30 Days of Sonic Prompt 21: Transformation
Media: Post-Reboot Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Comics
Muddled to Everyone But Me
"Whoo! Let's go, Nicole! That's what I'm talkin' about," Sonic said, breaking the ice.
Nicole thanked him and laced her hands in front of her waist. When Sally had suggested she show everyone her new transformation, she had hesitated. It was still an untested power for her. She had only sustained the form in cyberspace and for minutes at a time. And when she had used it a second time, she managed it, but the circuits on her handheld fried during the decisive battle with Dark Gaia.
With the supercomputers of the Sky Patrol, Rotor had reassured her that they could monitor her power. The moment he inserted the Red Ring, and she projected herself to her friends, she had sensed warmth running through her, a feeling she maintained without overheating, proving Rotor right.
Their surprised expressions turned to delight after Sonic spoke. Cream, Cheese, and Amy gushed over her new fur and attire. Antoine wiped the sweat off his brow, seemingly baffled by the power she exerted. Bunnie laughed and fanned him with her hat while she complimented Nicole. Rotor marveled between her and the monitors, carefully checking for any signs of strenuous overloading. Big gave her a thumbs-up, Froggy croaking up a storm of support as well.
Sally's smile seemed plastered on her face. The twinkle in her eyes, the dimples in her cheeks, tell-tale signs of her awe. Although she had seen Nicole's transformation in cyberspace, the crackling energy around her fur and the heat permeating off her Red Ring cufflinks had Sally tethered to the spot in a state of wonder.
Sonic dashed over her and threw his arm around her shoulder, smirking. "What's up with the stunned silence, Sal? Go on, tell Nicole she looks good," he urged, rubbing his knuckles into her side.
"Wha-?" She jumped slightly and gently batted his hand away. "Sonic, I was going to do that."
"Really? Because to me and everyone else, you were in a total state of bliss," he countered, hitching his thumb at Nicole. "Probably because Nicole's leaving you speechless, right?"
"With such a cool get-up, she'd knock anyone dead!" Amy exclaimed, squealing.
Nicole chuckled and tilted her head, watching as Sally raked her fingers through her hair, groaning. She peered at the others, humming when she noticed a strange consistency among them. One by one, they turned to Sally. Their eyes narrowed in a way that Nicole thought meant suspicion, but their smiles told her another story. Even little Cream joined them, a quiet giggle passing her lips, her hands clapping on her cheeks, and the yellow pom-pom ball above Cheese's head formed a heart.
"Sally, you can tell her she looks good," Bunnie urged, sidling up to Sally's other side. She joined Sonic in lightly elbowing her. "Ain't no shame in it. I tell Sugah-twan he looks handsome every morning, so there's no reason to keep all quiet over here."
"It's ze greatest of mood makers, mon amour," Antoine replied, and if his pupils could form hearts, then they would fill his scleras.
As Bunnie blew Antoine a kiss, Rotor sighed and rolled his eyes. He leaned into a monitor, quickly checking it to examine Nicole's vitals. "Nothing too interesting on the radar," he said, stealing a glance at Sally, "but maybe that'll change in a second."
Sally's gaze shot between her oldest friends before she shook her hands. "I get it. I get it. No need to badger me," she insisted, sidestepping away from Sonic and Bunnie. She aimed her finger at them. "And no need to push me either. I was going to say something, you know."
"Well, honesty is always the best policy," Cream piped up, Cheese chirping above her head.
"We just wanted to make sure you said what you really wanted to say because sometimes, you bottle up your feelings," Tails added with an impish smile.
Sally cleared her throat. Nicole remained still as the princess approached her. She twirled a lock of bright pink hair between her fingers, raising her eyes to meet Sally's gaze. If she had a heart, it would have been thundering in her chest when Sally took her hand, smoothing her thumb along her palm.
"Nicole, it's incredible what you've accomplished. This transformation, what you've done for us, everything," Sally said, taking in her form. Nicole noticed her face redden, and she assumed it was due to the heat she exerted. "And you look...so amazing. I mean, wow!" She gestured at her dress. "Pink! And white! And red! How cool." Sally trailed off with a laugh. A scarlet shade in the color of the Red Rings seemed painted on her face. "Just...wow, Nicole. It's so much better up close like this."
The sentiment, buried under fumbling words and shy chuckling, deeply touched Nicole. The monitors spiked, beeping in a way that jarred Rotor. She grasped her other hand, the heat passing from the holo lynx to her beloved, and she thanked her in a voice only Sally could hear.
"That was a long way to tell Nicole she looked pretty," Big interjected, scratching behind his ear.
The girls whipped their heads to Big. The cat remained silent, waiting for an answer. Bunnie, Antoine, and Rotor exchanged glances, amusement sparkling in their eyes. Amy, Tails, Cream, and Cheese leaned into each other and snickered, T-Pup paying them all no mind as he slumbered on the table.
"He's right, and he should say it," Sonic announced, and Sally shouted his name. "That was some disjointed wordplay there, Sally. You can't deny it."
As the other Freedom Fighters agreed and Sally buried her face in her hands, Nicole smiled. She reached over to her handheld and removed the Red Ring, her power swiftly fading. She set the Red Ring on the table, smoke slightly wafting from it, and she took in a calming breath, looking Sally directly in the eyes, who observed her through her fingers.
"As Cream said, honesty is the best policy, even if it's spoken in fragments," she said, laughing as Sally moaned, pressing her palms into her eyes.