I used to put these things at the beginnings of my stories, but let's face it: I never have full view of the story until I have my 20/20 hindsight. Besides, I completely discluded any author's note or character comment of any kind in my epilogue...I thought it would distract from the general feel of the thing. Anyway, here lies what I was thinking when I wrote this thing.

Sonic: She wasn't really thinking, actually. She banged her head against a rock a few times until the inspiration or concussion set in, then started typing happily away.

Knuckles: and grapes.

A: anyway, many wonder where the hell I get my far-out names like Tarsa and Karpa. It's quite simple, actually. I thought SOMEONE would get it, but I guess it was too obscure... when I first started thinking up names for characters, echidnas namely; I had to first look at what names were given to other characters of this genre. I used Knuckles as an example. He's named for the barbs on his knuckles. I thought knuckles, I thought the bones of the hand- carpals and metacarpals. Carpa, therefore, is Latin for "hand" or "fist." I didn't want to make it too obvious, so I replaced the 'C' with a 'K.' Are you taking this down?

Sn: -,- zzzzzzzz...snkt! Wha? Huh?

And then I thought- what kind of a name is Karpa? It sounds like a fish! So I went along the path to metatarsals. The name Tarsa was born. But in my early devising of plot, I realized I needed Karpa because otherwise I'd be stuck with 'Buttnick as my main antagonist. (Itshell was far from my grasp at the time.) Karpa therefore was born as the evil twin. Also at the time, I had little respect for Shadow, still viewing him as a villain as well. I thought, what the hey! We'll have 'em pair up as the demented duo of doom! And that's how THOSE two got together. Tarsa, on the other hand, was CREATED for Knuckles. (this was a long ass time ago, before I knew about Julie) I felt bad for the poor guy. And at the time, I was working in the pantry of the boarding school I was attending, wearing baggy overalls. Hell, I thought, let's make her a small- town girl. She'll work at a grocery store, filling shelves. I almost gave her a southern drawl, even. But anyway, the baggy overalls became her trademark. I think it fits her perfect. But, why blue? Whoever heard of a blue echidna? Well, twilight blue- as I like to call it- a mixture of light blue and periwinkle- was my favorite color at the time. And it was also the color of the backpack I was staring at when I was thinking up all this crap. So, it just happened. The guardian bit was an accident. At the time, I hadn't seen an echidna WITHOUT the little crescent thing on the chest. My first drawings of Tarsa all included the mark, and I knew not what it meant. By the time I DID figure it out, the mark had already settled itself in as a true part of the character and would not be separated. Everything else just happened as it pleased from there.

About Velociti, you ask? I had the craving for a purple character and there she was! Besides, Velociti is an awesome name for a hedgehog, don't you think? I really regret dumping her, but she may find her way in somewhere in the near future. I like her too much. It's just that Sonic belongs with Sally and that's just the way it is. Any who object speak now or forever hold your peace. -gags Amy-

Amy: MMMF! MMM MMMMMMMFFFF!

Ah, no objections! Wonderful! I now pronounce you hedgehog and wife!

All save Amy: awwwwwhhh! Idn't that cuuuuute!

Sn: eh...how did this happen?

Anyhoot, I bet you were all surprised at the sudden appearance of Itshell. It beats the hell outa me how she got in there. The problem was, I liked the name Lumina too much to have it affixed to a villain. So, that's why there was the sudden and confusing shift at the end in my original version. You're all right. I was rushing it. It sucked. That's whyI changed it. Now it's loverly and wonderful and makes sense. Plus, Itshell was the Mayan goddess of the night and darkness.

Anyway, I shall now allow all characters to have their say on the story. Speak your mind.

Shadow: Karpa's going to propose, isn't she?

Sn: me gots mah Sal-sal!

Tails: you made me look like some prepubescent perv. T.T

A: all twelve-year-olds are. Next!

K: grapes.

Sn: grapes? Chilidogs! me wubbles mah chilidogs!

A: you had your say already. NEXT!

Rouge: -sniff- you had to take away both Shadow AND Knuckles from me, didn't you?

A: don't fret. Everything will turn for the best, you'll see.

R: ooo, I LOVE it when she foreshadows!

Sh: did someone say my name?

A: no. Next.

Cream: I feel so abandoned. ;-;

Charmy: mee too. U,U

Vector: me three. -.-;

Big: dooohhh... I like therapy... They say I'm special...

Therapist: that's right, Big! Think of it as Up's syndrome! Not Down's!

B: yay!

Const. Remington: boy, she made me look like a real wimp in this story...

K: boo.

CR: eeeek! -run away!-

Ok, thank you for your comments! It's been fun! Seeya in the next fic! Faretheewell!

Much luhv

-Poe