A/N: Just got to love summer vacation, all the time one needs to write a story and update quickly. Thanks all for reviewing. Your predictions are. . .creative. Almost what I had in mind, but not. You'll see.

Finally, Amy ran out onto the street she had investigated yesterday. Having a paved path through the woods back to Station Square brought comfort back to the frightened girl. Amy started her lonely jog to the city she loved, never looking back. She wanted to put tonight, and all its memories, behind her. Amy put quite a bit of distance between her and the farm before slowing her jog to a quick walk. She was tired and ready to be home, in the company of good friends.

Maybe that's what she needed, to be with friends. It was time she put these silly love ventures behind her, and focus on the relationships she had with her friends. For the last month, she had been rather distant from them. She knew seeing Cream and the others would brighten her mood again. Amy glanced down at the emerald. She would definitely have to see someone about this. Perhaps Tails, Amy could have sworn he had the yellow chaos emerald already.

This made Amy wonder about the accident again. The mystery behind the car crash was not yet explained. Continuing on her way, Amy reviewed the accident in her mind. The vehicle's dismemberment could have been caused by the emerald. Then again, what was it doing in the middle of a country road? And how did it end up in the barn?

Amy turned the flawless gem around in her hand. The emeralds were known to let off strong energy waves when threatened. Perhaps the waves dismantled the car, but this didn't explain the gem's location in the barn. It had to be the mysterious figure that touched her. Possibly he could have used the emerald to attack the car before going into hiding. This theory didn't add up. Why would the figure lead her to the barn if it didn't want to be found? All the questions made Amy's head hurt. She decided to settle on the emerald wreaking the car, being found by the cryptic person, and then hid in the barn.

Amy rounded the corner to her apartment. As she took hold of the door handle, Amy was reminded of being in front of the barn. The thought sent chills down her spine. Amy hurriedly entered her apartment and shut the door behind her. She had done it. She had faced whatever it was in the fields, and now was home, safe and sound. Breathing heavy from the moment she recalled outside, Amy tightened her grip on the emerald. Yes, she needed to meet with someone about her discovery.

Amy looked around her home. The shadows that once taunted her with scary forms and dark shapes, now seemed to reflect only their caster. She was no longer frightened by them, for she had mastered this kind of darkness. Still, for the sake of seeing, she flipped on a light switch. The overhead light filled the room, sending all darkness running under furniture, hidden from her sight.

It was beyond good to be home. Amy took a quick shower before settling into bed, placing the emerald on her night stand. She had no trouble falling asleep, and in minutes she was dreaming almost peacefully.

Amy stood on the ledge of a scenic mountain, overlooking the most breath taking landscape. She could see for miles, meadows filled with flowers of all kinds. A bustling river supplying the waters that have kept the floral scene alive for years. It truly was a sight to behold. Flower petals danced around in a gentle breeze that caressed Amy's cheek. Soon the petals began to take form beside her.

"Sonic," Amy smiled as Sonic came together before her, the remaining petals circling them both before flying off. Sonic stepped forward and took Amy's hand in both of his. He pulled her close to him. Amy's face flushed red as Sonic began to speak with a soft voice.

"Amy, you mean more to me, then words can describe." Sonic wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. Amy sighed with a smiled, then looked to see her hero's face. The two became lost in each others eyes. Sonic drew closer, both could be lost in the moment forever.

Suddenly, the ground they stood on began to shake. The violent motion flung Amy away from Sonic. She hit the ground and groan, for she was unable to stand. Sonic, too, was having trouble stabilizing himself on the unsteady ground. He turned to Amy quickly,

"Amy! Are you all right?" Before she could answer him, the mountain's foundation finally gave way to the shaking. The entire mountain side went crumbling down into the raging river waters below. They were both free falling through the air, just inches from each other.

"Ahhh, Sonic!" Amy reached out for the falling hedgehog beside her. Sonic did the same, taking hands with Amy. As the two made impact with the water, their hold broke. Amy was sent down river by the rough, unmerciful waters. She struggled to surface herself for air. Yet every time she came close to the substance her lungs brunt for, she was forced back down losing more of the precious oxygen she had left. Amy was about to give up hope when she felt two arms wrap around her middle. It was Sonic! He was trying to pull her up. With great difficulty, Sonic managed to get both their heads above water.

"Amy!" Sonic yelled over the roar of the waters, "You have to try and swim us to shore!" Sonic was beginning to sink back down after saying this. Amy knew he was unable to swim, but she felt completely drained from all her efforts before.

"I...I can't" Amy's reply could barely be heard over the sound of the river. Still, Sonic knew what she was saying.

"Then swim yourself back," Sonic's response stung Amy's heart. "Don't worry, I'll be fine!" Amy watched him start his own feeble attempt to swim to safety. She couldn't watch for long, for she, too, needed to make her way out. With all the power she could muster, Amy strained against the currents. She gave everything she had, and didn't lighten up until she felt the soft sand of the bank under her. She pulled herself entirely out of the water, then collapsed in exhaustion. After a moment, Amy opened her eyes to scan the river bank for Sonic. She looked as far as she was allowed, but could see no sign of him. Amy forced herself up.

"Sonic!" No answer came to her. "Sonic, where are you!"

In her new upright position, Amy could see a limp figure further down the river. It lay motionless on the sand. Amy got to her feet. All her energy came rushing back to her as she began to run. The bank seemed to go on forever. Amy felt like she would never get to her destination. Rain began to fall from the now darkening sky. The sand became like mud, slowing the girl from her run. The wind started to pick up sending the drops of rain at Amy like little stones. Still, Amy pressed forward. If that was Sonic, she needed to be there for him. She had already let him down once.

Amy pushed on for as long as she could, but she felt like she wasn't getting any closer. She fell to her knees in pain, arms shielding her face from the rain. One tear escaped her eye before her determination returned. She had to help Sonic. Nothing was going to hold her back this time. He was...

Ring

Amy sat up quickly in bed, shaking and confused.

Ring

The sound of the living room telephone had woken her. Amy glanced at the alarm clock which she hadn't set in days. The numbers were just a blur of red light to her.

Ring

Her eyes slowly adjusted to the morning light that was streaming through her bedroom window. It was 9:36. Amy pulled the covers off of herself and stood to her feet. She only had two more rings left before the answering machine would pick up for her.

Ring

Stumbling from the sudden awakening, Amy got to the phone in time to answer in mid-ring.

"Hello," She must have sounded awful from the other end of the line, but it didn't really matter to her.

"Amy? It's me, Cream," The sound of Cream's happy voice caused Amy to smile. She hadn't heard from her in a while and was anxious to speak with a friend.

"Hey, Cream," Amy responded trying to sound better than she felt. "Sorry I haven't been talking with you lately."

"That's all right."

Amy spoke with the young girl for a few minutes, listing to Cream's puerile conversations with an occasional chao from Cheese in the background.

"And my mother helped me and Cheese make a cake, we tried to call you yesterday, but you weren't home." Cream was very eager to give a piece of the delicious dessert to her friend. Unfortunately, mentioning yesterday reminded Amy of the chaos emerald and dark figure. Amy sighed into the phone.

"Amy?" Cream knew Amy well enough to tell something was wrong. "Are you okay?" Amy was a bit startled by the question, not really knowing how to answer.

"I just had a hard time yesterday, and I don't really want to be reminded." Amy looked back down the hall to her bedroom. In there was that chaos emerald, and it needed to be dealt with today.

"Cream, I need to go." The grief could be heard in Amy's voice, so Cream decided it would be best not to ask why their talk was being cut short.

"Okay, Amy, I hope to see you soon." "Chao."

With that, the phone call ended, and Amy got ready for a visit to Tails' workshop.