(A/N) Sorry for such a late update. But you know how life is.
Tails flew out over the trouble waters. He couldn't see the gem or its unusual glow. He wasn't even sure where it had fallen.
Tails got closer to the waters surface.
"It has to be here somewhere." Though knowing little about the yellow stone, Tails felt it odd that the magical gem wasn't constantly shining. That was one of the major differences from the chaos emeralds. That and that it could take power from another gem sources.
Amy was watching the frustration on Tails' face form.
"Hey Ames,"
Amy looked over to see Sonic. He had general concern written on his face and in his features. "You okay. Seems you've had a pretty rough week."
Amy wasn't sure how to respond to this. A rough week, how could he even think he understood her 'rough' week? He had no idea what he had put her through since that day in the park. Still, Amy didn't want to upset him or ruin a chance to correct their relationship.
"I'm, fine."
"Oh. Good." That didn't go over well. Sonic sighed. He had really disturbed the normal stability of their friendship. It almost seemed like her wounds would never heal. He hadn't truly done anything wrong. He just told her how he felt.
"Well if you need anything, just ask me. I mean don't be afraid to come to me." This speech wasn't going right at all. Sonic felt utterly stupid, telling her not to be afraid. "I know it's been hard for you, me telling you off and everything, but..."
"Just Shut-Up!" Was that all he had to say to her? Tears filled her eyes. After what she'd done for him in the past, how she loved him, all he could say was 'I know it's been hard.'
"How about, 'I'm sorry, Amy." The female hedgehog advanced on Sonic forcing him to step away with every move she made. "Or, 'I know I've been a real jerk to you.' All I ever did to you was care about you, and you still have the... The... to speak like..." Amy couldn't finish. She covered her face in her hands and sobbed. There was nothing else she could say, that was it.
She could admit she had been a bit clingy, annoying, selfish...She had been rude, relentless... no wonder he didn't want her. She had spent most of her time chasing him, crying to him, and not really getting to know him. If anything, he had been more loving to her then she of him. He saved her when she was in trouble, held her in tears, talked to her if she needed it. Sonic just wanted room. He needed space to run and have adventures. She wanted to stifle that.
Amy uncovered her face and looked up at him. She had hurt him even now with her words. Sonic did care; he just wasn't showing it the way she wanted. And instead of accepting it, she pushed him till he wanted nothing to do with her.
"Oh Sonic! I'm So Sorry!" Amy ran to Sonic and gripped him tightly around the neck.
"Amy Please..."
"It's my fault!" Between sob the girl tried to explain her actions. "I was so selfish. I never once thought about your ideas of a good relationship. I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Sonic smiled. She wasn't perfect, but she was certainly trying.
Sonic then took Amy into a hug. The two stood there in silence, just holding each other.
Amy's heavy breathing slowly subsided as Sonic gently stroked her head.
"Shh. It's okay now Amy." Sonic lightly rested his head on top of her's. The two lost in the moment.
Amy now knew he cared. Sonic loved her. Nothing could contain the happiness of that instant, nothing in all the world mattered. She had Sonic, and he wanted her.
After a few more moments of his feel deep affection for her, Sonic held Amy at arms length. She was still crying softly, and he cracked a smile.
"I thought you'd enjoy that."
Sonic's mellow mood didn't last for long, however. Sonic took Amy's head in his hands, gripping some of her quills in his fingers. "When we get back to shore, I want you to go home."
There was something different about the way he said this. It wasn't romantic or even filled with concern. It was just dry, serious, and almost...cold.
Amy stepped back away from Sonic as he released her. He still had a stern expression on his face.
"Sonic?" Amy pulled her hands to herself slightly frightened by Sonic's behavior.
"Please Amy, just go home." These words were softer, but still just as commanding. Why was he acting like this?
"Hey guys!" The sound of Tails' voice could be heard. Both hedgehogs turned to see the fox landing near by. "I couldn't find it," Lowering his head, he approached Sonic. "It stopped glowing I guess."
"It's okay little buddy," The smile returning to Sonic's face, "I'm sure we'll find it."
Amy continued in silence as Sonic and Tails shared ideas. She was too deep in thought about what had just happened to focus on the gem. That was a little out of character for Sonic.
"Tails, do you think you can take Amy back to shore?"
Upon hearing Sonic say her name, Amy snapped out of her thoughts.
"Sure." Tails' answer was a bit shaky. He wasn't certain why she needed to be taken to the main land, but far be it for him to doubt Sonic.
Sonic, Tails and Knuckles continued the search as Amy took a city bus home. She wasn't going to argue with Sonic's decision. Besides, she was slightly happy that she didn't have to deal with the mysterious gem anymore.
"Maybe this is for the best," Amy pondered resting against the window. She had done all she knew to, and now it was time to let someone else handle it. Time to sort out her feelings, and maybe move on.
After finally realizing how selfish she had been, Amy could now see all she had been doing. Instead of moving on, or even trying to fix her relationship with Sonic, she'd been whining about her loss. She had shut herself away and let that day ruin her happiness. And in a way, it ruined her.
She had had everything that was truly needed. From food to shelter, and most importantly, the love of her friends.
Amy had allowed one conversation, a misunderstanding at that, rip her apart. Sonic was wonderful, and the one person she would do anything for, but he wasn't the only thing in life.
"He's not the only thing," As the words left her mouth, Amy discovered another truth about herself. She had made Sonic out to be the only thing of relevance in her life. She placed him in such a way in her heart, that she was blind to the world around her. Perhaps this was an exaggerate, but it was how she felt.
Tails had shown his friendship by coming to her in a time of need. And though Knuckles wouldn't admit it, he tried his best to help Amy from the unknown person. Cream was also a dear friend to be mentioned. She always made Amy smile, and had a cheerful friendship to share.
"I can't believe I never saw it before." Amy sat up in her seat to see her stop approaching. She quickly jumped up and took hold of the pull cord. With one pull, the driver responded by bring the bus to a halt. Stumbling a bit, Amy got her bearings and stepped off the bus, watching it drive away behind her.
The pink hedgehog began the lonely walk home.
"I've been such a fool," A few small tears found their way down her face. Why was she so narrow minded? Was she really as hooked on Sonic as she was making herself out to be? Did she really let it ruin other areas of her life? "I need to get some rest."
Amy unlocked the door to her apartment. Stepping in, she was greeted by the familiar darkness of her living room. Amy stood in the door way looking in. She had walked through that door frame hundreds of time, but this time was different. The dark shadows seemed to be welcoming her, embracing her as if they were old friends coming together after years of separation. The sounds of the house cheering to have a loved one come home. And that was it. She felt like she was home. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she had come to a place to be herself, instead of in pain.
Crying to Sonic might not have answered her deeper questions like if he loved her. But it did help her let go. Sonic now knew how she felt, and he didn't let it go unrequited.
She wasn't upset anymore. Sonic had in a way, made up for that day in the park, and cared about her. No matter what happened in their relationship, she was going to be okay with it.
Turning on a light, Amy entered her apartment with a minor smile. After this, she headed straight to the shower. She wanted to clean up and sleep. She was so tired, not only from the day's events, but also from the anguish filled month.
Back on the island, night had fallen quite suddenly. Neither Sonic, Knuckles, nor Tails could spot the gem. They spent the entire afternoon searching only to come up empty handed. With the night settling in, the threesome decided to rest for the night.
Tails took advantage of this time to salvage what he could of the Tornado.
"I'm starting to doubt it's even out there." Sonic and Knuckles waited in front of the alter, reviewing Amy's story and comparing it to the ancient writing Knuckles' people had written.
"Trust me it's out there, I watched Amy lose it." Knuckles placed the scrolls out before him and Sonic.
"It says here that the gem's origin is just as mysterious as the chaos emeralds. It's a sapphire said to have fed off raw emotion."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Sonic interrupted only to receive an agitated sigh.
"Let me finish Sonic. This sapphire was only seen once on the island by Aizawa. He allegedly tossed the demon jewel off the island, for it brought only torture into his life."
Knuckles paused to look up at Sonic. The simple facts mentioned didn't hold enough to solving the problems developing.
"What does it say about the thing Amy's talking about?"
"Nothing."
"Great,"
"But there is a little more here about it. This sapphire in the scroll is described as blue, the cuts still the same though, and that its magic power was never truly found."
"Are they the same sapphire?"
Knuckles only shrugged for there was nothing else written in his tribes past.
"What do you think your people meant by ' it fed on emotion?" Sonic quoted as he took the papers from the echidna.
"Raw emotion," Knuckles corrected quickly taking back his rightful documents.
"Same differences."
Knuckles became cross with this statement. These writings were some of the only things left from his tribe; he wasn't going to let Sonic ride it off as trivial information.
"My people had a purpose for every word they wrote. It wouldn't have put it in there if it wasn't important!"
"Chill Knuckles, fine it's important." Raising Sonic stepped a few feet away from Knuckles who was wrapping his scrolls safely.
What did they mean? And were the two gems one in the same? And if Knuckles was right, what was Raw Emotion?
It is true what they say, answer one question, and get two or three more. Sonic took off for the coast. He didn't want to admit it, but he was worried for Amy. If the two sapphires were the same, then it might some how be feeding off her, and eventually lead to torture of some kind. Sonic promptly shook the thought from his mind.
Amy was safe at home, the gem miles away, and if it worked for Aizawa to toss it in the sea, then Amy was okay. What was he thinking?
"Too much Amy for one day." Sonic said to himself as he looked out over the waters again.
Taking in its scenic beauty, Sonic caught a glimpse of something in the water. The Sapphire! It Was Glowing Again! "Better get it now!"
Sonic made haste back to the alter, but then stopped as a thought hit him.
"The gem's glowing because Amy's in danger."
Trying to allow sleep to over take her, Amy lay in the dark of her bed room, watching the ceiling fan spin its course. She couldn't see an individual blade, but she watched it none the less.
Even being as tired as she was, Amy just couldn't bring herself to sleep.
"What is wrong with me?" Amy rolled to her side, then back to her back. No matter which way she laid, sleep would not come.
Her mind was still on Sonic, and the events of that week. How odd it all was. From the news report to the dreams she had. It all seemed planned yet sporadic. And now that the gem was out of her hands, it seemed more her problem then ever before. She knew it was her fault for seeking it out. And from the moment she was being chased through the field she should have known there was going to be rough waters ahead. Literally.
"I need to get over it, it's over now."
Amy shut her eyes and listened to the passing cars on the streets below. Amy finally began to relax. Every muscle released their tension as the weary girl sighed blissfully.
As her sense of reality slowly slipped away from her, something sat itself at the end of the bed.
Amy opened one eye lazily at the feeling, but saw nothing to be alarmed about. Resting again, she felt the bed sink around her. Amy's eyes shot open. There was something there.
It was him, the inscrutable person. Him. He was looming over her, grabbing both her arms firmly in his hands. His face only inches above hers. Like a cat that had just over taken its pray.
At this point her voice failed her as she tried to scream. Hot tears came pouring from her eyes as she was disoriented and scared.
What did he want? What was he here for? Why did he only do this to her?
Regaining her voice, Amy was ready to have her answers.
"W-Who are you?" No answer only the silent hum from the fan. "Tell me." Trying not to sound afraid of him, Amy made the best eye contact possible. She could now see a slight outline of a face from the moon light streaming through the window.
His eyes were fixed on her's; he had a softness about him, yet stern. He appeared to be a hedgehog like her, about the same height as Sonic. He blended perfectly with the dark surroundings of the room and took the familiar friendliness out of the shadows. Could it be...? There weren't too many other options.
"Shadow..?"
The figure released Amy's left arm and placed a finger over her lips. Another wave of exhaustion hit her at this point as her eyes slowly closed on the scene before her. As she felt him raise off of her, Amy was completely overwhelmed by sleep. Left only to ponder what will happen when she awakes.