashing to the ground."

"You say nothing at all."

"So many dreams that are finally coming true."

"Well I couldn't have said it better myself."

"Now you finish me off when you finish my thoughts the way you do!"

Footage of a firework display.

Heading:

WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!

As the chorus repeated itself to a fade-out, more photos and video footage were exhibited, some subtitled, some that just said everything that needed to be said.

As the music faded, Sonic fronted the scene in front of the Master Emerald once more.

"I love you, Mina. That's literally all I can say."

The video closed with one last heading:

Thank you for saying yes.

With that closing subtitle, the audience split into applause. As Mina wiped a tear or two away, Sonic stood up with the mike, Mina's hand still in his.

"Ladies and gentlemen, that's the fruitiest sight you're ever gonna see of me," he started, laughing. "Now I believe there are a certain amount of people who want to, uh, give us their blessing for tomorrow. Sonia looks like she's itching to speak, so I'm gonna hand the mike to her before she explodes."

Sonia gratefully took the microphone.

"Thank you, little brother. Hola, everyone!" The audience greeted her back. "As Sonic's eldest sibling, bearing in mind we're triplets, with our brother Manic hiding somewhere near the back – hey, bro! – I feel it is my duty to welcome our newest member of the family. Now, I haven't known my brothers all my life and I was perfectly content not to, if you want to know the truth. Learning that I had a family meant I had parents, warmth, comfort, nurturing, etcetera, etcetera. It did not mean to me loud, raucous and ridiculously competitive brothers born on the same day as me whose idea of sophisticated humour was to burp in my face to wake me up on schooldays." The audience laughed. Sonic facepalmed. Magenta shot a disgusted yet amused look toward Manic, who shrugged innocently. "They were the only family I knew for a long time. They didn't know what it was like to have a bossy older sister until we were fifteen. I, on the other hand, have never known what it is to have a sister. Now, you should know that when Mina and I first met, we weren't the best of friends."

"She could say the same for me too," Magenta muttered to Cream, who giggled.

"There was an air of constant competitiveness towards each other. We were both struggling musicians for a time and very reluctant to confess that we were both envious and adoring towards each other. I thank Mina for having the guts to humble herself first and fess up that I was something of an icon to her. It made me confess my long-standing admiration for her as well and without that intimate moment, I don't think I'd be standing here as her Maid of Honour today." She began to continue, but was silenced by the applause from the crowd. "Thank you." She turned her attention to Mina. "Mina, you are a beautiful person, inside and out and I cannot think of anyone more perfect for my little brother Sonic. You've brought out the best in him – something which I didn't think he had for a time – and I honestly can't wait to finally have a sister at last. I hope everyone here is as pleased as I am to raise their glasses to my little brother and his amazing, gorgeous bride. To the bride and groom!"

"To the bride and groom!" the audience cheered back, toasting them. They applauded gratuitously.

Amy had nothing left to drink. She had been filling her glass all the way through the movie. Then she got up shakily and made her way over to Sonia. Stumbling slightly, she took the mike, empty glass in her hand.

"Hey, whoa, hey," she said into the microphone, grabbing everyone's attention. "So...so I guess this – this couple want my blessing, huh? Well, not my blessing, per se, but the blessings of those...around them...who feel that...they should be the ones given something to say. Well, I have something to say. I have to say...that this...this decor – the mauve candles and the sapphire placemats? This is kinda stupid. I mean, no offence or anything, I appreciate all the work gone into this, but I just can't stomach it. This is lies. This is all lies. I mean, unless, Sonic, you are truly, one hundred percent committed to Mina and unless you truly...love each other...and want to spend the rest of your lives making lots of love and babies...I refuse my blessings. You know, for anyone who in any way at all doubts this relationship – this, this marriage, in fact – they should, as they say, speak now or forever hold your peace. It's not too late to make a break for it after all, you know what I'm saying?" At this point, she intended the audience to laugh. They shuffled uncomfortably. "Because if you can't commit to each other, then this was all for nothing. And I've heard things tonight. Yeah, I've heard a lot of things. This is all one...big, twisted lie. And I won't give my blessings to a lie, Sonic. I won't give my blessings to a big sack of lies. You can play as many home-made videos and rub as many photographs in our faces as you want, but it won't be enough to cover up the falseness of this...whole thing. I am a good, kind and honest girl..." She began to choke up. "Whose heart is in the right place...and always was...I don't give my blessings out lightly. And I will definitely not give my blessings to this preposterous..."

Magenta snatched the microphone out of her hand.

"Yo," she said hastily. "I think that's...enough of the toasts now. Uhm...there's chilli dogs being served tonight, folks. Chilli dogs for a rehearsal dinner – how punk rock is that? Hahaha...um, enjoy the food, I should warn you that pregnant women may want to steer clear of the yellow stuff in these pots – it ain't mustard, but it's definitely potent stuff. Uh, cheers!" She raised her glass and awkwardly sat down.

Amy found her way back to her seat and slouched in it. Cream looked at her, quite alarmed.

"Amy?" she asked nervously.

"I think I'll take her home," said a voice. Cream jumped. How the heck does Shadow do that and how does he get away with it so often?

"Shadow, I don't need to be taken home – I'm fine," Amy whined.

"You stink of white wine," Shadow put simply as he hauled Amy out of her chair. She glowered at him.

"And you smell like a basket of roses too!" she snapped back.

"What a surprise – Amy, a mean drunk," said Shadow, dragging her arm over his shoulders and leading her out. Before they could leave the room, Amy called back over her shoulder:

"By the way, chilli dogs for a rehearsal dinner? That's the stupidest thing ever!"

Mina looked like she was having a heart attack.

---

Amy's heels tripped over the gravel that led the way out of the resort. Shadow was getting her a taxi. She continued to garble on drunkenly.

"They could have at least served chicken or lamb..."

"Amy, by tomorrow, you will be accountable for every nerve you've shaken tonight," Shadow said threateningly as he hailed a cab.

"I didn't do anything but tell the truth, Shadow!" Amy said defensively, yet on the verge of wailing. "You always gotta tell the truth! Their love isn't real! Sonic is supposed to be with me! He's supposed to be with me!"

At this point, Amy struggled to get back to the party. It took most of Shadow's strength to get her into the car. Once in, Amy cried desperately into Shadow's chest.

"Pear Blossom Court," he said to the taxi driver. "Step on it."

"He's supposed to be with me..." Amy moaned into Shadow's fur.

"Okay, Amy," Shadow said with an air of impatience. "He's supposed to be with you."

Once the cab had reached Amy's apartment block, Amy had cried herself out. Shadow tipped the driver generously for having a bawling passenger on board. Amy hung limply onto Shadow's side as he hauled her into the building and up the stairs.

"We should take the elevator," Amy slurred.

"Nawh," said Shadow. "Elevators make drunk people sick. I would know."

Amy giggled suddenly. "You're funny, Shadow! I haven't met many funny people tonight. But you are funny!"

"Yeah, yeah," he said dismissively. He reached a red door with '1C' written on it. "Is this your room?"

"Uh-huh," said Amy, stumbling towards it with her key. She attempted to unlock the door. Her key fell out of her hands once. Twice. Three times.

"Look, maybe I'd better just..." said Shadow, grabbing her keys and letting her in. As soon as Amy got inside, she went to the fridge, opened it...and fell into a drunken heap onto the floor. Shadow groaned. Amy burst into giggles as he picked her up.

"My hero!" she laughed.

Shadow grunted and carried her to her room. He sat her down on her bed.

"Stay," he ordered. He let go of Amy, and she instantly flopped down on her mattress. Shadow sighed and began to undo her shoes.

"Sommewheeerrrre...over the raaaiinboww..." Amy sang tunelessly. Then she sighed. "I wish I was Mina."

"Why would you wish that?" asked Shadow.

"So I could be married to Sonic tomorrow."

Shadow paused delicately before asking his next question.

"And why do you wish to be married to him?"

"Because I love him!" Amy declared loudly.

"I see," said Shadow shortly. "What about that guy you met tonight?"

"Oh – that guy? Yeah, he's cute but nothing compares to Sonic."

Shadow ground his teeth. When was she going to give up this charade?

"You don't wanna be with Sonic," he said.

"What?" said Amy, propping herself up with some effort. "Sure I do. He's the only guy I've ever loved."

"You haven't really given your heart an open invitation to anyone else," said Shadow, cringing at the words that were leaving his mouth. "Besides, Sonic probably has a female submission fetish."

"A what?" asked Amy.

"Never mind," Shadow sighed. "He just seems like the kind of guy."

Amy, who had by now pieced together what Shadow meant in her head, dared herself to ask a very cheeky question. "How do you like to have sex, Shadow?"

Shadow's brow furrowed as he removed her other shoe. "Foreplay, female domination undertones, maybe some cuffs involved. Not that it's any of your business."

Amy's eyes widened. He actually answered that question! He really wants to answer my questions! What a godsend.

"Why didn't Sonic go for me, Shadow?" she asked.

"I don't know, Rose."

"I love him, Shadow." Amy's voice had suddenly become drawn. Shadow looked at her. Her eyes were brimming with tears again.

"Don't start crying again," he begged.

"I can't help it," Amy whimpered. "He's supposed to be with me...and he's not."

"It's not the end of the world," said Shadow softly.

"It's the end of my world," said Amy. Then she began to cry again.

"Don't do that," said Shadow, taking her hands. "Listen. No guy will ever be worth your tears."

"But how do I get him back?" Amy choked.

Shadow sighed. Pity again. It was rather intrusive. "You won't, Amy. He was never yours to begin with."

Amy suddenly flung herself on her bed, sobbing.

"It's not fair!" she wailed. "What's wrong with me?"

Shadow sat on the bed next to her. "Nothing."

"I'm annoying!"

"You're challenging."

"I'm too uptight and high maintenance!"

"Yeah, but in a good way."

"I'll never be his girl! He never gave me the chance and why?" Amy howled, heaving herself up again. "Because I don't have a car!"

Shadow tucked a stray pink quill behind Amy's ear.

"You don't need a car to impress a guy."

"Then what do I have? Nothing!"

"No," said Shadow kindly. "You have character. You have youthful exuberance. You have honesty, energy, feistiness, intelligence, grace and the guts to say what everyone else is thinking. Though a lot of this isn't based on tonight." He looked at the mournful pink hedgehog. Then he added, hating to admit it: "You're beautiful."

Amy stopped crying.

"I'm...beautiful?" she hiccoughed.

"Sure," said Shadow, not looking her way.

"I don't believe you."

"Try."

"I...can't." Amy sat, her tear-stained face downcast.

Shadow ran his hand over his crimson-streaked spikes.

"You've got very bright eyes," he began, talking through his teeth. "You've got a cute little nose. Your ears prick up when you're excited or alarmed. You have this adorable blush that dusts lightly over your cheeks when you're embarrassed or when you're confused. You bite your lip when you're feeling uncharacteristically shy. It's very...engaging."

Amy paused in thorough astonishment. Was this Shadow? Was this Shadow saying all these things about her?

"You're not...you're not lying?" she asked hesitantly.

"Of course I'm lying – the sky is green and money grows on trees. You happy?"

Suddenly, Amy grabbed the hedgehog's head and kissed him fervently on the lips. Shadow's direct response was to break away and demand an explanation. But something in him made him deny that force. He let his mouth be compliant to hers as she closed her lips over his. Slowly, she pulled away from him. Shadow stared at her, his brow still faintly furrowed.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"I dunno," Amy murmured. She still held his hands on the sides of his head. Her heart fluttered. It was the moment – the fiery, electric moment that made her do it. It wasn't her. It was just the heat of the moment. The heat of the moment that drew her slowly towards him once again.

"Shadow, you're so..." she whispered. "So..."

She slumped against him and began to snore.

"Ooohhh...kaayyy?" murmured Shadow.

---

When Amy next opened her eyes, it was pitch dark outside and she was in her bed. Her vision indicated that she was underwater...only she could breathe. Her head throbbed with pain. Struggling, she pulled herself up. Her head swayed. She grizzled loudly. She felt so sick.

"Want some water?" said a voice.

"Yes please," Amy murmured, reaching out for the glass. She took it and downed the whole lot. She gave it back. "I want some more—WAAAHHH!"

She screamed in shock and surprise when she realised that Shadow the Hedgehog was in her room, sitting beside her bed, offering her water. Immediately, she clutched her head.

"Aargh. Crap, my head," she muttered. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"You kept trying to turn on your back while you slept," Shadow replied calmly. "Not such a wise move for someone who's completely inebriated."

"What time is it?" Amy groaned dizzily.

"It's only half twelve. I can stay for a bit longer if you want."

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"You already asked me that," said Shadow.

"Did I?" asked Amy, completely disoriented. She moaned. The pain in her head was completely unbearable. She tried to focus on Shadow. He blended in too well with his surroundings. She focussed on him until her eyes ached. His arms and legs were crossed and he had a very stern expression.

"What happened?"

Shadow snorted. "You don't wanna guess? There was a rehearsal dinner in honour of Sonic and Mina, if you recall."

Amy strained her memory. What day was it?

Oh...

Amy felt like she was going to throw up.

"What did I do?" she asked suddenly. "What did I say? What happened at the – where is my dress?"

"I couldn't expect you to sleep in that thing," said Shadow calmly.

"What the hell did you do with my dress, you pervert?!" Amy shrieked, covering herself with her comforter. She was only in her underwear.

"Amy. Calm down, will you? Your dress is over there on that chair."

Amy squirmed.

Shadow undressed me. Great. That's the most sex I'm going to get for another very long time.

"What happened at...earlier tonight? Where...?" Again, Amy rifled through her memory. Visions of earlier events were vague. She remembered seeing Les Miserables. She remembered going to a hotel and there was a party. There was a cute guy who was...rather weird in person. There was wine.

Ahaa. I know there was wine...

There was a video and a lot of festivity. Over a wedding that...wasn't meant to be.

Amy felt the back of her throat close up.

"What did I do?"

"Drank too much," said Shadow.

"No, what did I do?" Amy cried.

"Your behaviour tonight was inexplicably inappropriate to a degree that I hope you never fully remember. However much I feel for your disposition, Rose, you must learn to take responsibility for your actions."

"Shadow, tell me what happened," Amy said desperately. To her surprise, Shadow's temper somewhat abated. He uncrossed his arms and legs and leant in towards the bemused girl.

"You don't need to know right now, Rose. Everything's fine. The party was a success, everyone enjoyed themselves and went home. Now get some sleep. Things will feel much better in the morning."

"I didn't ruin anything, did I?" asked Amy steadily. "And please tell me the truth, Shadow, because I'd hate to be the one to ruin an event just because I'm the stupidest little girl you ever saw."

"Amy Rose," Shadow commanded. "Go to sleep. Rest your head. You were drunk. For the most part, you are forgiven, but you will make amends for the things you've done eventually. For now, you don't need to know. Everything's fine. Go back to sleep."

Amy couldn't deny her aching body rest any longer. Her head fell heavily into her pillow.

"I've been such a stupid girl," she murmured.

"I forgive you," said Shadow. "Goodnight, Rose."

The pink-haired girl closed her eyes.

"Goodnight, Shadow."

---

Out in the street, Shadow caught the night air in his nostrils. Why was the air always cleaner and sweeter in the night time? As he walked home, the memory of Amy pinched his gut.

She kissed me. Why did she kiss me?

It troubled Shadow all the way home. What did this mean? Did she like him? No. She was still infatuated with Sonic. But could she...?

Why was he bothering himself with these stupid questions anyway? What did it matter to him if some vulnerable girl kissed him while she was under the influence of alcohol?

It takes a lot of alcohol to smooch a guy like me, Shadow thought to himself.

He reached the door to his apartment block. He had in mind that Rouge would still be awake, counting her sapphires or something. Then she would ask all the inevitable, banal questions. 'Where were you?' 'Who were you with?' 'What did you do?' 'Did you finally get some action?'

Shadow smirked. People could be so predictable.

Not Amy. She surprised him tonight. Not many people do that.

He was still standing outside the door to his apartment block. He looked out down the road. It was almost completely still. A truck trundled by in the distance.

He went for a run.

---

Mina swept away the remainder of her makeup for the night and tossed the cotton pad she had used in the trash.

One more day, Mina-girl...

Her stomach churned. Her memory reverted back to Amy's unwelcomed drunk speech. What the hell was she thinking? Mina had been angry – angrier than Sonic, in fact – but forced herself to enjoy the rest of the night through a clamped jaw. That was her rehearsal dinner. If that's how Amy was going to behave, what would tomorrow hold? Mina shuddered and left the bathroom. Sonic was taking off his tie in the mirror.

"Hey," she said.

Sonic turned and smiled. "Hey. You alright?"

"Mmmm," said Mina thoughtfully, making her way to the bed and sitting down.

"What's up?" asked Sonic.

"You don't know?" Mina answered. She seemed tight.

"Honey," Sonic enthused. "Don't let it get to you. She was drunk and stupid. People do stupid things when they're—"

"I'm not angry about that," Mina started, truculent. Sonic shuffled.

"Then what are you angry about?"

"I'm angry about the fact that maybe there's a chance that she could be right."

Sonic paused, stunned.

"What?"

"Don't lie to me, Sonic," Mina warned. "You might play videos and use your deadly charm to get out of sticky situations, but I want you to be straight with me."

"What makes you think I won't be?" Sonic asked anxiously.

"Do you want to marry me?" Mina demanded.

"Mina...of course I do! What, you think this whole year of getting together a proposal, an engagement party, arranging Eggman's trial for an earlier date so we could have a wedding was because I don't want to marry you?"

"Sonic, don't start with me," Mina ordered.

"I'm not starting anything with you," Sonic objected. "I'm just saying, do you realise how crazy you sound?"

"So now I'm crazy?" asked Mina, standing up. "Is that how you see me, is it?"

"Now – see, now you're twisting things into something else. Mina, I'll be honest, the past few months haven't been a bed of roses. But I wouldn't do it if I didn't think the end result was going to be perfect – me, spending the rest of my life with you and us being happy together."

"You're happy?"

"You're not?"

"I'm scared, Sonic. I'm scared that all this time, you haven't changed, that you still want to run across the world alone, break free from the bonds of commitment and live a single life on the freeway."

"That's what you really think of me?" Sonic asked, offended.

"That's what you've shown yourself to be. In the past," Mina stated. She was frightened now. Frightened that she believed what she said.

"In the past," said Sonic, whipping his tie off from around his neck. He slowly walked towards his fiancée. "I was an asshole. I treated girls badly. To a point where I feel Amy had every right to do what she did tonight. But that's all a thing of the past, darlin'. I'm not that guy anymore."

By now, his face was parallel and inches away from Mina's.

"And why should I believe you?" asked Mina defiantly.

"Why should you believe me? Because I'm telling you!" Sonic suddenly burst out. He paced the room. Mina stood solidly, arms folded and defensive. "I've been your boyfriend for over five years, I'm about to become your goddamn husband and here you are asking why you should believe anything I tell you!"

"Track record, Sonic!" Mina argued.

"Track record, my ass!" Sonic threw back. "Don't you get it? I'm in love with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. For some reason, everything that I've promised you, done for you and made for you in the past half year all of a sudden doesn't mean anything to you. Mina, I don't fucking get it."

He made a swipe at the wall beside the windows. Mina had begun to tremble, her stomach in knots. This was not how she planned the night before her wedding to go.

"Well, I don't get you!" she said abruptly. "You act like one guy – this 'I'm gonna be a bachelor forever' guy who runs around without a care in the world, flitting from one adventure to the next, fling after fling like a typical hero and then all of a sudden you act like you're committed to me, you wanna marry me and you wanna be with me for the rest of your life!"

"Because I do, goddamn it!" Sonic thundered, slamming his fist against the wall again. "What more do I have to do to make myself clear? Is a proposal not enough?"

"Nothing can undo what you've done and who you've run away from in the past, Sonic the Hedgehog!" Mina cried.

"Fine!" Sonic roared, stomping towards the door. "If that's the way you think, then don't expect to sleep with any company tonight!"

"Fine! Like I would want to sleep with a over-confident hero who flirts too much!" Mina shot back.

"Fine!" Sonic yelled.

"Fine!" Mina yelled back.

"Good!" Sonic shouted as he barged through the door. Mina ran to the doorway.

"At least now I won't wake up with spike marks in my back!"

She slammed the door.

Sonic stampeded down the stairs, muttering to himself angrily. He then ran into Knuckles who stood in the doorway of the kitchen. He was in a bright green dressing gown and matching slippers and was carrying a hot drink. He looked at Sonic quizzically.

"Were you and Mina just fighting?" he asked quietly.

"What's it to you?" Sonic spat. He then looked at the drink Knuckles was carrying. He looked at the echidna derogatively. "Is that cocoa?"

"It helps me sleep," said Knuckles darkly.

"Way past lame, man," Sonic growled, shoving his way past. Before Knuckles could start on him, Sonic was outside in Knuckles' back yard. The air was warm and sweet. An owl was hooting nearby. The sky glittered with stars. It was always clear up on Angel Island. Sonic paced, needing a project, needing to vent his aggressive energy. He raced up the ancient ruins to the Master Emerald, dashing around it until he made himself giddy. Then, still muttering angrily, he kicked one of the pillars nearby. It hurt. A lot. Sonic swore, grabbing his foot and hopping around a bit. Then he sat down and took a breather.

Where the hell did that all come from? He wondered. How long has she been hiding that from me? Or was it just a spur-of-the-moment thing? That's unlikely – she's not PMSing. Then what was she doing? What was she trying to do? Was she just out to make me angry tonight? What the hell is her problem?!

Sonic took a few deep breaths. Then he dashed from where he was at the speed of sound. He scaled thirty-two miles before he turned back and returned to his seating place beside the giant glowing emerald. He pressed his forehead against the luminous specimen. Its radiance had a soothing effect on Sonic.

She's probably just scared. Well, so am I! What makes her so important?

He took some more deep breaths.

There's only twelve hours and thirty-nine minutes before it happens. Before the wedding. Before the moment I've both been waiting for and dreading like nothing I've ever dreaded before. This is the scariest thing ever. Such a commitment. Such a big step.

Wait...what if she had a point?

No. I'm a different guy. I'm a guy who has enough love in his heart to give to one woman forever. I can commit to her. I can be with her for the rest of my life.

But as he began to comprehend the hugeness of the situation that he faced in twelve hours and thirty-eight minutes time, he began to doubt that he truly believed what he was thinking.

But this is how every guy feels before his wedding. Auburn told me that. He made me sure of that. It is huge and it is overwhelming. But you get past that, he said. Minus the huge amount of people, the big party, the rituals thrown into it for good measure, there's the girl you love standing at the altar with you, waiting to begin the rest of her life with you. That's what makes it worth it.

And Mina is worth it. No matter how mad she makes me sometimes.

He straightened up, looking straight into the enormous mystic jewel. It was certainly enchanting. For a moment, Sonic understood why Knuckles was so dedicated to his job.

Dedication...I didn't know that word existed in my dictionary.

Dedication requires passion. What was Sonic's passion? Running. Right then and there, he knew what he needed to do.

---

Mina was sleeping when he finally returned to their bedroom. Carefully, Sonic lay on the bed with her. She still stirred.

Why does she have to be such a light sleeper? Sonic queried in his mind.

"Sonic?" she whispered.

"Hey," he smiled back.

Mina put a hand to his face.

"Sonic, I'm so sorry," she said. "I'm just nervous. There's only a few hours left until—"

"I know, I know," said Sonic softly. "I'm sorry I got mad at you."

Mina smiled, mollified. She turned on her side and went back to sleep. Sonic lay with his body curled up beside hers.

He didn't sleep. He lay with his eyes open for hours. Sunlight was beginning to inflame the horizon by the time he got up, tired of trying to close his eyes and rest as if everything was fine. He was very careful not to wake Mina.

Gently, he kissed her on the head. She sighed, but continued to sleep.

Sonic crept out of the room as carefully as he could. He shut the door, hoping Mina would at most roll over at the sound of the lock clicking into place. Down the hallway, he could hear Knuckles snoring. He tiptoed down the stairs and into the kitchen once again.

There in the corner of the room by the door, amongst other pairs of virtually ignored shoes, were Sonic's old sneakers.

He walked over and picked them up. They were still the same as ever before. Barely worn out in spite of all the running he had ever done. They were good, solid running shoes.

He put them on.