Chapter 5:

Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast

Sonic stood at the long counter in her kitchen, hands moving at an inhuman speed as she chopped onions. Her arms and shoulders flexed as she tossed them in a large pot on the stove, then some celery and finally some peppers. She stopped and wiped her brow with a cloth and looked around herself. It had been only three days since her father had given her the life-changing news, and now he was gone. Her new stepmother didn't waste any time and Freda was gone that very day.

"I have confidence you'll be able to do what needs to be done," Freda said to Sonic before she left. "You are your mother's daughter, and I'm sure she would be proud of you today. If you ever need me—"

"Move along," said Lisa. "Retirement waits for no fox."

Freda just sighed and nodded. Picking up her suitcase, she left through the door Amy was holding open. As soon as her tail was through, Amy closed the door. Sonic held her eyes open so the tears in her eyes wouldn't spill down her cheeks.

"I miss her already," she thought. "And I wonder what happened to Tails."

Outside the house, just down the lane a little, Freda was stopped by a well-dressed hedgehog. She looked up at him and then curtsied as well as her stiff joints would let her. He just nodded and gestured for her to walk with him.

"To what do I owe the honor, Prince Shadow?" she asked.

"Well," said Prince Shadow stiffly. "You see… I happen to fancy a certain hedgehog in that house back there and I was hoping you could tell me more about her."

"You don't mean one of the new ones who just moved in do you?" Freda asked bitterly. "They just fired me."

"I most certainly do not," said Prince Shadow, a disgusted sneer crossing his face. "I mean the blue one. Could you tell me about her?"

"I could," said Freda. "I've known her since she was a baby. What do you want to know?"

Not knowing of the conversation going on about her, Sonic slumped against the counter and stared at the clock. The stew smelled so good, especially the tangy onions, nose twitching garlic and herbs, and the heady scent of the simmering pork she loved so much. Hearing a noise from outside the kitchen door, she quickly straightened and began chopping potatoes.

The door opened and Amy walked in. She wore bright yellow, and had two gold bows at the ends of her braids. Sonic wanted to yank hard on those braids. She had braided them this morning, and Amy hadn't stayed still the whole time, complaining that Sonic was pulling them too tight.

"The stew smells delicious Sonic," said Amy. "I don't know why you have to wear those old rags though. Just look at that kerchief on your head. Did you pull that out of a mop bucket?"

"Well Amy," said Sonic in a falsely sweet voice, "I don't want to get hair in the food. I'm sure neither you, nor your sister or mother would appreciate that. As for wearing rags, I don't want to get my nice clothes dirty. Since I'm apparently the new cook around here, I have to do my best to have a clean kitchen and make the best food I can."

"Humph," said Amy, staring into the stew pot. "When is this going to be done? I'm hungry!"

"It'll be done when the potatoes are soft," said Sonic, tipping the cut potatoes into the pot, "So about two hours. The stew needs to simmer to let all the juices combine and for the vegetables to cook perfectly."

"But I'm hungry now!" whined Amy as Sonic began peeling and slicing carrots.

"Then why not feed yourself?" she asked. "I'm sure you know how to do that. This is a kitchen, and it's full of food. I'm sure even a spoiled girl like you knows how to butter some bread."

Amy huffed and smacked Sonic's head with a cupboard door as she flung it open. Sonic hissed and spat curses under her breath. Amy opened every cupboard and drawer, trying to find food. Finding only uncooked rice, noodles and the like, she got more and more frustrated, leaving every drawer and cupboard open in her wrath. Spotting the bread Sonic had mentioned, she slapped it down on the table and stared at it.

"It's not cut."

"So cut it," said Sonic indifferently.

"I don't want to cut myself," said Amy fussily, "Or ruin my manicure."

Sonic cut Amy's bread with her vegetable cutting knife and slathered it with butter. Amy took it and Sonic went back to work. Amy bit into the bread, then frowned.

"I'm thirsty."

"You know Amy," said Sonic, "There's such a thing as a refrigerator. Why don't you see what mysteries it holds in its cold depths?"

"What in the name of Mobius is a refrigerator?" Amy grumped.

Sonic pointed with her knife in the direction of the fridge, though it could have also been the freezer. Amy walked over and opened the freezer. A blast of icy air hit her face and she slammed it shut.

"How can food survive in there?"

"That's the freezer Amy," said Sonic. "Raw meat lives in there."

"Eeeww!"

"Try the fridge," said Sonic. "It's right next to it."

Amy opened the fridge and grabbed a can of coke. She then spied Sonic's stash of Oreos on top of it and reached up for them.

"You won't like those," said Sonic. "They're poisonous."

"I know what Oreos are, Sonic," said Amy. "I'm taking them. See you when the stew's done."

Sonic growled under her breath and flung the carrots into the stew pot. She was going to hate, no correction, she already hated her life. What would she do from this point on? She was not going to allow herself to be a servant to Lisa and her daughters forever. That just wasn't going to happen.

She closed all the cupboards and drawers, then filled the sinks with water. She slipped in the cutting board, knife and a few other dishes, then dumped in some soap. As Sonic fumed and washed the dishes, she heard a knock on the window.

Sonic jumped sky high and heard a giggle coming from outside the window. If that was someone playing a prank on her, she was going to throw a rotten onion at them. She was not in the mood. Climbing the counter, she looked through the window and saw Tails waving at her. Her angry and exasperated expression morphed into a grin.

"Hey Tails," she said, pushing the window open. "What are you doing here?"

"Well I was just exploring the neighborhood and I found your house!" said Tails, beaming, though Sonic thought he also looked a bit shifty eyed. "I thought I'd see if you wanted to come out and play… Oh… Maybe not. You look…"

"Sweaty and dirty?" asked Sonic wryly. "I know. I've been making stew."

"No… That's not what I was going to say at all. You look upset."

"I've just been dealing with things," said Sonic. "I don't know if I can come out right now."

"Sonic!" called Lisa's voice.

Sonic scrambled off the counter and began drying dishes. Lisa pushed open the kitchen door and surveyed the kitchen, nodding to herself.

"Good," she said, "Good. This all seems in order. I see the stew is simmering well. I've just come here to inform you that my daughters and I are going to the fair. Do enjoy yourself at home."

Lisa swept out of the room and slammed the door. Tails flew inside and landed on the counter, his nose twitching. His eyes fastened on the pot of stew and he licked his lips hungrily.

"That's not ready yet," said Sonic. "I can make you a sandwich though."

Sonic put a lid on the pot and finished drying the dishes. She put the dishes away, then got two pieces of bread out of the bread box Amy hadn't spotted. While she was at it, she cut the rest of the bread and put it in the box. There was no sense in leaving a loaf out with only one slice cut out of it. In less than ten seconds, she presented Tails with a ham sandwich and the fox grinned happily.

"Thanks Sonic!" he said, his feet wiggling as he sat on the counter. "The bunnies I live with are very kind, but I missed you so I flew over the whole city looking for you. I heard… I mean I was restless so I wanted to do something."

"You're welcome," said Sonic. "You live with bunnies now? I'm glad you found a home. Mine just became inhospitable. Anyway, you wanted to play?"

Sonic peered curiously at Tails, who was munching his sandwich hungrily. Tails was wearing a tool belt and a brand new red shirt. Something seemed strange about the little fox, though. Sonic could understand him flying all over looking for her, but he seemed like he knew more than he was letting on. She decided she'd leave it for now.

"Yeah!"

"Well," said Sonic. "My stew just needs to simmer now, and the others won't be back for a while, so how about we go out?

"Works for me," said Tails.

The two of them walked outside and into the forest. Sonic climbed a tree while Tails flew up and sat on the highest bow.

"I'm king of the world!" sang out Tails.

"Says who?" Sonic asked. "I'm stronger and faster."