Chapter 2: Amy and the Rain

Amy the Hedgehog loved to shop. She especially liked Station Square's new street of small boutiques and sidewalk sales. She had been looking forward to buying a new pink dress (hers was so out of date), when the rain started. Shielding herself with a fashion magazine, Amy took shelter in a cozy café, the dress left behind.

She walked in, complaining loudly. There hadn't been a cloud in the sky, and it had still rained. Ah! I wanted that dress! She thought. It's only Tuesday though, I can come back tomorrow or maybe it will stop raining.

Amy chose to sit by the window because most of the seats were taken by other "rain refugees". She sighed deeply and peered out the window at the rain. What really bothered her was that Sonic was away….

But he really wasn't away, Sonic the Hedgehog was right there. He sat opposite her at their couple's table near the window. The rain was loud but Amy didn't care, she was looking at Sonic.

The blue hedgehog was dressed in a tux, chocolate and roses on the table before him, and a small black box…

"Amy, I am so sorry for everything I've put you through-" he started in a very-deep-not-Sonic-like voice.

"Oh Sonic it's okay-" said Amy, who didn't notice.

"No, no it's not," said Sonic."Amy I love you."

Amy gazed into his eyes. Then her heart flipped madly inside her as Sonic took a knee.

"Amy will you-"

BANG! Amy's head collided with the wooden table. Startled, she woke up, not quite realizing why she was half-out of her chair.

"Oww!" she moaned. She rubbed the place where her head had hit the table. By now all of the people in the café were looking at her. She silently fumed and tried to ward off their numerous stares. Oh, that was the perfect daydream! But now my head hurts!

Amy turned from their glares to the outside. It had stopped raining.

What! It had just started raining but that was over. The sun shone, lighting up the wet cement. People emerged from their hiding-places, just as confused as her. That's weird…ah well. Now I can get my dress!

Some hours later, Amy arrived at the house Sonic had bought after saving the world from the space colony Ark. He had decided that they all needed a permanent place near humans to live, seeing as how they always had to save them. The people of Station Square had dubbed the house the "blue house". It was not blue in color, no just plain white. To Amy though, it would always be home.

The blue house was 3 stories and fully equipped for the needs of Sonic and his friends. Amy now dragged her many purchases up the spiral staircase to her second floor room. As she did she recalled how Sonic had not designed this house. He's not that type of guy, she thought lovingly. He had left that up to top designers by shrugging and then disappearing in a blur. Besides, he had no time, since he was always running or saving the world. Oh,well.

Amy walked into her room, which was completely pink, and dropped her bags next to her bed. She was very tired from shopping all day.

I wonder where Tails is? She thought. He had been here yesterday when she left, but he wasn't here now. Where could he have gone? But she didn't dwell on it too much. She was sure that Tails was safe. He was probably just out back in his mechanic's shed. She'd check later, right now she had to take care of her things.

Tails woke up to find Cream had made him breakfast, the tasty aromas floating into his room. He went out into the kitchen and sat down to eat.

"How is she?" Cream asked.

"She's still sleeping, but now she's all white," said Tails as he dug into his food.

""That's alright. The rose or green fades after their first day,' she told him.

"Oh."

"Today we have to take her to the fortune teller's to get a name," said Cream.

"We do?' asked Tails.

"Yes we do. We should leave pretty soon."

After they were done eating, Cream and Tails took the child chao to the fortune-teller's. On the way there they saw Choc, who wished them a good day.

Cream entered the purple door first, Tails followed close behind. The room was dimly lit and smelled strongly of incense. Tapestries hung everywhere, making the room feel small and cozy, too cozy for Tails.

The small chao stirred in his arms. She tried to bury her face in the long fox fur of Tails. The squirming startled Tails, who accidentally dropped her. Cream turned to see the chao on the floor and Tails looking like he had been attacked by a blow-dryer.

The fortune teller looked on with interest. She'd never seen anyone come to her with such a chao, and she had never seen anyone drop their chao!

Tails gave Cream a sheepish grin as the baby burst into tears. This bout of crying was much louder then the one yesterday. It could be heard all through the kindergarten.

Quickly Cream picked the chao up and cuddled her. Tears darkened her simple dress but the crying soon stopped. Cream looked at Tails with a mix of sympathy, dismay, and laughter. Tails could only look at the floor, how could I do that?

"I take it that you want a name for your chao?" asked the fortune-teller in a mystical voice.

"Yes," Cream said as she placed the chao on the fortune-teller's desk.

"What a pretty chao!" said the fortune-teller. Now that she had a closer view, she could see the shiny, almost transparent, nature of the child.

She took her eyes off the baby and turned them to her crystal ball. The ball started to rapidly change colors. Tails stood next to Cream, frightened and embarrassed. Cream stared at the ball with the same interest she did each time. And finally, the reason for this journey, sat mesmerized by the changing colors.

Cream was vaguely aware of the fortune-teller's magic words. She was looking at the crystal ball, thinking this is different.

Suddenly the incantation was done and the whole room shone with bright colors. Tails cried out weakly in surprise and Cream turned to him with a look that said-it's okay.

"Your chao is special and deserves a special name," said the fortune-teller. "How about Chaoko?"

"No," said Tails. He had heard so many chao with that name.

Quartz?

Chaofun?

Champ?

All turned down.

"What about," said the fortune-teller, "Shoca Lief?"

"Shoca leaf?" asked Tails, who had never heard a stranger name.

"No, Shoca Lief," corrected Cream. "You rarely suggest two part names," she said to the fortune-teller.

"Do you like it or not?" asked the lady.

Tails looked at Cream then said, "I really don't-"

"Chao cho!" interrupted the tiny chao.

Everyone looked at the white thing with surprise, chao this young may babble butsimply did not talk.

"She said 'I like'," interpreted a confused Cream.

"Then her name it shall be," continued the fortune-teller. "Shoca Lief is a really good name. I hope you and your chao have a happy life. Best wishes for world peace. Bye."

Cream picked up Shoca Lief and then she and Tails left. Outside the grass was wet but the sun was shining.

"That was weird," he said in his boyish voice.

"That was strange," admitted Cream. "But Shoca Lief is a pretty name."

"Kinda sounds like 'chocolate'," giggled Tails.

"It looks like it rained while we were inside," remarked Cream as they started the way back to her house. "Here you take her."

Tails hesitantly took the chao.

"Hi Shoca Lief," he said. Shoca Lief looked up at her name. Her eyes meet Tails's, her eyes that were full of love and now a dull shade of pink.

Note: shoca lief is pronounced- sh-O-ca leaf