Through the Monitor
Chapter 50: A Rose is a Rose
By Ashrua Hedgehog
--
All related Sonic the Hedgehog characters are owned by SEGA, Sonic Team, Archie, et al.
Sam and Max are owned by Telltale Games, LucasArts, etc.
Anyone I've missed is owned by their related owners.
--
"...is it me, or has the days just gotten... lonelier?"
Amy Rose walked the city streets of Station Square, a bag of groceries in her hands. A familiar scene to say the least, though she knows that scene will never play. No Egg Carrier to fly over, no Flicky to crash land, no Zero to fight her for it... well, maybe a Zero to fight HER, but not for a bird. She was right, though, it was lonlier for her. Everyone seemed to have someone close by to talk to, except for her. She'd probably blow it off, saying she can take care of herself, but she knew that was a lie.
It's not fair. Amy thought. Everyone has their parents, or loved ones, or... She passed by a jewelry store, noticing the various people inside, mostly happy couples. She happened to notice one couple in particular, a blue-furred rabbit girl and a tan-furred cat girl. They looked familiar to her, but had to think... The Starlight City incident! With that red hedgehog! Their names escaped them, but she knew who they were. As she watched the two, she noticed the reflection of the rabbit girl... a red hedgehog, scowling. The hedgehog turned, saw Amy staring back, then made what she thought was a lunge at her. Amy screamed as she raced down the sidewalk, nearly running people over. People inside the jewlery store would wonder what would scare a girl like that.
As she got farther away, Amy didn't even bother to see if whatever it was that she saw was still after her. She just wanted to get home. As she reached her apartment, she quickly opened the door and raced inside, slamming it shut. She let out a sigh as she leaned back against the door and slid down to the floor. "It isn't fair..."
--
"Awright! Here we go now!" a voice cried out. A young girl with dyed-pink hair lept into the air, excited, snapping a cell phone shut. Her companion, a young male with brown hair stopped and blunk.
"What's wrong, Sarah?" the boy said. The girl stopped, blunk, then recomposed herself, straightening her green and gold cheerleading outfit.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Tony!" Sarah said, turning to face him, a smile of her face. "That was just dad! He said he needed my help with something. "I guess that cancels homework study tonight..."
"Oh, it's alright, I--" Tony began before Sarah leaned in, giving him a kiss. His eyes went wide as he blushed while Sarah pulled away. "S-Sarah...?!"
"We'll do it some other time, okay?" Sarah said, winking.
"I...I... okay!" Tony said.
"Buh-bye!" Sarah said, turning around as she raced off. As she did, turning a corner, she snapped her fingers. "Piece of cake!" She looked back to see a young bear toddle off into a portal. "That's another down... time for the one "dad" just called about." Sarah slipped into an alleyway, taking her time. "I wonder why Zhane and Zelda couldn't do this..." She grew an extra foot, letting her hair grown longer. "...I mean, are they still hung up about Tikal leaving?" The cheerleading outfit shimmered, being replaced with a sweatered vest covering a white blouse and a denim skirt. "Or is it because of the AfterAshura incident?" She shrugged. "Oh, well, more fun for me! Hop, skip, JUMP!" Like a small child, Sarah hopped, skipped, then, turning backwards, did a backflip, disappearing like a dream...
...then, reappearing elsewhere in the city. "Too easy!" Sarah said to herself with a smirk. As she stood, she pulled out a pair of green-lensed sunglasses and put them on. "Now, let's see..." She tapped the frames. From the inside, she could see close-ups of a building, zooming in on something... or someone. "Ah-HA! Bingo!" A small smile formed on her face as she jumped backwards, disappearing again, then reappearing near her target. She straightened out her clothes, then approached the young man, who was busy firing arrows at a target. She cleared her throat and spoke up. "Uhm, excuse me...?"
"Yes, what is--?" The young man said, turning around, then gasping in shock seeing Sarah. Sarah did the same thing, seeing the face of her target. "J-Jane?!"
Cosmo! My target's Jane's brother?! My brother?! I... Sarah thought to herself. She shook her head and continued. "J-Jane? N-No, you must be mistaken!"
"But... but, you look like her! I mean..." Cosmo said, sighing. "S-Sorry..."
"Oh, no, it's alright." Sarah said, letting out a sigh herself. She, then, let a mischevious smile form on her face. "You look stressed out..."
"Of course I do." Cosmo said, matter of factly. "My sister disappeared on me and it's been a year! She told me and my family that we'd all go see her. It's been a year, where is she? Why aren't we where she is?!"
"Oh, well, what if I tell ya I can bring you to her?" Sarah said.
"Y-You can?" Cosmo said. He reached over and grabbed her by the sweater. "How?! How can you?!"
"My, my! All touchy-grabby and not even our first date!" Sarah said, pushing Cosmo away, then turning away from him, angling herself so that he couldn't see her tap on her sunglasses. She blunk as she realized something. This... this doesn't make sense! Cosmo's chosen, but not them?! She let out a defeated sigh.
"Well, what are you going to do, huh?" Cosmo said, catching Sarah's attention again. Sarah turned back to see Cosmo furious. "Every damn day, all I see on those damn tabloids is about how people are disappearing one by one! I mean, it's ridiculous! She's one of the first we can't follow?! This is stupid! I... I... I just want to hit something!"
"Go ahead." Sarah said, opening her arms wide. "I'm here. Hit me." Cosmo's eyes went wide as she made that offer.
"A...Are you serious?!" Cosmo asked, not noticing his hair turning white.
"Deadly serious. C'mon, I know you can do it!" Sarah said. Cosmo resisted the urge to punch her in the face, trying not to let some sort of primal act against a young woman take over... but, something inside him kept telling him it was okay. He began looking around, as if he was trying to look for something to relax with... only to turn and clobber Sarah with the quiver full of arrows, knocking her sunglasses off and landing awkwardly on her head. "...okay, that was unexpected..." As she cleared her head, Cosmo's hair had turned completely white, he was a few inches shorter than before and a big grin was forming on his face.
"That... that felt good." Cosmo said. "Real good!"
"Oh, really?" Sarah mused.
"Yeah!" Cosmox said, pumping his fist in the air as the ring and middle fingers fused together, white fur crawled over his body and his ears began to shrink from the sides and grow from the top of his head. By this time, his clothes was begining to sag completely as he continued shrinking. By this time, his train of thought went from hitting Sarah to hitting ON Sarah. "Wow! DId anyone mention you look hot?" Sarah giggled at that.
"You must be, too, with all those clothes on." Sarah said, watching as Csmax gasped in horror, seeing human clothes on him.
"Jeeze, you'd think Sam would pull a better joke than this!" Cmax said, his eyes turning completely black, his nose turning a cute shade of pink as his ears and fluffy white tail fully formed. "...wait a sec? Sam? Who's Sam?"
"Sam's your best buddy, remember?" Sarah said.
"Duh! How could I forget!?" Max said, grinning hugely at Sarah. "...there was something else I wanted to do, wasn't there...?" Sarah giggled as she touched the crumpled piles of clothes, quickly reforming them into what appeared to be a couple of Sludgies from Bosco's Inconvenience Store.
"These, perhaps?" Sarah said, holding them out.
"Hey, thanks! Sam DID ask to surprise 'em with a sweet!" Max said, taking them. He, then looked around at his surroundings. "Hey, uh... this doesn't look like my neck of the town. You know how I can get back to my end?"
"Certainly!" Sarah said, kissing Max on the nose and pushing him backwards, a portal forming under him. As he disappeared, she sighed. "Cosmo was chosen, but not them... even worse, Cosmo ended up being that... lagomorph, not a hedgehog!" She snorted in annoyance. "Don't worry, Amy'll get her family! And I'll make it happen!" She spun around and struck a pose. "Leave everything to me! I'll fix it!"
--
"WOOOAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Max cried out as he fell. He looked at his surroundings with awe. "Oooh, head trip! So, this must be how it feels to be on drugs. Trippy!" A few seconds later, Max hit pavement with a WHUMP. "Ow! Okay, that wasn't a soft landing." He stood up and looked around his surroundings. "Smelly air, rundown buildings..." he let out a happy gasp. "'Sam and Max: Freelance Police' building! I'm HOME!" He ran to the front door and began to open it until a figure stepped out through it... and slapped Max airborne. "WHEEEEE!" This cry of joy caused the figure to stop.
"Wait a second... I reconize that voice!" the figure said, holding out his arms, catching Max. The rabbity-thing shook his head and looked at his rescuer: six feet of suit-wearing dog.
"SAM!" Max cried out, wrapping his arms around his old friend.
"Woah, hey, cut it out, Max!" Sam said, laughing. "Where've ya been, little buddy? It's been ages!"
"Eh, I got lost." Max said, blowing it off. He held out the two Sludgies. "Got ya your sweets!"
"Eh, n-no thanks." Sam said, not wanting to know how long he had those. "C'mon, little buddy. The Commishoner called..."
"Oh, boy! Action! What is it this time?" Max said.
"It's Bosco again..." Sam said.
"Jeeze, it's one thing after another with that guy!" Max said. "Eh, he does good business anyway. Let's go see what's up!"
--
Sarah let out a big sigh as she looked at the house where Jane's parents resided from her hiding spot in an alleyway. This was going to be tougher than she thought. She had heard of the parents that had been brought in before, desperate to see their children. She knew that they'd be desperate to see Jane again, though she wondered if they could handle not being able to remember their past selves.
"Well, here goes noth--" Sarah began before a leg blocked her path. "--huh?"
"Going somewhere, dearie?" a voice asked. Sarah turned to see a blonde haired woman smirking at her.
"Y-You...!" Sarah studdered.
"Heheheh... can't think of a name?" the girl said. "We'll just go with what I was called and go with 'Blondie'." She walked in front of Sarah, an evil smirk on her face. With her away from the shadows, Sarah could make out a face: it resembled that of Terra, the girl who disappeared and became Princess Sally.
"Wh-what do you want?" Sarah said, mustering up the courage to face the person.
"Oh, nothing much." Blondie said, walking behind her. "Just wondering what a darling girl like you is doing out here..." She leaned in, whispering in Sarah's ear. "You're too far away from home..."
"B-Back off!" Sarah shouted, turning around and punching her. "I... I know who you are and you don't scare me!"
"Oh, you don't, huh?" Blondie said, leaning forward, straightening herself, then wiping the blood on her lip. Sarah blunk and hopped back as Blondie swung something invisible at her, a loud CLANG echoing as SOMETHING hit a wall. The mysterious item came into view like a dream taking true form: the corrupted Sword of Acorns.
"...almost got me..." Sarah muttered. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out what to do. Racing to the house was out of the question, since Blondie could easily overcome her, and she felt that fighting was out due to the small alleyway.
"Time's up!" Blondie said, rearing back to strike again, only to be launched into the air and crashing onto a nearby rooftop. When the corrupted Terra recovered, she found Sarah with her, weilding a large hammer. "...heh, so, you DO have some fight in ya!"
"Whatever you're up to, I won't let you do it!" Sarah shouted, taking the hammer into a fighting stance.
"Heh, you're an idiot." Blondie taunted. She stood and charged at the young girl, her strikes being blocked by the pole of the hammer. Of course, trying to parry a lighter sword with a large mallet is tough enough as it is! Taking advantage of one failed swing, Sarah swung her hammer down onto the rooftop with a mighty THUMP. The strike missed Blondie, but the resulting liftoff, causing Sarah to be catapaulted towards Blondie, connected, the young girl's feet slamming into the chest of her opponent, dropping her again.
"Had enough yet?" Sarah said, smirking. Blondie growled and swept Sarah off her feet. As she hit the ground, she went to quickly stand, only to be stopped as she found Blondie pointing the sword at her.
"You're an idiot, y'know that?" Blondie said, smirking. "Did you REALLY think you could beat me?" She moved the sword's edge to the collar of Sarah's shirt, aiming at her neck. "I could kill you right here and right now... but where would the fun be in that?" The smirk turned into a grin as she dragged the sharp edge across Sarah's chest, threads of wool giving way and buttons on her blouse snapping off, exposing the young girl to her attacker. Blondie bent down, the blade trained on Sarah's chest still, and chuckled as she pulled the opened sides wider, licking her lips. "Mmm... tasty..."
"...you... you think you won, haven't you?!" Sarah said, her cheeks burning red from being exposed.
"Oh, no, not yet!" Blondie said. "Heh, look at you, so young, so naive... ditch those uptight jerks and join us, hm? You'll like it..."
"You can take that offer and SHOVE IT!" Sarah shouted, bending back her knee and kicking Blondie off her. As Sarah stood and retrieved her hammer, the damage done to her outfit was mended.
"You'll regret that, child... REGRET IT WITH YOUR LIFE!" Blondie shouted just before Sarah lifted her hammer and swung it hard. The resulting connection sent her foe flying in a daze.
"Whew..." Sarah said, wiping her brow. "That was close." Her hammer faded away as she turned her attention back to the house. "Now, for my next mission!"
--
"Amy, are you okay?" came the voice of Cream. In the time since Amy raced back home, Cream and her family stopped by to check on Amy, something that had periodically done since the Rabbits returned home.
"Yes, if something's bothering you, please tell us." Vanilla said, noticing the upset look on Amy's face.
"Well... it's not fair. Everyone's getting their families back but me..." Amy said. "I... I know that they're here someone, but..."
"Amy, listen, what makes you think they're here, moreless okay?" Ice asked.
"Because I KNOW! I JUST KNOW, OKAY?!" Amy snapped. She reeled back, realizing what she did, then looked away. "I'm... I'm sorry, just... Sonic has his family back, Tails has his, Mighty has his... where's mine? Why hasn't mine come back?!"
"Amy, I wish I could say, but..." Vanillia asked, being cut off by the sound of knocking. "Oh, my. Someone's here!"
"It's them! I... I know it's them!" Amy cried out, hopping off her chair and running to the door and throwing it open. "Momma, poppa, I...!" She stopped when she got a face full of gut. "H-Huh?" She looked up to see Sam looking down. "Y-You're not my mom OR my dad!"
"God, I hope not. Certain people would have kittens over that!" Sam deadpanned.
"Sam, it's good to see you again!" Ice said.
"Mr. and Mrs. Rabbit. Cream." Sam said, nodding at them.
"What brings you here, anyway?" Amy said, cocking an eyebrow.
"Well, it's for the Rabbits... it's Max..." Sam said, bowing his head.
"Oh, no... is... is he...?" Cream began, worrying. A few seconds later, a white streak hopped over Sam's head, landed on the floor and slid on his knees to Cream.
"Your lovable Uncle Max is HERE!" Max said. The rabbit's eyes went wide as she lept at the lagomorph, hugging him.
"Max, you're alive!" Cream said, not releasing her grip on him.
"He just came back. Got himself lost at Bosco's store. Again." Sam said.
"Yeah, that was his problem. Turned out I was stuck in his Sludgie machine." Max said. "Can't believe he couldn't figure it out for over a year. A tasty trap none the less, though!"
"Oh, Max, you NUT!" Ice said, approaching the lagomorph. As the Rabbit family surrounded the returned Max, Amy got visably upset.
"This... this... THIS ISN'T FAIR!" Amy cried out, causing the Rabbits and Max to turn around, looking at Amy. "This is YOUR FAULT!" Before Sam could react, Amy pulled out her hammer and connected it to the side of Sam's head, leaving the young hedgehog to race out.
"Amy Rose, wait a second!" Vanilla cried out. But, it was far too late. Amy had already raced out of her apartment and was out the building.
"Did... did anyone get the number of that sledgehammer?" Sam said, dazed.
"You okay, Sam?" Max asked. The dog shook his head as he stood up.
"I'm fine, Max." Sam said, standing up.
"We need to find Amy!" Cream said.
"Easy, Cream. Amy's capible of handling herself." Ice said.
"She's capible of handling anything, especially with that hammer of hers." Max said.
--
"My son and daughter are WHAT?!"
Well, THIS is turning out well... Sarah thought. Following her fight with Blondie, she had confronted Jane and Cosmo's parents and told them of what happend. Jane and Cosmo being on Mobius was one thing, the fact that one's a hedgehog and the other was a lagomorph was something they couldn't take. Even if they did return, they wouldn't be a family!
"I...I can't believe this, I..." Jane's mom studdered. "She said we ALL would be there, together!"
"SHE said that, but SHE isn't in control here!" Sarah said.
"Listen here, missy, I don't know who you THINK you are, but that's my child out there--" Jane's father began.
"Our child? Our CHILDREN!" Jane's mother said, confused as to why he replied like he did. A small smile formed on Sarah's face. A small price to pay, sure, but Jane would get her wish.
"I know what you're thinking, but trust me, it'll all work out!" Sarah said.
"Work out? WORK OUT?!" Jane's mother said. "How can it work out when we can't even be a family anymore?!"
"You will be, trust me!" Sarah said.
"Amy's out there, alone, scared... who does she have to watch over her?!" Jane's mother said, not realizing she had called Jane "Amy".
"I want you to take us to her right now!" Jane's father said, also not realizing the change. Sarah's smile turned into a smirk.
"Oh, you will. Trust me." Sarah said.
"Trust YOU?! Like we can trust those damnable tabloid papers?" Jane's father said, slowly losing height as his hair started to grow longer and turn orange.
"It's HORRIBLE what they've done!" Jane's mother said, her hair turn rose red as she, too, began shrinking.
"Really, you're treating me like some sort of devil, when I'm just trying to help!" Sarah said, shrugging.
"For all we care, you ARE!" Jane's father shouted.
"You don't think the others who had to do this feel the same way?" Sarah asked. She kept talking as she watched the two adults transform. The longer they were focused on her, the longer they wouldn't notice. Slowly but surely, the two were taking the forms of hedgehogs, human clothes molding themselves into ones meant for Mobians (even if they didn't need them), hair becoming quills of some sort. Her smile grew wider as the two finished their transformations. "Now, Amber, Rexton, you need to calm down."
"Calm down? Calm down?!" Rexton said, yelling. "Where's my child, dammit?!"
"Right through there!" Sarah said, pointing towards a portal.
"In... in there?" Amber said, a bit scared.
"...you'd better not be lying..." Rexton said.
"If I was, I wouldn't be here to escort you there. Go on. I'll catch up." Sarah said, watching as the two hedgehogs took each other's hand and entered the portal. As it closed up, Sarah jumped in the air. "ALRIGHT! SCORE!"
"...Sarah." a voice called out. Sarah stopped and winced as she turned around.
"O-Oh... hi, 'dad'." Sarah said, grinning sheepishly.
--
"Oh, it's so nice to be out and about...!"
Ashleigh stretched her arms as she and Tilly walked along a path in a park nearby. The events of the past few days were still rattling in her mind as they walked: Nic's robbery attempt, revealing the existance of the madman AfterAshura, Nic and Fang releaseing AfterAshura, his rampage through Starlight City, and...
"You're blushing, Ashleigh." Tilly said, smiling as she noticed Ashleigh's face turning red.
"I... I am?" Ashleigh said, surprised. "S-Sorry, I... I was just thinking of... well..."
"The kiss?" Tilly said, blinking. "If... if it bothered you that bad, I'm sorry, I..."
"Bothered me? Tilly, that was the greatest thing that's ever happened to me!" Ashleigh said, eyes wide. Tilly smiled softly as she said that. "I'm sorry, just everything happened so fast, it was like a blur!"
"It's alright, Ashleigh..." Tilly said, bringing the rabbit close to her. Ashleigh chuckled and sighed as she laid her head on Tilly's shoulder.
"...I don't want this to end..." Ashleigh whispered. Then, as if some cosmic force wanted to screw her over...
"ASH! ASH, IS THAT YOU?!" A voice cried out. Ashleigh pulled away and began looking around... then screamed as a large figure ran up to her and grabbed her by the shoulders, lifting her up. "Ash! Ash, it's you! Oh, man, it's been so long!"
"Who... who the hell are you?!" Ashleigh cursed, confused at the six-foot komodo dragon lifting her up. Her face turned red as she realized she'd cursed in the process.
"Don't you reconize me? It's me, AfterRyu!" he replied. He got his reply a few seconds later as he found himself launched twenty yards away, into a tree. "Ow... what the hell...?"
"I already have to deal with one 'After' being, I don't want two!" Ashleigh said, holding her hands out.
"I told you that you shouldn't of done that..." a voice said. From the area AfterRyu came from came a tan-skinned human with dark-green hair wearing a skirted business suit. She helped the green-scaled lizard to his feet before addressing the two confused lovers. "I'm sorry, it's just one of his abilities..."
"Who... who ARE you?" Tilly asked.
"My name's Setsuna." the woman replied. She smirked and leaned towards Tilly. "You know who YOU are?" The feline blunk hearing her say that.
"Tilly? Is something wrong?" Ashleigh asked.
"No, nothing. Nothing at all." Tilly said, shaking her head.
"Sorry I did that..." AfterRyu said, sighing. "It's just... I can see my friend Ashura right there in front of me...!"
"H-How...?" Ashleigh asked, confused.
"It's a talent I have..." AfterRyu said.
"...I see..." Ashleigh said, before shaking her head, her voice taking a more masculine tone. "...I never suspect YOU'D be here... friend."
"...that's the Ashura I know." AfterRyu said.
"What are you doing here?!" AfterAshura's voice called out. "Want to come back groveling to me?!"
"Look, man, I didn't mean to disappear like that!" AfterRyu said. Ashleigh's eyes narrowed as AfterAshura continued on.
"You didn't mean... hmph... in case you haven't realized, look where I am!" AfterAshura shouted. "I'm stuck in a girl's body, my old body's disintergrated, and in case you can't tell, I have two girls along with me in this body driving me NUTS!"
"Driving you nuts?" AfterRyu said.
"Yeah, talking about how I shouldn't be evil, that it isn't worth it... the blue haired one keeps muttering something about a flute, but I have no clue what she's talking about." AfterAshura said, causing Tilly to turn around and let out a sigh.
"I see..." AfterRyu said.
"Why DID you bring him here, anyway?" AfterAshura asked, turning his attention to Setsuna.
"He's changed since I pulled him out..." Setsuna began.
"YOU?!" AfterAshura said, stunned. "You pulled him out?!"
"I knew your world was coming to an end, but you and the other person was going to make it. I figured AfterRyu... or should I say, Connor, should have a chance to live." Setsuna said.
"Hmph. Happy day." AfterAshura deadpanned.
"Dude, I didn't mean to abandon you like that... it was Crystallis' fault!" Connor said. Ashleigh's head turned as AfterAshura sighed.
"...I know... I trusted her, but realized too late she was a complete nutter..." AfterAshura said.
"Hey, man, don't let it get to ya..." Connor said.
"Okay, this is freaking me out here..." Tilly said. "I... I know that's your best friend, Connor, but on the outside, that's my girlfriend!"
"I know, I know..." Connor said, shaking his head. "I'm sorry..." Ashleigh waved her hand as AfterAshura scoffed. Ashleigh stumbled a bit as she recovered. "Hey, you okay?"
"I-I'm fine..." Ashleigh said, sighing. "I thought I had him under control, but he's stronger than me..."
"Don't worry about it. The time will come when you don't even have to worry about that." Setsuna said. She turned her attention to Connor. "Do you wish to stay here?"
"...yeah. Don't have anywhere else to go, and I'm NOT staying with those two any longer!" Connor said, causing Ashleigh to look down. "Woah, woah, woah, not you! Two others I was buddied up with!"
"You sure...?" Ashleigh asked, looking up. Connor nodded as Ashleigh's mood brightened again. "That's go--"
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAH!" a voice cried out, causing the four to turn their heads.
"Something's not right...!" Tilly mused as she and Ashleigh raced on, Connor thumping right behind.
--
"S...Stay back... stay back!" Amy said, walking backwards, eyes wide in terror as she confronted Amber and Rexton.
"But, Amy, it's us, your parents!" Amber said.
"Y-You're just another prank Sam and Max are pulling!" Amy said, weilding her hammer. "Mom and dad aren't coming back... I... I should know that by now...!"
"Amy Rose, put DOWN the hammer and listen to us!" Rexton said, trying to calm his daughter.
"What's going on here?" the voice of Connor called out as he, Ashleigh and Tilly arrived at the scene. Seeing the three, Amy panicked.
"I-It's worse than that! It's a trap!" Amy said, freaking out.
"Trap? What do you mean t--OOF!" Connor asked before Amy slammed her hammer into his head. The beast shook his head and snarled, pinning the terrified girl to the ground in his rage.
"Get off my daughter, you monster!" Rexton shouted as he raced to save Amy... only to have him and Connor pulled away from Amy.
"Calm down! Both of you!" Ashleigh called out, straining to hold the two apart while trying not to give AfterAshura a foothold out again.
"What's going on here?" Tilly asked.
"Those two... they... they CAN'T be my parents! It's just another prank!" Amy said.
"A prank? Who'd do that?" Ashleigh said, lowering the two.
"Sam and Max, the creeps!" Amy said, standing up.
"Sam and Ma--" Ashleigh began, confused before she realized who she was talking about. "Amy, I don't think they'd do that..."
"What do you know?!" Amy snapped. She was on the verge of tears as she continued. "My mom and dad are gone... they'll never come back..."
"But, we are back, Amy..." Amber said, hugging Amy from behind. "...we're here, and we aren't leaving..." As Rexton join his wife and daughter, the six looked around as they heard footsteps appraoching them.
"Who's that?" Tilly asked, looking around.
"Sounds... like trouble." Connor said, eyes narrowing. From the bushes came an army of SWATBots and EggPawns, lead by Robo-Knuckles.
"R-Robo-Knuckles!" Amy cried out, eyes wide.
"What do you want?" Tilly snarled, her own eyes narrowing.
"Well, we came for those two elder hedgehogs, but the rest of you'll do nicely." Robo-Knuckles said.
"If you want us, come and get us!" Connor said, smirking.
"Mr and Mrs. Rose." Ashleigh said, narrowing her eyes. "I want you two and Tilly to take Amy and RUN."
"What are you going to do?!" Tilly asked, shocked.
"Can't cut loose with so many people here." Ashleigh said, smirking, her voice changing. Tilly knew what was going to happen, thus forced the Roses to run. "They gone?"
"Yeah... what are you gonna--?" Connor asked before he turned back to see that Ashleigh had been replaced with AfterAshura.
"You think I'm just going to stand back and let you get all the fun?" AfterAshura said. Robo-Knuckles' eyes dimmed seeing AfterAshura standing there. "Round three, you bastard!"
"Great... I can't believe you're here!" Robo-Knuckles complained.
"Aw, what's wrong? Don't like a beating?" AfterAshura said, grinning.
"Hmph! You're nothing now!" Robo-Knuckles said, snorting. "SWATBots... take these two out. I'll go after the hedgehogs!"
"You're going no-WOAH!" AfterAshura shouted, before nearly getting shot at. "Nice aim... gonna hafta do better than THAT!" In a split second, AfterAshura had punched a hole through the SWATBot, his armor already formed.
"We need to make sure those four are outta here safely!" Connor said.
"You don't think I KNOW that?!" AfterAshura said. "Correction: Do you think I CARE!?"
"Dude, they need our help!" Connor said, crushing an EggPawn under his feet. "I mean... all they got to protect themselves is Amy!"
"Amy? Amy WHERE?!" AfterAshura said, not putting two and two together. "I didn't see Amy anywhere there!"
"...you're joking, right?" Connor said.
"...no." AfterAshura said. As the two continued their fight, Tilly and the Rose Family were busy running for their lives, knowing Robo-Knuckles and the rest were right behind them.
"We gotta hurry! They're gaining!" Amy said, panicking.
"Augh, why did those two stay behind...?" Tilly said, growling in anger.
"They had to buy us time..." Rexton said.
"...buy you time to die." a voice called out. The four looked over to see Robo-Knuckles racing beside them.
"Oh, my god..." Amber muttered watching as the robotic echinda took aim and began trying to strike at the four. They couldn't decide if it was bad aim, damn good luck or what that was preventing Robo-Knuckles from actually striking them. As one strike nearly hit the returned Rose family, Amy turned, wielding her hammer.
"BACK OFF YOU FREAK!" Amy shouted, slamming Robo-Knuckles over the head.
"That's it... I've had it with you, you brat!" Robo-Knuckles shouted. He raised back to strike Amy down... only to disappear in a blur of black and white.
"What the...?" Amy muttered. The thing that hit Robo-Knuckles returned, revealing Sam and Max in their DeSoto.
"Hey, guys! Did we miss the party?" Max said.
"Sam? Max? What are you two doing here?" Amy asked
"Besides saving your butts?" Sam said. "Your little rabbit friends got worried and asked us to go find ya and bring ya back!"
"What are you waiting for, hop on!" Max said, Tilly and the hedgehogs not wasting any time as they quickly hopped on. As they did, Robo-Knuckles finally pulled himself from where he had be lodged into: the front of the DeSoto.
"I... am going to KILL YOU!" Robo-Knuckles shouted.
"SAM, FLOOR IT!" Amy shrieked, causing the dog to peel out... in reverse. As Robo-Knuckles tried to reach the six, Max hopped to the hood of the car, grinning.
"What are ya going to do, hm, tin grin?" Max taunted. "Think you're so bad with your claws and your boosters... jeeze, if you were all that, that Robotnik guy would have won YEARS ago!"
"And he WILL!" Robo-Knuckles shouted, trying to fire off his fist at the six... only to get whipped around and thrown off the car as Sam turned sharply. As the DeSoto drove forward, Robo-Knuckles raced towards them, glaring.
"Y'know, I saw this in a movie once." Max quipped as he looked back, watching as Robo-Knuckles began catching up. "Hey, Amy, gimme your hammer!"
"What?! Not on your li--" Amy began before Max dove into Amy's shirt. "H-HEY! What are you doing?! Get out of there!"
"Where's your hammer? I know it's around-- Hey! No wonder Sonic likes Sally more! They're barely there!" Max said before hopping out from behind Amy's shirt with her hammer, leaving the poor hedgehog VERY flustered. As Robo-Knuckles got closer, Max swung the hammer at him, clobbering him senseless. "Ha! Take that!" As the DeSoto raced on, Max kept taunting as the robot seemingly faded into the distance. "Shows whose the better race, huh? Flesh and blood rules, baby! Wha-haha--huh?!" Max stopped as Robo-Knuckles flew at them and tried to grab on to the DeSoto. "SAAAAM!"
"On it!" Sam said, peeling out. Unfortuantly, Robo-Knuckles DID grab something: Amber. The Freelance Police and the Rose family watched in horror, unable to properly stop as the two tumbled to the ground.
"O...Oohhhh..." Amber groaned, trying to stand up through the pain.
"'Flesh and blood rule', hm?" Robo-Knuckles said, standing up easily. He looked over as he could see the brake lights flash as Sam tried to turn the DeSoto around. "Heh, idiots." He walked over and grabbed Amber by her head. "I'm going to gladly make an example out of you." Without a second thought, he tossed the hedgehog into a tree. Robo-Knuckles grinned as he noticed that a branch was holding her up by her collar. "How fortunante. Tell me, woman. Why shouldn't I just end your pathetic life right here and now? I could do so much to you right now, and those who love you wouldn't be able to do anything to stop me." He grinned, seeing the fear in Amber's eyes. "I could tear the skin clear off your body... or better yet... you could be MY toy... yes, Shadow has his, you can be mine.."
"You want a plaything? HERE'S ONE!" A voice called out, a black streak slamming into the tree. As Amber was torn free, she hit the ground and rolled slightly, looking up to see a black armored-and-caped figure fighting it out with Robo-Knuckles.
"Rrrgh... AfterAshura, was it? I've HAD IT with your interferences!" Robo-Knuckles shouted, swinging at AfterAshura.
"Well, I never knew Robotnik's henchmen were such sick individuals! I mean, jeeze! You're PERVERTS!" AfterAshura shouted. As the two slugged it out, Amber began trying to get away from the two. Before she could get far, she could hear the sounds of fighting end as one of the combatants was knocked away.
"...is... is it safe?" Amber muttered, a split second before she found herself kicked onto her back, looking up to see AfterAshura glaring at her.
"I don't know. I wonder." AfterAshura said, smirking as he aimed his clawed knuckles at Amber.
"...wh-why did you save me i-if you...?" Amber muttered, fear in her eyes. AfterAshura glared at the female for a bit, before retracting his claws and helping her to her feet.
"I don't even know why I saved you..." AfterAshura said. "I should have let you die at his hands..."
"...but, you didn't. Why?" Amber asked.
"I... I..." AfterAshura began. He turned away in a huff. "Does it matter? You're safe now. Go back to your family."
"...thank you." Amber said, watching AfterAshura walk away. AfterAshura just waved her off as he disappeared into the forest. A few seconds later, the DeSoto raced back in, Amy and Rexton hopping out and hugging Amber.
"A-Are you alright?!" Rexton asked, worried.
"I'm... I'm fine. Really." Amber said, a bit shakened, but stable enough to hug her family.
"But... who rescued you?" Amy asked.
"Some hedgehog in black armor..." Amber said.
"Did he bite your ankles?" Max asked.
"Hey, wait... where's that rabbit?" Rexton asked, pulling back, before hearing a scream. Tilly chuckled a bit as Ashleigh raced out of the forest in a panic. Tilly hopped out of the DeSoto and embraced the panicked rabbit.
"You okay, Ashleigh?" Tilly asked, chuckling a bit.
"I... I did that, I... what happened? I..." Ashleigh said, disoriented.
"...do you remember?" Tilly whispered.
"O-Only parts... I-I mean, I..." Ashleigh studdered before Tilly pulled her closer.
"Poor thing..." Tilly whispered again, stroking Ashleigh's hair.
"Welp, another case or two solved, two families reunited aaaaaaaaand, I got a Sludgie!" Sam said, pulling the drink from earlier out of his hat and sipping it. "Mmm, and it's still cold!"
"Now, what do we do, Sam?" Max asked.
"Well, let's get these guys home, then we're gonna talk to your brother about an idea I had!" Sam said.
"An idea...?" Max said, then gasping. "You were going to replace me, weren't you!" Sam couldn't help but laugh.
"No, no! Maybe as a backup, but nothing more! You're my tag-team partner, buddy! Nothing's gonna change that!" Sam said.
--
As the groups began to disperse, Setsuna approached Connor again as he finished off the rest of the robots.
"Wow, they looked MUCH harder to beat on TV..." Connor said, chuckling.
"Of course. Many things are different on TV." Setsuna said, smiling. "So... are you going to stay here?"
"AfterAshura's here and I don't have any real place to stay." Connor said. "Especially with the other clowns with us." Setsuna couldn't help but chuckle.
"They ARE a real handful, aren't they?" Setsuna said. She let out a sigh as she summoned a key-shaped staff. "Very well, if that's what you wish..."
"Good luck with whatever you're planning." Connor said, nodding.
"Thank you." Setsuna said, disappearing.
"Great, NOW where do I go...?" Connor muttered to himself, before snapping his fingers. "I know!" With that, he turned and ran off into the city. As Connor ran off, Setsuna reappeared some distance away, garbed in a sailor-like outfit. She approached two figures who were waiting for her. One was a purple-haired young man wearing a purple jacket, black muscle shirt and baggy gray pants. The other was a blond-haired man in a gold and blue outfit. "Trunks. Booster Gold."
"What took ya? God, it looked like I was trapped in a zoo!" Booster replied.
"Sorry, I had to find out about our third companion." Setsuna replied.
"So, he isn't following us?" Trunks replied.
"No... and it's probably a good thing. I'm sure he was getting tired of getting pummeled by you, Mirai Trunks." Setsuna said.
"He was connected to that madman he calls a friend!" Trunks shouted. "Look... forget it. He's gone. He's here on this world and out of our hair. Happy?"
"Truthfully, I'd be happy if both of you were in your own times, but, beggars can't be choosers." Setsuna said. "C'mon. We have to keep moving."
--
Ninety Degrees from everywhere...
"NOW do you see why it was a bad idea?"
Within the Zone Cops HQ, two figures had finished watching the events unfolding. One was garbed in a black and red variation of the Zone Cops uniform, the other wearing almost the same thing Zonic wore, except for the addition of a skirt. The first figure turned to the other.
"You placed not only yourself in danger, but those who didn't NEED to be in danger!" the figure said. "What do you have to say for yourself, Zamy?"
"I..." Zamy said, sighing. "It wasn't fair! I mean, Jane's brother got chosen, but he isn't with her there! I HAD to bring her parents over, Zhadow, I HAD to!"
"Zamy..." Zhadow said, sighing. "You have to understand something. Life isn't fair, and neither is this job. Amy Rose's parents had already lived out their lives. They didn't need to have been put through the risk again."
"But, Zhadow...!" Zamy cried out, before stopping and looking down.
"...I know how you feel. Trust me, Zamy, I know how you feel. You don't know how many times I had to watch a Maria die, and the one time I let one live..." He looked over at Zamy, unlatching her helmet and removing it, showing the cresent moon-shaped scar on her face, the remaints of an incident involving her and the world he had altered. "Though, I have to admit, you're not like the other Amys."
"I'm not?" Zamy asked, taking back her helmet.
"No. The other Amys would have done what you did to impress their Sonics. You did it because you felt it was right." Zhadow said. "There's still hope for you yet..."
"...you say that like it's a bad thing!" Zamy said, scowling when she saw Zhadow smirking.
"You have your next mission, correct?" Zhadow said, focusing on the screens. "Carry on." Zamy saluted, then backflipped out of the room, disappearing like a dream.
"I'm surprised you didn't scold her worse than that." Zonic said, entering the room.
"She's lucky I got to her before Zuckles." Zhadow said. "Zream messed up on one little thing and Zuckles came down on her like a bat outta Hell."
"...don't remind me. Zuckles really seemed ethusiastic about the whole AfterAshura crap..." Zonic said.
"...I probably would have pulled the same thing you did, Zonic." Zhadow said. "...I wouldn't admit it, even if you tore my mouth off."
"You just did, idiot." Zonic said.
"That's beside the point." Zhadow said, dropping the subject. "We need to keep going, though. Who knows whom the enemy'll go after next..."
--
Another Earth... AniEarth.
Outside a quiet little home in Okiyama, Japan, a purple female hedgehog was busy playing with a younger, cyan-colored female hedgehog. Prior to this, she had believed her and the rest of her family dead, but now...
Crystallis Hedgehog had been reunited with her sister, Casey "Kaze" Hedgehog.
She stopped as she heard rustling in the woods near the house. Turning around, she sat Casey down.
"B-Big sister, what's that? I-Is it Robotnik again?" Casey asked.
"If it is..." Crystallis said, looking on. From the bushes, a figure emerged: a deranged Blondie, holding the fake Sword of Acorns. "...what the hell...?"
"Well, if I can't get whom I wanted, I'll get someone else to appease my master. What better way than to get you two... those who interferred will pay the price." Blondie said, smirking.
"Big sister...!" Casey cried out, hiding behind Crystallis.
"Get in the house, Kaze." Crystallis said. "I'll handle this..."
"B-But..." Casey cried out, before turning and running inside.
"What are you talking about?" Crystallis asked Blondie, confused yet ready to attack.
"My master needs someone for his plans, and I've chosen you." Blondie said. "Trust me, right now, you'd want to listen to what I say." She brought the blade up into attack position. "Because I'll kill you right where you stand!" Crystallis' eyes narrowed at Blondie's threat.
"You want me?" Crystallis said, clutching her right hand into a fist. It glowed slightly before dying down, revealing a gold armored outfit, majestic wings spreading widely as she weilded her own sword, a lightsaber-ish weapon. "You'll have to kill me first."
"I'LL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND, YOU BITCH!" Blondie shrieked, racing towards Crystallis.
"...pathetic, really." Crystallis said, calmly as she raced towards Blondie...
...at the end of the battle, only one stood victorious...
...one was dragged back defeated...
...the other...
"...what the heck do I do with a sword like this?" Crystallis said, holding the fake Sword of Acorns as she rested the blade on her jacketed shoulder, returning inside.
