Disclaimer: I don't own Sega's charries…but I own Melody and I think I'm going to die if i typed this one more time...and yet I write more chapters...lol

Oh my GOSH! Sorry I haven't updated in like FOREVER but I've been so worried about moving and all this pressure (not to mention no easy-access internet for a little while) that I've forgotten to update. I'm going through some emotional stress too…leaving your friends that you've known for the better part of your life and have shared countless secrets with is a crushing blow that I still haven't gotten over.

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Amy sobbed onto Shadow's shoulder, "Let's go back now."

Shadow patted her back gently and murmured, "Okay…" He began running, picking up speed as the wind rushed through his fur and the sun set beyond the hills which gradually faded into forest. They arrived at the original site and, seeing no one, glanced around uneasily. Shadow set Amy down and noticed footprints scattered in the soil. He carefully traced them, sighting the limp bodies of Melody and Key laying in the churned up earth after their intense battle. Lizzey was leaning against a tree, still shivering from the trauma she suffered from.

She heard Shadow's footsteps and warily opened her eyes, and seeing her friends, closed them again and sarcastically said, "Thanks for helping me! I could have been killed!"

Amy squatted down next to her and put her hand on her shoulder, "I'm sorry Lizzey…it wasn't my fault…Shadow has issues…the whole time, I was worried about you."

Shadow crossed his arms, "You know I can hear you, right?"

"Shut up!" Amy snapped, venom in her tone. She softened her voice and said, "Lizzey, what happened?"

Lizzey opened her eyes, silently forgiving Amy, and explained the whole ordeal up until when Key fainted.

Amy nodded, "So there are more angels…what you did with my hammer was pretty brave." She glanced back at Melody's form and thought, "I don't know if I can trust her…if this curse happens frequently…traveling with her could be a death wish."

Lizzey seemed to know what Amy was thinking. She softly asked, "What are we going to do about Melody? She really needs are help…I know she wouldn't do something like that if she wasn't cursed."

Amy sighed, "I don't know…I just don't know. I want to help her, but I don't want to put us all in danger. Maybe some things are best left alone." She watched Lizzey's face take on a new expression—a mix between helplessness, empathy, and anger.

Lizzey raised her voice and spoke words straight from her heart, "Amy, we can't give up on her! She needs us more than you can ever imagine…can't you imagine how it is on her, having to avoid people because she never knows when she'll kill them! Life can't go on like that for her…I don't know about you, but I'm going to do everything in my power to help her…she helped you escape from Sonic…think about that…." Then she pushed herself up and stomped to the other side of the clearing.

Amy sighed to herself, seeing the truth in Lizzey's words. "She's right." She thought sadly to herself.

Leaves rustled as Key began stirring, eyes fluttering open. He moaned as his muscles protested every movement but sat up nonetheless. "Ugh…I feel like I was just run over by an 18 wheeler…"

Shadow scratched his head, "What's that?"

Key looked over at him and answered sagely, "Not sure…but it sounds like it would be painful." He rolled onto his hands and knees and crawled to Melody, wincing with every step. He reached her and placed his hand on her forehead, muttering to himself, "She's got a fever…with any luck…she'll be okay." He brushed some strands of hair from her face gently and grabbed a rag from his bag. Summoning water with a lazy flick of his wrist, he wet the cloth and gently placed it on her forehead.

Amy paced around, head hurting from all the thought she was putting into her problem. Her mind raced and raced, hitting roadblocks and speed-bumps as several points of view melded with occurrences, forming an amalgam of confused solutions. She leaned against the tree and sagged down to the ground, "I don't know what to think anymore…" She thought as a wave of sadness swept over her.

Any awkward silence settled its icy grip over all until Key finally suggested, "We better get out of here…I'll take you to my place." He lifted Melody up despite the pain and staggered to Lizzey, explaining, "I've got enemies near…that's the only reason I found you. Come on, I can manage the magic."

Amy grasped Shadow's hand and whispered, "Come on…we're helping Melody." She led him to Lizzey and Key and softly murmured to Lizzey, "You were right; I'll do everything in my power to help Melody break her curse." Lizzey's lips twitched into a smile as she answered, "Good."

Key created an aura of mist like magic around them which enveloped them in its power, and focused his mind towards his home. He imagined the modest little brick house and the hills surrounding it, covered in spring flowers and lightly swept by winds and dusted by mild sunlight. Within moments, they were there, standing on the lush grass of his front lawn, blinking in the sunlight. He graciously led them inside as he proudly informed them, "This is the safest place you could possible be. No one can locate it without a special map or teleport here without the right kind of magic, which is a pure form of the art of teleportation. I'll let you rest up…and then we can see about helping Melody and perhaps get something to eat along the way."

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Not much excitement really goes on in this chapter…but it was required. Sorry for the slow update, the next one will be much quicker in the coming. So, don't forget to read then review. The next chapter possibly holds more excitement.