Disclaimer: You know the drill…I don't own Sega's characters but I have created Melody. I have painstakingly given her a personality over a year of roleplaying as her on a guild on neopets (the only reason I like that site) so have a heart and don't steal her or use her without permission…which is basically the same thing.

Once again I'll have to apologize for the slow update…too much stuff going on to really type stuff for my leisure. I'm taking an internet course and it's taking up every minute of my free and not free time. But I will work ahead at nights and try to get chapters up more frequently for ya'll.

(I scraped the skin off of my knuckles today while swimming so typing this might be a bit painful! Especially if I get blood on the keyboard and my mom sees it!)

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Key laid Melody down on one of two green, soft couches which lined the wall, curving to meet the shape of the circular room. He placed her bags along with her swords down on the tile coffee table a few feet away before offering his guests a seat on the other couch. He hurried to the bathroom and retrieved a basket full of medicines, herbs, and salves.

"It really has been a while since I've had company." He told them, rummaging through the basket, jettisoning several items onto the floor. "So I hope you'll forgive the lack of cleaning."

Amy's eyes scanned the area, picking up every detail and yet found no trace of dust or mess. "Is he seeing the same house I am?" She wondered.

Key finally held up a dark-brown vial holding a few tablespoons of a rather viscous liquid. He shook it with a few deft flicks of his wrist, watching it slowly ooze to the side then back to the bottom only once. Satisfied, he yanked the cork from the top of the vial, releasing a putrid odor into the room. Amy, Shadow, and Lizzey winced as it settled thickly into the air before finally disappearing. Key, who was busy measuring a teaspoon out, didn't seem to notice a difference in scent.

Key held the spoon over Melody's slightly parted lips, making sure the liquid slowly dripped into her mouth and not onto her face. After a few minutes of silence, the last of the medicine disappeared into her mouth and Key wiped the spoon, placing it along with everything on the floor back into the basket. He left it on the table.

"Is that gonna make her better?" Lizzey asked, looking up at Key, worry still etched into her eyes.

"To a certain extent, yes…" Key replied, "As for the curse…no…" He was aware of every breath he took during the silence which ensued. He broke it once again, speaking in an optimistic tone, "She'll wake up in the next hour or so and with any luck, the curse won't appear for a little while. She's really lucky to have friends like you."

Amy sighed as she thought, "But I was the one who doubted her. I could never consider myself a good friend to her…."

Key stood up, signaling for the rest to stay seated. He strode into the kitchen, calling from the refrigerator, "Would anyone like something to drink? I have a semi-large assortment of sodas."

"Do you have Sprite?" Lizzey shouted back, "But if you don't, that's okay, I can always have just a regular old Coke!" She leaned back onto the couch, closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths.

"One Sprite coming up!" Key chimed, hastily opening the door and retrieving the can from the top door shelf. "And what about you guys?"

"We're fine." Amy responded.

Key returned with the Sprite and handed the cold can to Lizzey. She opened it and took a few quick sips, savoring the lemony-lime flavor.

More awkward silence.

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Melody moaned, unwillingly beginning to return to the conscious world. Her eyes fluttered open, not yet able to focus, and she rolled over, falling painfully onto the hardwood floor. She reached for her sword, but it was not there. "What's going on?" she groggily asked a few blurry figures, not sure if they were friend or foe.

Key held out a hand, offering to help her to her feet. Melody did not take it but instead crawled to the coffee table, pushing herself up on her own and staggering back onto the couch.

"Feeling better?" Key asked her, putting his hand on her shoulder lightly, hoping the contact would bring her completely back.

Melody blinked a few times as she thought, "I know that voice…" She regained her sight then asked incredulously, "Key! Oh my gosh, how in the world did I end up here?"

Key smiled, "It's a long story…a very long story…"

Melody rubbed her head, "Oh…" She massaged her muscles, wincing as she tried to bend her arms again. "My arms are killing me…" She groaned, "I feel like I've been fighting all day long…"

Key didn't answer but gave her some salve to ease the pain. "You'll be fine…"

Melody's eyes widened, "The curse…" she said quietly to herself, "it must have been the curse…" She found her swords on the table and grabbed them along with her bag. "I'm sorry, but I cannot stay with you any longer…I'm afraid I'll kill you…and I don't want to do this. You see, the closer I get to someone, the more danger they are in…I apologize for not telling you guys before…"

Amy watched her for a moment then realized something, "What, are you leaving?"

Melody nodded, "I don't want to endanger you guys anymore…I'm going to find the cure to this curse and if I make it through this journey alive, maybe I'll see you guys again." She turned for the door and half waved, her eyes holding an amalgam of different emotions which she couldn't even begin to express.

"Wait!" Lizzey shouted, running up to her, "Please don't go! We'll help you find the cure!"

Melody was looking at the ground. "I can't put you guys in any more danger…" she answered. With a slight shove, she pushed Lizzey to the ground, "Do not follow me…" she ordered, walking out the door.

Lizzey grunted in pain as she hit the floor then yelled, "MELODY!" Tears began streaming down her face.

Authors note: Why do I have dejavue all of a sudden? I think I had a dream of this chapter in the past few nights…oh well…might as well mix it up. I'm gonna add a fight scene just for the fun of it!

Key walked to her, eyes blazing with determination, "Melody, you can't leave! You won't last very long out there with everybody looking for you and I'd hate to see you killed. This just isn't something you can do on your own."

"Yes it is…" she hissed, "And it will be something that I will do on my own so do not try to stop me!" She drew her sword with a sharp ringing noise which resounded throughout the room. "Don't make me have to fight to get away…" she hissed, "because I'll do it…" She meant every word she said as she held her sword at his chest.

Key bit his lip and drew his sword, "I don't care if I have to knock you unconscious, I'll stop you from doing something that would kill you!" He told Melody. He parried her blade from his chest and they circled each other, each waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

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I'll continue the fight in the next chapter mainly b/c I'm too tired to think at the minute. I finished a story for my internet class right before this and it was getting a bit long. This chapter seems a bit longer than usual but bear with me, the next chapter will have the fight scene in it (something to look forward to for those of you who liked the other fight scenes) and will have some other items of interest. I haven't decided exactly what the ending will hold for Melody or Shadow or Amy or Lizzey or ETC but with any luck it'll be good. There aren't many chapters to go b/c this is a relatively short fanfiction. (I might post a few that I wrote last summer but they added up to 150-200 pages of colleged ruled paper with small writing each…that'll be fun to type…not) Till next update…ttyl!