Sonic Pandemonium
Written by Crystal Crazyshot and Mike Wolfskin (a.k.a Team Icon)
Issue Four "What Ever Happened to Amy Rose?"
It was a bright shiny day. Amy Rose awakened within the vicinity of a wooden cottage or so it seemed at first glance. In the middle of the room laid the trunk of a tree. It went through the floor to the roof. The whole place looked like it had been built around the tree itself. Around the trunk was a circular bench that could be used for one of two things; sitting and it looked as though there were drawers were you place things. She could here the birds chirping outside the window. The light began to glare in on her forehead. She stretched her arms begin to yawn. The air blew through the open window ever so slightly cold and warm. In with the wind came a few leafs and beautiful and strange looking flowers. They had the wonderful smell of cherries.
Walking outside, Amy saw a magenta hedgehog with dark fuchsia head and back quills. She wore a dark pink short sleeve t shirt with a black skirt and an odd crescent shaped medallion that resembled a key board.
"Late again" she sighed "Where is he?"
Seconds later, a green hedgehog came from around the corner wearing a brown vest and matching waist bag also with a strange looking medallion. This one was
formed fo three ovals and looked like it was shaped like a set of drums. His top head quills went up and over his eyes like bangs almost out in every direction.
In one hand he carried a set of drumsticks that had been given to him as a gift. In the other, a hover board was held.
"Check this out, sis'" he said "My hover board has been modified!"
He then threw it in front of himself and jumped on.
"Manic Hedgehog!" his sister said "What on Mobius are going to need a hover board for?"
"Ah. C'mon, Sonia!" Manic said "You never know when this is going to come in handy!"
Sonia just put her hands to side and gave Manic an annoyed look. Before the debate could turn in to an argument, a young rabbit came up to the two with a chao in a bow tie following not too far behind.
"Oh good. I am very pleased to see that both of you could meet me here" she said "There is something Cheese and I discovered something by the river!"
The three then left for the river. Manic flying on his hover board.
Moments later Amy climbed down the rope ladder and was approached by a white cat with a black patch of fur over the shoulder and left eye. Her hair was tied back in a pony tail that came up over her back.
"Those three are always going off somewhere." she said "The Sonia and Manic need something to get over the passing of their twin brother. They hardly ever play music anymore."
"They lost their twin brother" Amy asked sympathetically "Does that mean they used to be triplets?"
She looked back towards Amy as if too answer, but just sighed.
"Oh. I almost forgot. My name is Kari" she said "After Robotnik took over, those two were brought to this place to live here while their brother was sent to Knothole Village."
Kari then looked to where the three young Mobians took off to.
"The Sonia and Manic used to play music almost everyday" she explained "but it's been quiet since Sonic died."
"Sonic's dead?!" Amy gasped in a panicked tone "That can't be!"
She then fell to her knees and began to cry. Questioning how and why.
"Will I never be able to see him again?" she thought "How could Sonic die? He's too strong willed to die!"
In the middle of Amy's "hero mourning", sharp roar pierced the silence, nearly startling her out of her solemn thoughts. It was a large plant like monster that had a single purple flower with its face being in the center and vines outstretching almost two and a half times its body length.
The roar came from the area that the three friends had been exploring.
"Hey, man!" Manic said to the monster " Go find another party to crash!"
"Manic!" Sonia exclaimed "Get back here!"
While running away, the young rabbit that was with them tripped and was lifted into the air by the monster.
At that moment, a bright red fox with dark reddish brown hair wearing a yellow bow and matching boots with a light brown waist bag started attacking the plant monster in an attempt to get it drop her friend.
"You leave Cream alone you big bully!" she yelled throwing rocks at it.
"Uh... Fiona, I don't think that's going to work" Manic said "He's not fazed by the rocks!"
"Manic, what about the medallions created by Merlin Prower?" Sonia said "We haven't had the chance to see what they cam do!"
"I'm way ahead of you, Sonia" Manic said "Maybe they'll help in fighting that overgrown Venus fly trap!"
Holding they're hands to the medallions they each turned into a musical instrument. Sonia's was a portable key board and Manic's turned in to a drum set.
Kari joined the fight as she came at the monster with her claws unsheathed, ready to scratch it. She scored a large scratch across its face that only served to annoy it.
Several other young Mobians joined the fight with any weapon they could find. Which was pretty much short wooden swords and larger rocks.
"Hey there, tall dark and 'grew-some' "Manic called "Here some sounds from the underground!" Using his drumsticks, Manic created a shock wave that knocked the monster on to its feet.
Sonia activated a laser blaster from the keyboard and shot the vine holding Cream. Causing it to release her immediately as Manic reabsorbed his drum set and got his hover board to catch her.
"Thank you very much for saving me, Manic" said Cream.
"Don't mention it, Cream" Manic replied "It was nothing"
after setting her down to a safe place, he tried to activate the medallion again. Only to find out that it was low on energy.
"Hey, sis'!" he called "My medallion's totally drained! You got this guy until it recharges."
Their medallions had been losing power since Sonic's death, but it was never thought that they would drain completely or would there be a need to use them.
Without thinking, he just ran up the side of the plant monster and started doing drum riffs on its head. It reached over and caught him by the ankle. Hanging him upside down. Fiona picked up a rock and tied it to a fallen tree branch. She then hurled it at the monster. The projectile struck it in the eye as it waved its vines wildly throwing Manic about in every direction the air. Another weapon was made and thrown at the monster. This time, it cut the vine holding him.
"Manic, are you alright?" Sonia said concerned "How do you feel?"
Manic had a greener complexion than usual and held his hands up to his mouth.
"Sick." he replied "Excuse me, sis'! I gotta go hurl!"
He then ran for the nearest bathroom. Passing Amy on his way.
She looked towards the fight scene where everyone had been struggling with the monster. Walking into the melee she pulled out what looked like a small handle. Extending it into her Piko Piko hammer. Her walk turned to a fast run as it was held behind her. The pace quickened until she was close to the plant monster. Jumping into the air, Amy raised her hammer and whacked it on the side of its head. Making it spit out the Chaos Emerald shards that it had.
With the effects reversed, it shrunk to the size of a regular daisy. It then ran away whimpering like a scared creature.
"Don't know who you are, but thanks for the help" Sonia said surprised "Come with me to my hut and we'll get to know each other better."
Later that day, Amy asked many questions. Kari had to tell her to slow down while they were answered.
"First, let me introduce these two,"she said "Sonia and Manic Hedgehog. Before their birth, Merlin Prower created a medallion for each of them. They were brought here for protection against Robotnik when he took over. Bernadette gave their brother to Sir Charles Hedgehog to live in Knothole Village."
" They were supposed to keep us together" Manic said walking out of the back room "Little good that did!"
He was starting to feel better from his episode of being tossed like rag doll, but still clutched at his stomach uneasily.
"Ugh! I don't think I can take another trip like that!" he said "My stomach is still doing circles!"
Seeing the green hedgehog that bore a striking resemblance to Sonic, Amy jumped to her feet and exclaimed "Sonic!" Running up to Manic and hugging him.
"Huh? I'm not Sonic. My name's Manic" he said "I'm sure you've heard of my brother's death?"
Amy let her arms slide off from him as she sat back down. "I still can't believe that Sonic's dead," she said.
Manic's started to fill with tears. "I can relate to that, man!" he said sadly "I'm still having trouble believing it and I'm his brother!"
"I didn't know Sonic had a brother!" said Amy. He then broke down in tears as they flowed freely from his eyes. "Why did he have to die?!" he cried "It's just not fair! I barely had the chance to know him."
Sonia patted her brother's back trying to console him. "Manic?" she said "I'm sure it was for a good cause."
This was the same thing she told Manic when they first heard of their brother's tragic death, but it unfortunately had the exact same effect. It made him more upset.
"And what cause was that?!" he said still crying "To separate us?! I'm sure we were going to be reunited when Robotnik was defeated, but now we can't do that now that he's dead!"
"He's kind of sensitive" Kari said "And he has very strong feelings and emotions"
"I didn't mean to upset you, Manic" said Amy apologetically.
Manic wiped away his tears and sat down with the group. "Nah! It's alright" he said "I needed to get that off my quills. I feel a little better now."
"We were both devastated when news reached us of Sonic's passing"Sonia said "Manic is still trying to get over it."
"I found you by the shore of this village"Kari explained " You were out unconscious and I brought you here. It's usually safe from intruders that's why most young children that are here are either orphaned or brought by their parents for safe haven. Since then, we've formed our own orphanage gang."
Everyone said in unison "The Triple Trouble Freedom Fighters."
"And we've been looking out for each other since" Manic said "Well, it's getting kind of late we'd better hit the sack and catch some z's"
"I'm with you, brother" Sonia agreed.
Amy and Sonia decided to stay up late that night. Talking about this and that. They drank hot chocolate till their hearts' delight. Stick after stick, they roasted marshmallows over a fire for s'mores with cherry blossom petals cooked into them.
Sonia mentioned that it was a rare delicacy at this time of season and that they only bloom at this time. They told scary stories like "Resident Evil". The night grew long and dreary and before long, the two decided to go to sleep. Amy stayed over at Sonia's place. She tried to go to sleep in the extra bed that Sonia had incase Manic stayed over, but the bed was apparently made for a mere child of seven. Which mysteriously everyone in the village was the same age. They all strangely looked as though they were seven, which was okay because they were also very kind. Mysteriously, Amy felt as though she was closer to their age. Tonight, more than usual. Even though she was fourteen. She felt she was closer to their age because, she was once ten. That was before she wished upon a strange Magic Ring. Why had she done it? To be closer to Sonic's affection, she did it so that she could journey with him on some big adventure. It didn't work, she had all but given up on Sonic.
Besides, he was dead. There would be no changing that fact. She decided to put her mind at ease. Tossing and turning, she tried to cover her whole body with the small blanket. But she could not cover her feet, because it was too small. To make matters worse, there was a cabinet in front of the bed. Which by any means could not be moved. It had been built into the wall. The bed was so small and she was so big that her feet would hang over the bed, but in this case, the cabinet was in the way. She had to place her feet against it. The last thing she remembers hearing before she goes to sleep was Sonia ask her "So, how old are you?"
Amy replied "Fourteen". She finally falls asleep and slowly minute by minute she became warmer. Somehow she had become very comfortable in the small confined space. The cold wind didn't seem to blow so cold on her feet anymore. That's when she noticed that her feet were covered by the blankets as well as her body. She stretched and yawned, but it was her own voice yawning that startled her.
"That's not my voice, it sounds too young" Amy said "Ah! That's not my voice is it?! Ack! Am I sick or something?"
She quickly looked at her hands, they appeared to be normal sized. "Whew. I thought I had shrunk or something like Thumbelina" she said "Must be my imagination." But with those words, her hands shrunk in font of her very own eyes.
She threw the blankets off and jumped out of bed. She then looks at her child-like body in amazement and said "YAAAH!!! I've shrunk IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE!!"
Meanwhile in the polluted city of Robotropolis, Robotnik sat at the control room as a Swatbot came on one of the screens. "All sectors report nominal, your rotundness" it reported "no sign of Freedom Fighter activity in three months."
At that time, Snively came in holding a pizza box and cautiously opened the door.
"Excuse me, master Robotnik" he said.
Irritated by this interruption, Robotnik turned his chair around to face his lackey.
"What is it?!" he snapped "This had better be good!" Snively presented him with the pizza box. "I hate to disturb you, master Robotnik" he said " But your pizza has arrived."
The tyrant took the box and asked "Is it evil?" Snively replied "Yes, Lord Robotnik! It is. It is!"
Some kind of dark ghost-like spirit flew out of the box as it was opened.
"This is good. Very good indeed, Snively" Robotnik said "Take a good look! This something that those so called "Freedom Fighters" won't be expecting! MWAHAHA!"
He then pointed towards a building that was over three feet taller than the other buildings. Several Swatbots had been posted guard there, because its undeniably large size would be sure to attract the attention of the core group of Freedom Fighters in Knothole Village. Then again, without their best team mate they wouldn't get past the Swatbots without getting captured. He was then reminded of the day the hedgehog had finally bought the farm. He was finally rid of that troublesome Sonic. Recalling the very last moments of that no-good pin cushion, the trap set so perfectly that he had inadvertently walked right into it.
"Enough reminiscing!" Robotnik said flatly "What of the supplies from G-7? Do the Tech Bots have them ready to transport to the labs in the southern wing of the control room?"
"Production has reported that everything is going along ahead of schedule, sir" he answered "they just need to deliver it to the freighter vehicle."
Robotnik twirled one side of his mustache with his robotic hand "Excellent, Snively" he said "Send for it immediately!" "Yes. At once, oh oval one" replied Snively.
Before the short Overlander could walk out, he was halted by a last minute order.
"Not a word of this latest development is to leave this room" Robotnik said threateningly "If it does, I'm going to Roboticize you and use you as the world smallest paper weight. Understand?!"
Unnerved by the tyrant's threat of Roboticization, Snively loosened the collar around his shirt and said "V-very clear. S-sir!"
Unknown to either Overlanders that the pizza delivery boy was actually a light blue hedgehog that appeared to be Roboticized.
"This is serious" he said " I have to warn the Freedom Fighters!"
Meanwhile back at the Triple Trouble Freedom Fighter team's domain in a nearby young pink hedgehog's house, a new young pink hedgehog is throwing a fit about her new age.
"Aaaah! My clothes don't even fit!" she said.
Amy's clothes begin to slip from shoulder to shoulder. The clothes she is wearing then drop from her shoulders to the ground as she shrinks smaller and smaller.
"Aaah! I'm going to shrink into an ity bity baby at this rate."
Suddenly from the top bunk Sonia looks down and says " No you're not. You're going to revert until you're seven."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner, Sonia?!" Amy snapped.
She then shrinks smaller. Basically, Sonia doesn't like Amy's response and decides to have a little fun with her.
"It's okay, little sister. I'll take care of you." she said "It'll only take you seven years to grow up. I'll take care of you when you shrink in to an ity bity, teeny baby. Don't worry about it, I'll be your mommy, sweetie. Though I'm not quite sure if I remember how to change ity bity diapers, but I'll figure it out."
Then Amy looks embarrassed with a scared like look, she shrinks down the size of what she previously was. She now resembles a seven year old hedgehog. Sonia then screams out in laughter "April Fools!"
Taking out her Piko Piko hammer, Amy starts going wild after Sonia screaming "It's not nice to make fun of people!!!"
Sonia runs out her hut to get out of the way of Amy's warpath out in to the snow. At this same time Manic had just woken up and looks out to see Amy completely naked. He immediately runs back into his hut. Amy doesn't notice at first, but a cold wind blows past her. Making her realize how cold it is and yells "What's going on here?!"
"Come back inside or you'll freeze, Amy" Sonia said "C'mon!"
All of a sudden the wind gets colder and Amy wraps her arms around her shoulders for warmth. Running back inside into Sonia's hut.
"You'll catch a cold if stay outside in the snow with no clothes on" said Sonia.
"What am I supposed to do about that? All of my clothes are too big for me" Amy said " I have nothing to wear!"
"I think I can fix that problem" Sonia said thoughtfully " Wait here and I'll be right back!" She then walked into the back room of her hut to look for something for Amy.
Minutes later, she came out with a light blue silk dress. Accompanied with violet ribbon.
"Try this one on" said Sonia. Amy took the dress and placed up to her as if she were seeing is it was the right size. Then slipped it on, it fit perfectly.
"Wow!" she exclaimed "It's perfect!" Sonia folded her arms over her chest and thought for a minute. "Not quite," she said "It still needs something to make it complete." Sonia then placed the violet ribbon behind Amy's top set of head quills.
Then they both walked to the bathroom to use the mirror. Placing a hand on her shoulder, Sonia said "Definitely you, little sister."
She couldn't help but giggle a little as she suppressed a laugh. "Hey! I'm older than you!" said Amy.
"We're all the same age, but since you shrank after I did. That makes you 'younger' than me" Sonia explained. "By the way, what's the deal with this strange weather? It was fall yesterday and now it's winter!" said Amy.
"Oh, that! This place changes season every day ," she continued "That's why the cherry blossoms are a rare delicacy. We get them every other day. Haha."
"How did I revert to a seven year in the first place?" Amy asked "Something like that just doesn't happen!"
"Any one who enters this forest changes from their previous age to a seven year old child." Sonia said " The only way to change back is to leave the border, but a shield makes that impossible. I didn't think it was necessary to concern you with those details."
Later that day, Amy came out and saw Cream making something with flowers.
"Hi. What're you doing" she asked "It looks interesting"
Cream looked up at the pink hedgehog that had just spoken. "I'm making flower crowns for everyone in the village with the flowers I picked yesterday" she answered " Would like to make some too?"
"Sure!" Amy accepted " This is going to be lots of fun!"
As night fell upon the forest, everyone sat by a large campfire.
By coincidence, Manic sat by Amy. They both looked at each other with an embarrassed _expression. The blush showed right through Manic's green fur .
"Uh... listen I didn't mean to stare at ya like that" he said nervously "I'm s-sorry."
"I kind of liked the attention" Amy said "Don't worry about it"
He was very surprised by what Amy had said, because when he had walked in on his sister. She screamed all kinds of thing s at him about manners and didn't he ever hear of a thing called a door he was supposed to knock on before entering.
"My sister is the only female hedgehog I've seen around here," Manic said "Until we found you that is."
For the next ten minutes, he tripped over his words as tried to think of what to say next. He then said "Um.. It be great if ..uh...we could be ... boyfriend and girlfriend."
The blush reddened further on Manic's complexion. Not sure what kind of response he would get. Between them was a long awkward silence, before Amy took hold of his hand in her own. " I think that would a great idea, Manic." she replied "Sure."
Manic then smiled for the first time in three months as his brown eyes shone brightly and filled the spark that had been missing in a long while.
Grasping both of Amy's hands in his own he said "Thanks."
As the night went on, they fell sleep by the campfire leaning against each other. Each holding the other's hands. Sonia watched this and thought "He's been so depressed since Sonic died, this is the happiest I've seen him in a long time."
Written by Crystal Crazyshot and Mike Wolfskin (a.k.a Team Icon)
Issue Four "What Ever Happened to Amy Rose?"
It was a bright shiny day. Amy Rose awakened within the vicinity of a wooden cottage or so it seemed at first glance. In the middle of the room laid the trunk of a tree. It went through the floor to the roof. The whole place looked like it had been built around the tree itself. Around the trunk was a circular bench that could be used for one of two things; sitting and it looked as though there were drawers were you place things. She could here the birds chirping outside the window. The light began to glare in on her forehead. She stretched her arms begin to yawn. The air blew through the open window ever so slightly cold and warm. In with the wind came a few leafs and beautiful and strange looking flowers. They had the wonderful smell of cherries.
Walking outside, Amy saw a magenta hedgehog with dark fuchsia head and back quills. She wore a dark pink short sleeve t shirt with a black skirt and an odd crescent shaped medallion that resembled a key board.
"Late again" she sighed "Where is he?"
Seconds later, a green hedgehog came from around the corner wearing a brown vest and matching waist bag also with a strange looking medallion. This one was
formed fo three ovals and looked like it was shaped like a set of drums. His top head quills went up and over his eyes like bangs almost out in every direction.
In one hand he carried a set of drumsticks that had been given to him as a gift. In the other, a hover board was held.
"Check this out, sis'" he said "My hover board has been modified!"
He then threw it in front of himself and jumped on.
"Manic Hedgehog!" his sister said "What on Mobius are going to need a hover board for?"
"Ah. C'mon, Sonia!" Manic said "You never know when this is going to come in handy!"
Sonia just put her hands to side and gave Manic an annoyed look. Before the debate could turn in to an argument, a young rabbit came up to the two with a chao in a bow tie following not too far behind.
"Oh good. I am very pleased to see that both of you could meet me here" she said "There is something Cheese and I discovered something by the river!"
The three then left for the river. Manic flying on his hover board.
Moments later Amy climbed down the rope ladder and was approached by a white cat with a black patch of fur over the shoulder and left eye. Her hair was tied back in a pony tail that came up over her back.
"Those three are always going off somewhere." she said "The Sonia and Manic need something to get over the passing of their twin brother. They hardly ever play music anymore."
"They lost their twin brother" Amy asked sympathetically "Does that mean they used to be triplets?"
She looked back towards Amy as if too answer, but just sighed.
"Oh. I almost forgot. My name is Kari" she said "After Robotnik took over, those two were brought to this place to live here while their brother was sent to Knothole Village."
Kari then looked to where the three young Mobians took off to.
"The Sonia and Manic used to play music almost everyday" she explained "but it's been quiet since Sonic died."
"Sonic's dead?!" Amy gasped in a panicked tone "That can't be!"
She then fell to her knees and began to cry. Questioning how and why.
"Will I never be able to see him again?" she thought "How could Sonic die? He's too strong willed to die!"
In the middle of Amy's "hero mourning", sharp roar pierced the silence, nearly startling her out of her solemn thoughts. It was a large plant like monster that had a single purple flower with its face being in the center and vines outstretching almost two and a half times its body length.
The roar came from the area that the three friends had been exploring.
"Hey, man!" Manic said to the monster " Go find another party to crash!"
"Manic!" Sonia exclaimed "Get back here!"
While running away, the young rabbit that was with them tripped and was lifted into the air by the monster.
At that moment, a bright red fox with dark reddish brown hair wearing a yellow bow and matching boots with a light brown waist bag started attacking the plant monster in an attempt to get it drop her friend.
"You leave Cream alone you big bully!" she yelled throwing rocks at it.
"Uh... Fiona, I don't think that's going to work" Manic said "He's not fazed by the rocks!"
"Manic, what about the medallions created by Merlin Prower?" Sonia said "We haven't had the chance to see what they cam do!"
"I'm way ahead of you, Sonia" Manic said "Maybe they'll help in fighting that overgrown Venus fly trap!"
Holding they're hands to the medallions they each turned into a musical instrument. Sonia's was a portable key board and Manic's turned in to a drum set.
Kari joined the fight as she came at the monster with her claws unsheathed, ready to scratch it. She scored a large scratch across its face that only served to annoy it.
Several other young Mobians joined the fight with any weapon they could find. Which was pretty much short wooden swords and larger rocks.
"Hey there, tall dark and 'grew-some' "Manic called "Here some sounds from the underground!" Using his drumsticks, Manic created a shock wave that knocked the monster on to its feet.
Sonia activated a laser blaster from the keyboard and shot the vine holding Cream. Causing it to release her immediately as Manic reabsorbed his drum set and got his hover board to catch her.
"Thank you very much for saving me, Manic" said Cream.
"Don't mention it, Cream" Manic replied "It was nothing"
after setting her down to a safe place, he tried to activate the medallion again. Only to find out that it was low on energy.
"Hey, sis'!" he called "My medallion's totally drained! You got this guy until it recharges."
Their medallions had been losing power since Sonic's death, but it was never thought that they would drain completely or would there be a need to use them.
Without thinking, he just ran up the side of the plant monster and started doing drum riffs on its head. It reached over and caught him by the ankle. Hanging him upside down. Fiona picked up a rock and tied it to a fallen tree branch. She then hurled it at the monster. The projectile struck it in the eye as it waved its vines wildly throwing Manic about in every direction the air. Another weapon was made and thrown at the monster. This time, it cut the vine holding him.
"Manic, are you alright?" Sonia said concerned "How do you feel?"
Manic had a greener complexion than usual and held his hands up to his mouth.
"Sick." he replied "Excuse me, sis'! I gotta go hurl!"
He then ran for the nearest bathroom. Passing Amy on his way.
She looked towards the fight scene where everyone had been struggling with the monster. Walking into the melee she pulled out what looked like a small handle. Extending it into her Piko Piko hammer. Her walk turned to a fast run as it was held behind her. The pace quickened until she was close to the plant monster. Jumping into the air, Amy raised her hammer and whacked it on the side of its head. Making it spit out the Chaos Emerald shards that it had.
With the effects reversed, it shrunk to the size of a regular daisy. It then ran away whimpering like a scared creature.
"Don't know who you are, but thanks for the help" Sonia said surprised "Come with me to my hut and we'll get to know each other better."
Later that day, Amy asked many questions. Kari had to tell her to slow down while they were answered.
"First, let me introduce these two,"she said "Sonia and Manic Hedgehog. Before their birth, Merlin Prower created a medallion for each of them. They were brought here for protection against Robotnik when he took over. Bernadette gave their brother to Sir Charles Hedgehog to live in Knothole Village."
" They were supposed to keep us together" Manic said walking out of the back room "Little good that did!"
He was starting to feel better from his episode of being tossed like rag doll, but still clutched at his stomach uneasily.
"Ugh! I don't think I can take another trip like that!" he said "My stomach is still doing circles!"
Seeing the green hedgehog that bore a striking resemblance to Sonic, Amy jumped to her feet and exclaimed "Sonic!" Running up to Manic and hugging him.
"Huh? I'm not Sonic. My name's Manic" he said "I'm sure you've heard of my brother's death?"
Amy let her arms slide off from him as she sat back down. "I still can't believe that Sonic's dead," she said.
Manic's started to fill with tears. "I can relate to that, man!" he said sadly "I'm still having trouble believing it and I'm his brother!"
"I didn't know Sonic had a brother!" said Amy. He then broke down in tears as they flowed freely from his eyes. "Why did he have to die?!" he cried "It's just not fair! I barely had the chance to know him."
Sonia patted her brother's back trying to console him. "Manic?" she said "I'm sure it was for a good cause."
This was the same thing she told Manic when they first heard of their brother's tragic death, but it unfortunately had the exact same effect. It made him more upset.
"And what cause was that?!" he said still crying "To separate us?! I'm sure we were going to be reunited when Robotnik was defeated, but now we can't do that now that he's dead!"
"He's kind of sensitive" Kari said "And he has very strong feelings and emotions"
"I didn't mean to upset you, Manic" said Amy apologetically.
Manic wiped away his tears and sat down with the group. "Nah! It's alright" he said "I needed to get that off my quills. I feel a little better now."
"We were both devastated when news reached us of Sonic's passing"Sonia said "Manic is still trying to get over it."
"I found you by the shore of this village"Kari explained " You were out unconscious and I brought you here. It's usually safe from intruders that's why most young children that are here are either orphaned or brought by their parents for safe haven. Since then, we've formed our own orphanage gang."
Everyone said in unison "The Triple Trouble Freedom Fighters."
"And we've been looking out for each other since" Manic said "Well, it's getting kind of late we'd better hit the sack and catch some z's"
"I'm with you, brother" Sonia agreed.
Amy and Sonia decided to stay up late that night. Talking about this and that. They drank hot chocolate till their hearts' delight. Stick after stick, they roasted marshmallows over a fire for s'mores with cherry blossom petals cooked into them.
Sonia mentioned that it was a rare delicacy at this time of season and that they only bloom at this time. They told scary stories like "Resident Evil". The night grew long and dreary and before long, the two decided to go to sleep. Amy stayed over at Sonia's place. She tried to go to sleep in the extra bed that Sonia had incase Manic stayed over, but the bed was apparently made for a mere child of seven. Which mysteriously everyone in the village was the same age. They all strangely looked as though they were seven, which was okay because they were also very kind. Mysteriously, Amy felt as though she was closer to their age. Tonight, more than usual. Even though she was fourteen. She felt she was closer to their age because, she was once ten. That was before she wished upon a strange Magic Ring. Why had she done it? To be closer to Sonic's affection, she did it so that she could journey with him on some big adventure. It didn't work, she had all but given up on Sonic.
Besides, he was dead. There would be no changing that fact. She decided to put her mind at ease. Tossing and turning, she tried to cover her whole body with the small blanket. But she could not cover her feet, because it was too small. To make matters worse, there was a cabinet in front of the bed. Which by any means could not be moved. It had been built into the wall. The bed was so small and she was so big that her feet would hang over the bed, but in this case, the cabinet was in the way. She had to place her feet against it. The last thing she remembers hearing before she goes to sleep was Sonia ask her "So, how old are you?"
Amy replied "Fourteen". She finally falls asleep and slowly minute by minute she became warmer. Somehow she had become very comfortable in the small confined space. The cold wind didn't seem to blow so cold on her feet anymore. That's when she noticed that her feet were covered by the blankets as well as her body. She stretched and yawned, but it was her own voice yawning that startled her.
"That's not my voice, it sounds too young" Amy said "Ah! That's not my voice is it?! Ack! Am I sick or something?"
She quickly looked at her hands, they appeared to be normal sized. "Whew. I thought I had shrunk or something like Thumbelina" she said "Must be my imagination." But with those words, her hands shrunk in font of her very own eyes.
She threw the blankets off and jumped out of bed. She then looks at her child-like body in amazement and said "YAAAH!!! I've shrunk IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE!!"
Meanwhile in the polluted city of Robotropolis, Robotnik sat at the control room as a Swatbot came on one of the screens. "All sectors report nominal, your rotundness" it reported "no sign of Freedom Fighter activity in three months."
At that time, Snively came in holding a pizza box and cautiously opened the door.
"Excuse me, master Robotnik" he said.
Irritated by this interruption, Robotnik turned his chair around to face his lackey.
"What is it?!" he snapped "This had better be good!" Snively presented him with the pizza box. "I hate to disturb you, master Robotnik" he said " But your pizza has arrived."
The tyrant took the box and asked "Is it evil?" Snively replied "Yes, Lord Robotnik! It is. It is!"
Some kind of dark ghost-like spirit flew out of the box as it was opened.
"This is good. Very good indeed, Snively" Robotnik said "Take a good look! This something that those so called "Freedom Fighters" won't be expecting! MWAHAHA!"
He then pointed towards a building that was over three feet taller than the other buildings. Several Swatbots had been posted guard there, because its undeniably large size would be sure to attract the attention of the core group of Freedom Fighters in Knothole Village. Then again, without their best team mate they wouldn't get past the Swatbots without getting captured. He was then reminded of the day the hedgehog had finally bought the farm. He was finally rid of that troublesome Sonic. Recalling the very last moments of that no-good pin cushion, the trap set so perfectly that he had inadvertently walked right into it.
"Enough reminiscing!" Robotnik said flatly "What of the supplies from G-7? Do the Tech Bots have them ready to transport to the labs in the southern wing of the control room?"
"Production has reported that everything is going along ahead of schedule, sir" he answered "they just need to deliver it to the freighter vehicle."
Robotnik twirled one side of his mustache with his robotic hand "Excellent, Snively" he said "Send for it immediately!" "Yes. At once, oh oval one" replied Snively.
Before the short Overlander could walk out, he was halted by a last minute order.
"Not a word of this latest development is to leave this room" Robotnik said threateningly "If it does, I'm going to Roboticize you and use you as the world smallest paper weight. Understand?!"
Unnerved by the tyrant's threat of Roboticization, Snively loosened the collar around his shirt and said "V-very clear. S-sir!"
Unknown to either Overlanders that the pizza delivery boy was actually a light blue hedgehog that appeared to be Roboticized.
"This is serious" he said " I have to warn the Freedom Fighters!"
Meanwhile back at the Triple Trouble Freedom Fighter team's domain in a nearby young pink hedgehog's house, a new young pink hedgehog is throwing a fit about her new age.
"Aaaah! My clothes don't even fit!" she said.
Amy's clothes begin to slip from shoulder to shoulder. The clothes she is wearing then drop from her shoulders to the ground as she shrinks smaller and smaller.
"Aaah! I'm going to shrink into an ity bity baby at this rate."
Suddenly from the top bunk Sonia looks down and says " No you're not. You're going to revert until you're seven."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner, Sonia?!" Amy snapped.
She then shrinks smaller. Basically, Sonia doesn't like Amy's response and decides to have a little fun with her.
"It's okay, little sister. I'll take care of you." she said "It'll only take you seven years to grow up. I'll take care of you when you shrink in to an ity bity, teeny baby. Don't worry about it, I'll be your mommy, sweetie. Though I'm not quite sure if I remember how to change ity bity diapers, but I'll figure it out."
Then Amy looks embarrassed with a scared like look, she shrinks down the size of what she previously was. She now resembles a seven year old hedgehog. Sonia then screams out in laughter "April Fools!"
Taking out her Piko Piko hammer, Amy starts going wild after Sonia screaming "It's not nice to make fun of people!!!"
Sonia runs out her hut to get out of the way of Amy's warpath out in to the snow. At this same time Manic had just woken up and looks out to see Amy completely naked. He immediately runs back into his hut. Amy doesn't notice at first, but a cold wind blows past her. Making her realize how cold it is and yells "What's going on here?!"
"Come back inside or you'll freeze, Amy" Sonia said "C'mon!"
All of a sudden the wind gets colder and Amy wraps her arms around her shoulders for warmth. Running back inside into Sonia's hut.
"You'll catch a cold if stay outside in the snow with no clothes on" said Sonia.
"What am I supposed to do about that? All of my clothes are too big for me" Amy said " I have nothing to wear!"
"I think I can fix that problem" Sonia said thoughtfully " Wait here and I'll be right back!" She then walked into the back room of her hut to look for something for Amy.
Minutes later, she came out with a light blue silk dress. Accompanied with violet ribbon.
"Try this one on" said Sonia. Amy took the dress and placed up to her as if she were seeing is it was the right size. Then slipped it on, it fit perfectly.
"Wow!" she exclaimed "It's perfect!" Sonia folded her arms over her chest and thought for a minute. "Not quite," she said "It still needs something to make it complete." Sonia then placed the violet ribbon behind Amy's top set of head quills.
Then they both walked to the bathroom to use the mirror. Placing a hand on her shoulder, Sonia said "Definitely you, little sister."
She couldn't help but giggle a little as she suppressed a laugh. "Hey! I'm older than you!" said Amy.
"We're all the same age, but since you shrank after I did. That makes you 'younger' than me" Sonia explained. "By the way, what's the deal with this strange weather? It was fall yesterday and now it's winter!" said Amy.
"Oh, that! This place changes season every day ," she continued "That's why the cherry blossoms are a rare delicacy. We get them every other day. Haha."
"How did I revert to a seven year in the first place?" Amy asked "Something like that just doesn't happen!"
"Any one who enters this forest changes from their previous age to a seven year old child." Sonia said " The only way to change back is to leave the border, but a shield makes that impossible. I didn't think it was necessary to concern you with those details."
Later that day, Amy came out and saw Cream making something with flowers.
"Hi. What're you doing" she asked "It looks interesting"
Cream looked up at the pink hedgehog that had just spoken. "I'm making flower crowns for everyone in the village with the flowers I picked yesterday" she answered " Would like to make some too?"
"Sure!" Amy accepted " This is going to be lots of fun!"
As night fell upon the forest, everyone sat by a large campfire.
By coincidence, Manic sat by Amy. They both looked at each other with an embarrassed _expression. The blush showed right through Manic's green fur .
"Uh... listen I didn't mean to stare at ya like that" he said nervously "I'm s-sorry."
"I kind of liked the attention" Amy said "Don't worry about it"
He was very surprised by what Amy had said, because when he had walked in on his sister. She screamed all kinds of thing s at him about manners and didn't he ever hear of a thing called a door he was supposed to knock on before entering.
"My sister is the only female hedgehog I've seen around here," Manic said "Until we found you that is."
For the next ten minutes, he tripped over his words as tried to think of what to say next. He then said "Um.. It be great if ..uh...we could be ... boyfriend and girlfriend."
The blush reddened further on Manic's complexion. Not sure what kind of response he would get. Between them was a long awkward silence, before Amy took hold of his hand in her own. " I think that would a great idea, Manic." she replied "Sure."
Manic then smiled for the first time in three months as his brown eyes shone brightly and filled the spark that had been missing in a long while.
Grasping both of Amy's hands in his own he said "Thanks."
As the night went on, they fell sleep by the campfire leaning against each other. Each holding the other's hands. Sonia watched this and thought "He's been so depressed since Sonic died, this is the happiest I've seen him in a long time."