.:Chapter 12:.

Fallen Star

The band of Freedom Fighters traveled farther and farther into the mountains, Knuckles leading the way to the pass that would eventually protect them from the worsening weather. Both the Guardian's and Uncle Chuck's theories were coming true, for it seemed that with every step they took another fierce chill was added to the frigid air, and a new power was blown into the winds already threatening to gust faster than thirty miles per hour. They all walked single-file, staying close to one another to avoid being separated in the storm. At first the snow wasn't deep enough to slow them down much, but as they traveled higher, the air became colder, and the snow deeper. Soon they came upon thick drifts where they sank in nearly to their waists. And where there wasn't deep snow, they soon discovered, there was ice. Once during the trip they had descended a ridge and were beginning to make their way across what they believed to be solid ground, when all of a sudden there came the ominous sound of cracking ice. Before they could even move, the ice shattered beneath Dulcy's feet and the dragon would have gone down into the freezing depths had it not been for Sonic, Knuckles and Trau who had hauled her out quickly. The only thing she suffered was a wet hindleg, which they had to dry and wrap up immediately to prevent frost bite.

According to Uncle Chuck's computers, the temperature had dropped to twenty degrees, and was still dropping at an alarming rate. Every hour the temperature declined one to three degrees. By morning it would probably be below zero.

Soon the snow fell in a relentless curtain of white, piling upon the backs of the travelers and the trees around them. Several times they would start at the sound of an enormous tree crashing down somewhere deep within the forests, brought down by the sheer weight of snow and ice alone. And as they made their way up, where the peaks of mountains began to loom over them on either side, Knuckles cautioned them about avalanches.

It was a rough night for the Freedom Fighters as they followed the direction of the Chaos Emerald energy. They had covered a distance of nearly twenty miles before they reached the pass at last. It was there they sheltered for the remainder of the night, the winds howling and roaring all around them. It was still getting colder and colder, but at least they had protection from the cruel winds that had been aided by the already treacherous mountain breath. When the morning light arose, it could hardly penetrate the clouds of the Void. Many Freedom Fighters weren't even aware it was dawn when they were awakened by Uncle Chuck, being told it was time again to move on. But luckily, the winds seemed to have subsided, and they began to make their way out of the pass.

On their way down, Uncle Chuck suddenly paused, and stared at his computer screen. "That's odd . . . "

"What?" Sonic asked at his side.

"The energy readings shifted . . . Before they were directly ahead of us -- to the north. Now it's pointing more toward the northeast . . . "

"Maybe Naugus is on the move," Sonic suggested. "Knowing him he's planning to lead us on a wild goose chase."

"That's probably it," his uncle nodded. "We'd better move quickly, then, and keep an eye on these readings in case they shift again."

And so they trudged on through the thickening snows, following the emerald's path. Eventually the energy readings began to lead the group farther and farther east, until suddenly they turned southward, back toward the great valley they had camped by. Some of the Freedom Fighters were concerned about the shifting energy, afraid it would lead them back to where they had started, but since the valley was enormous according to Knuckles, and it spread well over a hundred miles in between the Emerald Mountains, they were reassured. Where they were headed was at least forty miles away from their camp, and so far the readings continued to point directly south.

For another day and night they wandered, and with the coming of the third day they were glad to see that the readings had remained in the same location. By noon they came to the valley at last, where they rested in the trees nestled deep within its bowl. It seemed that they were taking more rests than usual. Sonic had been on many travels with the Freedom Fighters -- they were all fit and strong, able to walk for miles without a rest. And usually, even if they did have to occasionally stop to get their second wind, they were high spirits, confident that nothing could stand in their way. Now the lone Freedom Fighter leader was seeing a big difference in his comrades. They all seemed so downhearted and worried. It showed not only in their eyes, but also in their tread. They didn't walk as if they had nothing to fear, that they were one with the planet . . . They dragged their feet and hung their heads, shivering from the fierce cold. They all had a lot on their minds, Sonic knew. Ever since the incident with Sally and St. John they hadn't been the same, and several of the closer friends such as Bunnie, Rotor, Tails, Dulcy, Antoine, and Uncle Chuck, who all had known Sally ever since they were children, felt deeply abandoned and alone. Oh, they knew they had each other, and that unlike the princess, they were loyal to one another for life, and that Sonic would take better care of them anyway, but still, there was nothing quite more painful than being betrayed by a friend whom they had trusted . . . Except for being betrayed by someone they had loved.

Sonic was well aware of the change that had occurred in him too, and he hated it. His battle-weary spirit made him more withdrawn and silent than ever. When normally he would openly interact with the group, and encourage them with lively displays of power and speed, or uplifting speeches, now he constantly stood outside of the band, ever vigilant but also terribly aloof. He said little, and everyone noticed how he would gaze off into the distance pensively every now and then, deep in thought. They knew well what he was going through, and they wondered how long it would be until he got over Sally's betrayal. His old friends were sure that he'd bounce back like always, for he was resilient and strong. Wounds and pain fazed him very little if at all. He always came out of them as strong and daring as ever. But others knew that he had never been through something like being abandoned by a loved one -- he had dealt with loss, yes -- but not betrayal. And such things were agonizing, they knew . . . could they kill even the swiftest of spirits?

Sonic refused to give in to the inner attacks of sadness and loneliness. His purpose was still quite clear, and he'd be there to fulfill it as long as it called his name. But, oh, how he did hurt . . . Pain never clung to him for long, but this, like his righteous spirit, refused to let go. Sometimes he wished he could run full throttle and shake it off, pounding it to the dirt and then leaving it behind forever. But there was nowhere to run -- no amount of physical distance could ever leave the past behind him. He could attempt to run, but it would still always be there, haunting him, draining him. Only one thing seemed to damage the pain enough to make it cease . . . and that was something that startled him greatly. Ever since the night before he could hardly believe the feelings he had had for Jessica--or Cyan. He had only felt that way about . . . well, Sally. And previously he had never believed he'd ever love anyone like he had loved Sally -- but that was before she traded him in for Geoffrey St. John. But even then, he had doubted he could ever allow himself to love again to avoid history repeating itself. There was just one problem with that now, and that was the girl he had come to know so well. There had always been something there he had adored about her . . . he wasn't quite sure at first just what it was, but now it was becoming clear to him just how caring she had been to him in the past. Even in the darkest times, even when she herself had been terribly afraid, she had never turned her back on him once. She followed him like a shadow, spoke to him when he was lonely, calmed him when he was angry, and lifted his spirit whenever he was sad or upset. Now that he looked back, he was discovering that all he had to do was look into her eyes to see how she felt about him, for it was all there -- her great trust, adoration and above all else love for him. There had never been an event when the two of them had fought or disagreed with each other. In fact, their minds seemed so perfectly matched that it was uncanny. They could finish each other's sentences, read each other's thoughts, give one another what they wanted without even having to be told. Why, it was a wonder Sonic hadn't discovered before how much Jessica meant to him . . . Or had he known the whole time, but it just hadn't come into full flight until now?

These and so many other questions were running through his head now, and they made him particularly nervous around Jessica. Whenever the girl would come to walk beside him, his ears would lie low and uneasiness, even shyness, would appear in his eyes. And knowing how well Jessica could read his emotions, it was all he could do to conceal his conflicting feelings. If it was becoming so clear, he wondered, then why couldn't he just explain to her how he felt? Well, for many reasons, he decided. One, would she ever believe him? He knew Jessica loved him -- she told him so everyday. But what if she thought that his sudden confession was only because he was lonely and desperate for someone's care and sympathy? He knew that wasn't the case, but still, it was easy for someone to make that assumption. And then there was the fact that he and Jessica were from two different worlds -- how could there ever be anything between them? He was a Mobian, and she a human. Sure, she had been changed into a Mobian, but who knew how long such a thing would last? And that brought him to yet another question: would she think that he loved her just because of her transformation?

Too many things were clustering in his mind, and it was driving him crazy. He needed to talk so someone about this . . . he needed some advice.

On the third night, while the group rested in a large clearing near a lake within the valley, he found his uncle and gestured quietly for him to follow. Once they were well out of earshot, sheltered amongst the shadows of the frozen trees, Sonic began.

"I've gotta talk to you about somethin', Unc," he said. "I need some kind of advice."

"Well, shoot, Sonny boy. What's on your mind?"

Sonic turned and gazed off through the forest to the north, where the dark silhouettes of mountains loomed. ". . . Something's been confusing me lately. Something I can barely understand myself. I've been trying to figure it out alone, but I can't decide what to do for once. And it's driving me insane." He paused a second, trying to think of the best way to explain this.

"Let's hear it then," said Chuck. "Better to get it off your chest than to let it strangle ya."

Sonic's ears fell low and he closed his eyes. "I've . . . been slowly realizing something . . . realizing how I feel about someone. And you may be surprised about just who."

Uncle Chuck gazed at his nephew intently now. "Who?" he asked, even though he already had a pretty good idea who.

There was another long pause, for now Sonic was having great difficulty in speaking. ". . . Jess . . . " he said at last.

If Sonic had expected his uncle to be surprised, he was mistaken, for Chuck merely laughed lightly.

Sonic blinked at him. "What's so funny?"

"Ah, something told me you had a thing for that girl. Something more than meets the eye. For a while I believed Sal would hold the number one place in your heart, but since she's . . . you know . . . moved on . . . I'm thinkin' that Jess has moved up from second best."

"Well I was surprised too at first," replied Sonic. "I mean, I've always liked Jess as a very good friend but . . . I had no idea I cared about her this much."

Uncle Chuck nodded. "Yes . . . she's done a lot for you. More than anyone else ever has in my opinion. But it was obvious, just by seeing you two together, that you were meant for one another."

"You could tell all this time?"

"Love, Sonic, is perhaps one of the most visible emotions--and at the same time, the most hidden. It can be hard to distinguish first, but once your eyes adjust to its light, you can see it clearer and clearer. It has a tendency to shine through the eyes, through the soul. And it can express itself without us even knowing it. And I have never seen your eyes glow brighter, warmer, than when you're around Jess."

Sonic smiled weakly and turned his eyes down to the ground.

Uncle Chuck tilted his head. "Why so ashamed? No one said you couldn't love the girl."

"It's just that . . . I never believed that the two of us could ever have something . . . After all, we are from two different worlds. Literally."

"Did you know that often its people from different worlds who connect the best?" Chuck asked, coming up to Sonic's side, his arm around his shoulders.

"But what if she didn't believe me, Unc? After all, if I told her, it'd be so sudden that she'd never think I was being honest . . . "

"Jessica?" Uncle Chuck almost laughed again. "Sonic, heaven knows that girl loves you! She loves you more than anyone could! I think that if you finally returned her feelings, she wouldn't care about how sudden it was. She'd be far too happy."

Sonic smiled at the thought. ". . . But still . . . what if she didn't? I don't wanna be hurt again, Unc. At first I told myself that I would never love again, for my own good."

"It's not in your nature to not love, Sonic. Love is what makes you what you are. Not just a hero--but a legend. And that last thing you usually think of in times like this is yourself."

Sonic sighed and pressed his head against a tree trunk. "If only it were that easy . . . Besides, what would everyone else think?"

Uncle Chuck shook his head. "It's not about that everyone else thinks. It's about what you think. It's about what she thinks. And more importantly, it's about what the two of you share."

Sonic fell silent, letting his uncle's words sink in. It was true . . . It didn't matter what other people thought . . . they weren't the ones who determined his happiness and his future. But could he really just walk up to Jessica and admit to her how he felt?
Uncle Chuck patted Sonic's shoulder reassuringly. "Go and talk to her, Sonic. The sooner the better. You may be nervous about it now, but just think--once she knew, not just one, but both of you would be much happier."

"I'm just worried that she wouldn't believe me . . . that she'd think it was all because of her transformation or something . . . "

"Oh, I seriously doubt that, Sonny boy. Jessica's loved you ever since we've known her, and according to her, longer than that. I think the only thing you have to worry about when you tell her is stopping her from fainting. I've never seen anyone that can love like her . . . except for maybe you."

Sonic's heart stirred. ". . . You really think I should tell her? Tonight?"

"Only if you're ready, Sonic. I think the sooner you do it, the better for both of you. It all depends on whether you can muster up the courage, my nephew, and courage is something you have plenty of. Courage, and love. Do you truly love the girl?"

Sonic nodded slowly, keeping his eyes set forward. ". . . I do. She's done too much for me for me not to . . . She's always there when I need someone to talk, always. She's never selfish or irritable with anyone. She and I have never fought, never disagreed, never had a gap between us of any kind. I love her kidness, her love to create. It's staggering how fast I've realized all of this . . . "

"Love can be that way. You've always loved her deep down, I think. You're just realizing that she's better than the previous."

For a long while Sonic stood there, gazing at the misty abyss high above the forest, undecided. One part of him was pushing him, urging him to just go and find the girl he cared for, the girl he loved. But the other part was still slightly hesitant, still worried about rejections, as unlikely as it was. Sure, he never doubted Jessica's love. But there was still the suddeness of the whole thing. Then again, considering the events they were all now caught up in, this may possibly be the only time, the last time, to tell her. And that thought made him shiver . . . Losing Sally had been rough enough. He didn't want to go through that again. Nor did he like to think of the possibility of all life on Mobius being wiped out.

He tossed his head to rid himself of those lingering thoughts. No, no . . . waiting was bad. He had never taken kindly to waiting. Time never waited for him, and so he always moved forward, relentlessly, tirelessly. And some things like this only came once in a lifetime. If that was the case, he would seize the opportunity. There would never be another worthy of his love after Jessica . . . He had thought the same of Sally, but she had thrown his affection away, stepping aside and allowing the truth to shine through. No . . . he had to tell her . . . he had to tell her tonight.

Suddenly he gazed up at Uncle Chuck, his eyes gleaming as a thin ray of moonlight managed to break through the mists.

"Where can I find her?"

Cyan sat on the edges of the great lake, a little ways off from the camp. Here it was silently peaceful, and although many of the Freedom Fighters were asleep now anyway, she had decided to quietly sneak away for a little solitude. She had looked for Sonic, but was disappointed when she couldn't find him, and so had wandered off without a word, lonely and sullen.

Gazing pensively down at the gray waters splashing gently upon the rocks before her, the girl sighed.

"What did that blue star mean?" she asked quietly. "What was it trying to show me? Sure, it led to another adventure, but what have I to learn from it? So far everything's been bad . . . Sonic's been hurt, Kimberly's been taken, Naugus is threatening the entire planet . . . Why have you come this time, star? Is it this time that the legend may . . . end?" Her breath trembled as she finished her sentence.

No, it couldn't be . . . this wonderful adventure she and her friends were living together . . . it could never end. It just wasn't possible. Theirs was a never-ending story, running forever into the wind like a certain magnificent creature she could easily think of right now. No, that star could never herald the tale's end.

"Then what does it herald this time? I don't understand . . . Usually, it means we're about to learn something, something as a result from the adventure. What have I to learn? I want to know . . . I'm scared . . . "

"What have you to fear?"

Jessica jumped at a sudden voice from directly ahead. There before her, was that same pair of greenish-blue eyes that had granted her her greatest wish. The spirit gazed down at her kindly, and Cyan could tell that her eyes were smiling.

" . . . Oh, hello again . . . I--I was just wondering . . . "

"About fear?" inquired the spirit, and she shook her head. "Oh, my friend, you should know better than to fear when you have him around."

"I know . . . " she answered. "My trust in him never wavers . . . What it worrying me is . . . well, I've seen a blue star before every adventure I've had with Sonic. It's like an omen, and it always fills me with the greatest wonder."

"Ah, yes," nodded the spirit. "The Blue Star. It is an omen indeed, one I'm very familiar with." For a moment an almost sad look appeared in her eyes. "But why fear it?"

"I'm just concerned . . . Every time I've seen it I've felt a tiny sense of foreboding, but that's because every adventure involves danger. But this time it was different. This time I felt . . . fear. And I've been dying to know why. I've been scared that this means . . . that this adventure will end . . . "

A mysterious light glowed within those green-blue eyes as the guardian spirit shook her head slowly. "Oh, no, Jessica, this adventure's far from over . . . You still have so much to learn, so much to experience and see and do . . . so many wonders are waiting to start for you . . . your story is just beginning. If anything, you've only scratched the surface of all that lies in store for you and your friends."

Cyan blinked in amazement. ". . . You know my future? Everything that will happen to me?"

"I do," she nodded. "But I'm afraid you yourself must discover them. I cannot reveal the future . . . Even though there's spots of darkness here and there, it's far too precious for one to describe. It is for you and you alone." Suddenly a tear gleamed within her eyes.

Suddenly Jessica was filled with a sensation similar to that given off by the Blue Star. One of wonder, faith, and above all, hope.

"Trust me, my friend," said the spirit. "You've nothing to fear. Yes, hard times will be ahead of you, and yes there will be pain. But you mustn't give up hope on what you believe in so strongly--there are still dreams inside you yet to be fulfilled."

All of a sudden Cyan found herself wiping tears from her eyes as well. Oh, yes, there were dreams within he that she longed to have fulfilled . . . one in particular that had been torturing her now more than ever.

"I'd hate to say it," she said lowly, sullenly. "But some of those dreams are just too unreal to come true." She shivered and clamped her eyes shut in painful longing.

The girl didn't see it, but suddenly a very knowing smile spread across the face of her guardian. "Don't give up so soon, Jessica . . . Some of those dreams . . . some of those wonders . . . are waiting just around the corner."

Jessica looked up, but the spirit was gone in a flash. And before she could even take in what it had said, as if by magic, another very familiar voice suddenly came to her ears.

"Hey, Jess . . . "

Cyan gasped and jumped to her feet, startled by Sonic's sudden appearance. He stood less than seven feet away from her, tall and proud, the faint reflection of moonlight on water casting dancing shadows across his beautiful face. She never once saw the strange look of nervousness in his eyes, the trembling hope that was there. No, all she saw was his greatness as he stood there, the wind blowing through his quills and the illustrious blue of his hide glistening brilliantly even in the darkest air. Oh, how the mere sight of him filled her with joy, with happiness and love!

"Hey," was all she could say.

"You OK?" Sonic asked, noting how uneasy she seemed.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, smiling lightly. "You just startled me is all."

Sonic smiled too. "Sorry 'bout that."

"It's OK."

He walked up beside her, biting his lip, trying to talk as casually as possible. "So what have you been up to?"

"Looking for you," Jess grinned. "Where have you been, fella?"

"Oh I was just . . . talking with Uncle Chuck . . . " he answered hesitantly.

"Anything wrong?"

"Huh? No, no, we were just chatting, that's all. I was, uh, just asking him advice . . . about my obvious depression lately . . . " He shuffled his foot in the sandy gravel of the lake shore.

"I'm so sorry for the way you've been feeling lately," Cy said softly. "I wish I could help . . . "

"Heh, you've been more help to me than anyone has . . . " His voice was nearbly inaudible as he said it, his ears lowering.

Jessica gazed up at him and smiled modestly, happy to hear that she had helped to alleviate his pain. "Thanks."

"Thank you."

"It's no problem, Blue . . . I can't stand to see anyone I care about upset or hurting, especially you. I only want to make a difference to them, to help them in every way I can . . . otherwise I feel so useless."

"You're not useless, Jess. That's the last thing you are."

"Aw, thanks, Blue . . . "

"No prob."

There was a long silence, and then Sonic asked, "Why've you been looking for me, Jess? Everything all right?"

"Yeah, everything's fine," came her reply. "I just couldn't sleep . . . and your company always helps me relax."

He smiled. "Couldn't sleep, huh? What's up?"

"I've just been thinking about how I saw that star before all this began, and that weird vision I had. I've been worrying about what it all meant . . . So many bad things have already happened . . . "

"Ah, don't worry about that, Jess . . . that whole thing with-with Sal . . . well . . . I've been fearing that for a long time. It was . . . it was bound to happen sooner or later." He sighed and closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry Sonic . . . " Jess whispered, her hand on his shoulder.

Sonic's heart trembled. "It's cool . . . No one's fault." He shook his head and gazed softly at her. "And don't you worry about Kim or Naugus. We'll find Kimberly, and at the same time, we'll make Naugus wish he never existed."

Cyan suddenly buried her head in his chest, sobbing. "I hope she's OK . . . I'm so worried about her . . . "

Sonic swallowed hard, his ears now flat against his head, but he took her in his arms. For a second or two he was silent, trying to decide something, but when he heard her distress, he held her close. "Hey, it's all right. No tears, Jess . . . no tears. We'll find Kim. Trust me. We'll find her."

The girl trembled, being so close to the one she loved. Oh, how she wished this could be real--that he could love her in return. Not wanting to have that agonizing pain fill her soul again, she pressed closer to him and tried to hide her tears . . . but it was no use. That torturous longing consumed her, and soon her face was wet with tears.

"Sonic . . .?" she asked, sniffling. "Have you ever felt so alone that you could die? Have you ever felt so distant from the one you love, so distant and yet so close, that it just tears you up inside?"

Sonic sighed, for right now that was the epitome of what he was feeling. And he knew exactly what she meant by it as well. He closed his eyes. He couldn't hide this much longer . . . he had to tell her. Now was as good a time as any . . .

"Yes," he said finally. "I've felt that way, and I know exactly what you're goin' through, Jess. But you never have to worry, because the people we love are always there. Always. Sometimes they're even closer than you think." Jessica sniffed and Sonic held her tighter. "I'll always be there, Jess. Nothing in this world could stop me from bein' at your side . . . And even if I am gone for a little while, I'll still be there . . . in the sunlight within your eyes . . . in the stars that glitter and gleam at night . . . in the wind that whispers through the trees . . . Just take a look around, and listen . . . because I swear to you I'll be there for you."

Jessica turned and gazed deep into his eyes, touched by his promising words. She was going to speak, but as he met her eyes, she found she couldn't. For those eyes never failed to capture her . . . so gentle, so full of life . . . They simply had no equal, no match. There could never be a soul she would ever love more than the one who stood before her now, and by the Chaos Emeralds she couldn't supress that love forever! Even if she tried, it would just come out on its own, for it was more powerful, more deep than anything she had ever known.

Scarcely thinking, she moved closer to him, never once taking her eyes off his.

Sonic's ears lowered, and he shivered, but he didn't move away. He watched her as though some kind of spell bound them together, hardly daring to breathe. Under normal circumstances his mind would be racing frantically . . . but not now. Now the only thing pulsing through his veins was a deep, passionate love.

The same went for Jessica, and closer she drew . . . Until once again reality stepped between them. No . . . it just could never be . . . Painfully she closed her eyes, remebering the spirit's words of hope, but shunning them miserably. It just couldn't happen. Sadly she closed her eyes.

But before she could turn away, she suddenly felt a gentle hand on her cheek, and, startled, she blinked back at Sonic.

He smiled tenderly, his heart pounding.

"Hey . . . " he whispered, gently pulling her closer to him. And then, suddenly, he pressed his lips against hers in a loving kiss.

At that moment the girl's eyes went wide and her heart stopped beating altogether. All feeling left her and she was robbed completely of breath. For a moment she felt very close to fainting, and then, as though he were the only thing that could keep her from dropping dead, she desperately wrapped her arms around him and kissed him deeper, that passion that had for so long been tied down stealing her away.

When at last she was finally able to open her eyes and look up at him, she trembled with shock, her heart beating faster than it ever had before. For the longest time she struggled for words, and at last she found her quavering voice. "S-Sonic . . . . " she gasped. "Did--did you mean that . . . ?"

Sonic nodded his head slowly to keep the overwhelming dizziness from throwing him off his feet. " . . . Yes," he breathed at last. " . . . I meant it with all my heart . . . . I love you, Jess."

It seemed an eternity before the words even fully reached Jessica. Even then they couldn't penetrate the storm of emotions whirling through her mind . . . she couldn't comprehend what he had just said. She could only stare breathlessly at him, not even daring to draw breath, to move, to even think . . . . Slowly, ever so slowly, her hands rose to her mouth held agape in total astonishment, and her eyes swelled with incredulous tears. Then suddenly the world seemed to spin rapidly around her, and her legs abruptly buckled and she fell to her knees.

"Oh my god . . . " she repeated over and over again, shaking hard with tears streaming down her face. "Oh my god, oh my god . . . "

Sonic knelt down in front of her and brushed the tears off of her cheek. "Hey," he whispered. "hey, it's OK . . . Jess . . . Jess look at me." Gently he stroked her face to calm her down and make sure she understood everything. "Jess, please believe what I'm about to say . . . . This is real, OK? This isn't a dream . . . this isn't a trick . . . I really, truly, love you. Because of who you are . . . because of everything you've done for me . . . and for all the love you've given me. I've been feeling this way a long, long time . . . . I've just been so worried to admit it . . . . But please belive me . . . "

Jessica was sure she'd lose consciousness any moment now, and again she found herself clinging onto him desperately. "This-this can't be real . . . am I dreaming?" she cried. "Am I dead?"

"No, no . . . you're alive, and you're here with me, where you belong . . . Shhh, it's OK . . . Jess, please belive me . . . " He closed his eyes, fighting back his own tears, and held her close.

The girl kept repeating Sonic's words in her head over and over, trying to convince herself that his was reality, it was, it was! No longer was this a dream hopelessly out of reach. No longer was this something that she longed for day and night, every day of her life . . . At last! At last that star had fallen! That very star she had been waiting for for so very long! She held it now, right there in her arms . . . oh, if only she could grasp just what was happening, for this, this was just too good to be true . . .

One can only imagine what it's like to have their deepest dreams come true. It's something that rarely happens indeed . . . but when it does, it's something that can take your very breath away. For to finally have something you have been waiting for, yearning for, pining for right there in front of you . . . is almost too good to comprehend, too good to even dare take. This was what Jessica was going through now, only it was increased by the hundredfold. It was impossible! It was something she had never even in her wildest fantasies believed to ever have happen, but yet there he was, right in front of her, holding her like he never had. And she could feel the great difference in his touch, the love that was there that never had been before. And it felt so good that it literally hurt. She kept wondering if this was all just some painful dream, just some viciously cruel trick of her imagination, but she could feel Sonic right there, hear his voice, hear his heartbeat . . . And then, finally, it all hit her, and she fell into his arms.

"Sonic!" she cried. "Oh, Sonic, I love you! I love you more than life, more than anything . . . anything!" She held onto him as though her life depended on it, so afraid that if she let go that she'd lose him forever.

Sonic clamped his eyes shut, made a feeble attempt to draw breath, and pressed his shaking head close to hers. He couldn't have hoped for a better response than this, and suddenly he felt as if he had found the place where he truly belonged. "Shhhh . . . I love you, too. Very much so, Jess. Very, very much."

"Sonic . . . Sonic I've waited so long . . . " Jess sobbed. "So long! I can't--I can't believe this is really happening . . . "

"I know . . . " he whispered. "But soon you will. When you first met me for real on Earth you couldn't belive it either. But now you do, right?"

"Right . . . . With all my heart, Sonic . . . with all my heart . . . "

"And I believe in you. There's no way I couldn't . . . You've been such a big part of my life, Jess. Ever since I met you, and even before that. Somehow, deep down, I knew about you . . . It's just so hard to describe . . . "

"Just as I knew about you . . . " she nodded. "I know . . . It's fate whispering to us."

"That must be it, Jess . . . for why else would time and space have connected in the miraculous way they have to bring us together?"

The girl squeezed his hand, trying to prevent herself from bursting into tears again. "It was meant to be . . . Sonic, please tell me this is real . . . tell me this isn't just another cruel dream torturing my heart . . . please, oh, please let this be real . . . "

Sonic gazed down at her, and then took her hand in his, pressing it against his face. "This is real, Jess. As real as it gets. And so is this . . . " He placed his hand on her cheek gently.

Cyan closed her eyes at his touch, forcing herself to realize that it was real.

Sonic smiled. "I promise, Jess. Remember . . . I'm always right."

Jessica laughed quietly, and wrapped her arms around him tighter, content to stay right there forever and ever. "I don't want to leave, Sonic . . . I never want to leave your side . . . Not even for a minute . . . "

"No one said you had to. And if anyone does, I'll hit 'em so hard I'll send them into orbit. How 'bout that?" He smirked down at her and was glad to see her smile back. It didn't matter whether she was human or Mobian . . . she was still that same girl he loved, inside and out. And she still had that smile that never failed to lift his spirits.

"Sonic?" Jess asked suddenly.

"Hmm?"

"Can I call you mine?"

Sonic's eyes took on that luminous spark of life that Jessica had grown to adore. "Only if I can call you the same. Is that a bargain?"

Jessica squeezed his hand again. "Done."

Sonic smiled and kissed her cheek. And they sat there side-by-side on that pleasant lake shore on into the night, nothing to ever separate them again. Time and space could try anything within its marvelous power now--it didn't matter. Now they had a bond between them that could never be severed. He was hers, and she was his, at last. And best of all, it was no longer a hopeful fantasy. It was reality--one that could hardly be believed at all.

Even Sonic, the great hero himself, had to remind himself that this wasn't a dream.

"Jess?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you, Jess."

The girl smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. "Call me Cy."

Somewhere amid all those swirling clouds of the Void, two green-blue eyes smiled down on the two of them warmly.