The days leading up to the open house came and went. As promised, Sonic, Silver, and friends met up at the Julianard School of Dance to attend the open house. The brothers, Tails, an excited Amy and Rouge, and a less than enthused Knuckles gathered at the front gates, with the large, three-story, brick building looming over them.
Sonic whistled, "I've run all around this city and never once bothered to look at this place. Has it always been this big?"
"Three stories tall and covers over a hundred and fifty thousand square feet," Tails calculated, "The Julianard School of Dance is hailed as the best in the whole country. From dancing to voice acting, music, and editing, they teach it all. It's like a mini college."
"Bet the requirements are steep," Silver commented. On his back was a large backpack holding the portraits he created.
"Whatever. Can we get on with it?" Knuckles groaned. "The faster we get this over with the better."
"Don't be such a stick in the mud, Knuckie," Rouge cooed. "Loosen up and have some fun. They have food stalls and games; you can't be all grumpy in this environment."
"Anyone see the hotdog stand?" Sonic questioned, looking left and right for the vendor in question. Like the ocean, the attendees were vast and seemingly endless. The sextet were mere raindrops in a sea of Mobians and Overlanders.
Amy and Rouge traded smiles and nodded. In an instant, they were arm linked with their respective partners, Sonic with Amy, and Knuckles with Rouge.
"Found it, Sonic," Amy stated, pulling the blue hedgehog along.
"Great eye, Ames. Daddy's coming to get you, babies!" Sonic screamed as he picked up the pace.
"Come on, Knuckie; let's go have some fun," Rouge pressed herself against Knuckles' side.
"H-Hey! I didn't agree to this!" It was no use though as Rouge guided her buddy through the masses, purposely staying too close to enjoy Knuckles' discomposed ramblings
"See you later, boys."
That left Silver and Tails by themselves. The former blinked once… twice.
"Did we just."
"Get ditched by our friends? Yeah," Tails sighed. "Here's to the single squad," he presented a closed fist for Silver.
"Righto," Silver fist bumped him back. "Where do you want to start?"
"I'm in no hurry," the yellow fox shrugged. "I wasn't kidding when I said they teach it all either. I say we just take our time and work our way up. Did you also forget the oboe is an instrument? They teach that here too."
Silver grew nervous. There were so many courses to choose from. It felt overwhelming.
"This might be harder than I thought. What would even be a good match for me?"
"How about the waltz?" Tails suggested as he and Silver walked towards the school's front doors. "It's one of the easiest forms to learn. I've always thought of you as more of a classical hedgehog."
Silver hummed. "Hmm, maybe."
"The only thing about the waltz is that it's more of a couples' dance than a solo one," a familiar woman greeted them.
Vanilla Rabbit, who handed everyone who entered a pamphlet and gave them a gorgeous smile, waved at the two.
"Miss Vanilla, hello," Silver greeted back.
"Long time no see," Tails followed up. "How are you?"
"I'm doing great. Thanks so much for coming out to our open house," the womanly hare replied. "Are you guys interested in attending?"
Silver explained his situation to her. The only part he left out that even his friends aren't aware of is the voice haunting him. It's been silent for too long. On the inside, Silver was on edge, unsure of when the voice will speak again. He has yet to identify the person.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that," Vanilla replied. "I'm glad we were able to inspire you though."
"Yeah, you and Vector were amazing. I even brought the pictures," Silver removed his backpack and dug through its contents. "I probably should've asked if it was alright to use you two as models, but I hope this will make up for it."
When Vanilla laid eyes on the painting, her eyes grew to the size of platters. A hand moved to cover her lips.
"Oh my, this is beautiful, Silver."
The humble artist scratched the back of his head while a nervous chuckle tickled his lungs.
"Thank you. I'm glad you like it."
"I love it. I've always been enamored by your art, and all this from just a single dance. You portrayed Vector and me so well. I absolutely love the background: so mysterious and yet romantic at the same time."
"You should've heard the description," Tails nudged Silver in the side lightly. "Is there a poetry course he can take?"
"No, we're not doing that," Silver refused. "I'm still regretting my decision to do this."
"Unfortunately, we don't have poetry. We have drama classes and vocal courses. Although, I do think poetry would be a great fit for you, Silver. You have such a creative mind. As for dancing, there's nothing to be hesitant about," Vanilla assured him. "Vector and I have been teaching here for quite some time now. You should've seen us when we first practiced. Vector was a bigger mess than I was, and he almost gave up a couple of times, but I helped him stick with it, and he eventually got it. That's what it's really about. Hard work does get rewarded. Take your painting for instance. As beautiful as it is, I can tell that the creator worked really hard to improve every technique."
"You're too kind, Miss Vanilla," Silver lowered his head to hide his embarrassed face. Everyone who personally knows the hare found it hard to take her praises in confidence. Even Sonic and Knuckles, two of the most confident people Silver and Tails know, become bashful when Vanilla spoke her heart. She just had that effect on individuals.
"And you're too modest, dear," she countered gently. "It's okay to be a little prideful."
Vanilla handed Silver the painting. She was greatly impressed by its contents and couldn't wait to see what else he had in his bag.
"My office is on the second floor, just follow the map on your pamphlet. I'd like to keep that painting as a decoration in my studio, so if you wouldn't mind setting it on my desk."
"You got it."
"Thank you, dear. Now, if you want my honest opinion, you want something other than the waltz. I can attest that it is a good place to start. However, it requires a special kind of music. Generally, a lot of music doesn't follow the same structure, and as I mentioned, it's more of a couples' dance. I suggest the rumba, something more grounded that can be used in pretty much any kind of song."
"Do you teach it, Miss Vanilla?"
"Sorry, hun," she offered an apologetic smile. "The tango and its similarities are my forte. You want Mr. Luigi. He's the go-to person."
"Ah, is he here? Or Daisy, and" it grew hot when he felt the name about to leave his lips, "B-Blaze?"
Vanilla giggled to herself. She didn't miss the small stutter. "Luigi and Daisy should still be here on the first floor, just follow your map. Blaze is a little harder to pin down. She's walking around with her friend. Keep your eyes open."
"Will do. Thanks, Miss Vanilla," Silver bowed respectfully.
"Be mindful of the crowd. We have some special people here, and let's just say," Vanilla looked the side. "The girls are entering a frenzy."
"That doesn't sound good," Tails commented.
"The auditorium is packed. Ask the Mobians if you need earplugs."
"Say hi to Cream for me, Miss Vanilla," Tails waved the motherly hare away.
"Have fun, boys!"
For many years, he studied the various performing arts that he wished to pass down to the masses. While his voice acting wasn't up to par with his favorite skill, dancing, he found a great interest in the drama department. He wanted to make sure that anyone who wanted to learn had a teacher who shared a passion for art.
"We're going to be huge," he said as the people steadily poured into his land. All the potential soldiers gathered in one place. He could see the sparkle in their eyes, knowing their creative minds have been stimulated. It was a marvelous sight to behold. So marvelous in fact that the headmaster could no longer hold back and, with an unexpected show of high athleticism, breakdanced in the middle of his large, oval office.
His feet moved in perfect synergy as he beatboxed a tune. The robust man dropped lower and moved his left leg in a sweeping motion in front of the right. His same leg continued to rotate in a circle below his body and just above the floor while remaining straight throughout. As the left leg swings around wide, Robotnik leaned over onto the right hand, hopped slightly with the right foot, and swung the left leg under the right leg. From there, his weight returned to the right leg as the left leg continued swinging around. Finally, he hoisted his legs upward, the left extended more while the right bent and rested his corresponding foot against his left leg. The most surprising feat was that his left hand held his entire frame off the ground.
"Perfect," he said and pushed off his hand to a standing position.
A slow but extremely impressed clap garnered his attention. Unable to resist a round of applause, Robotnik gave a bow.
"You never cease to amaze me," his visitor greeted with a jovial tone.
"What can I say? I love to dance," the headmaster motioned his friend forward. The two shook hands, placing both atop one another. "Long time no see, Kintobor. How have you been?"
The visitor sighed and shook his head. He was a tall and skinny man with facial features very identical to the mustachioed dancer. For attire, he wore a red jacket with yellow triangles acting as a small length cape, black pants with connected boots, and mirrored sunglasses.
"Today could be better. I had to put a poor family's little pooch to sleep. It was a rough goodbye," he answered back.
"Such is the reality of life," the more robust man bowed his head in respect. He quickly brightened up though. This was a moment to have fun. "Do you plan on staying for the whole thing?"
The guy in question nodded enthusiastically. "Of course. I even got a sample from the head instructor himself. This is going to be a wonderful open house."
The two laughed in a weird, "Ho Ho Ho," guffaw.
Kintobor, Robotnik's cousin, patted the round man on the shoulder. "I see you have a full house. Spotted anyone interesting yet?"
"Is the sea not interesting enough?" Julian countered, ushering his thinner family member to the large, curved window overlooking the courtyard. "Gaze upon this scenery. Tell me, dear cousin, what do your observant eyes show you?"
"A bunch of people trying to have a good time and enjoy themselves," was the simple response.
"And you'd be correct, but that's not the answer I'm looking for," a large grin spread across Robotnik's face. "When I see these people, I see a community who share a common passion as I but ultimately lack the drive to break their cuffs."
"Fear is a powerful adversary, but in the face of adversity, one must look deep inside themselves to find the strength they need. A caterpillar eventually becomes a butterfly with time," Kintobor recited elegantly.
Robotnik nodded in affirmation. "That's more like it. I intend to bolster my army and expand my empire to the rest of the world."
Even though he couldn't see it, Robotnik knew his cousin was rolling his eyes because of the movement of his brows.
"There you go with world domination."
"You say that, but just wait, dear cousin. My main army is nearly complete. Once I'm certain things are fine here, I will start the next phases. You sure you don't want to help me? We can rule the world together."
Kintobor chuckled softly and shook his head. "Unfortunately, I have my own business to see. I wish you luck with your endeavors though."
"Bah! There is no luck. Grit and hard work are our bread and butter," the round headmaster of the dance school proclaimed. "And soon, the entire world will know it firsthand."
"Crikey, there's a lot of people here," a surprised Marine stated. "It's going to be a bleedin ripsnorter today."
'I wonder if I'll see him today.'
Blaze was lost in her thoughts. She was used to swarms of people, but to avoid being corralled, the purple feline wore her hair down and placed a pair of square-framed glasses on her face.
"Once you experience it enough times, it doesn't feel as exciting," she replied in response to Marine's comment.
"Come on, Blazey. How can you not look at this much activity and feel so accomplished? They came to see you all, right?"
Blaze shrugged. It was part of her status. Of course, she was one of the reasons why so many attended. As she and her roommate enjoyed themselves, she overheard numerous conversations surrounding her. Many people wanted autographs, pictures, the works; it was something Blaze grew accustomed to. Everyone had a fan club of sorts.
"As long as they don't hinder my performance."
Marine shook her head, a sympathetic smile flashing in her best friend's direction. "Oh Blaze, so mature, yet naïve at the same time."
The feline's brow twitched at this. "Excuse you?"
Naïve? Blaze was anything but. How dare her best friend make such a ludicrous statement?
Marine burst out laughing. "Don't let it get to ya, mate. You're just so serious."
Blaze cocked her head to the side, her crossness slightly waned. That was not the answer she expected.
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It is a bad thing. I've been having a blast, mate. Lots of friendly people, awesome musicians, and dancers. You look like you're bored out of your mind, but I guess dealing with the unbearable couples does get annoying."
"That's our general audience," Blaze stretched. "We get more applications from families and couples. Also, I am having fun. I'm just watching for any good talent. Unfortunately, I don't have the same eye as our headmaster."
"Does it get lonely dancing by yourself all the time, Blazey?" Marine smirked.
The feline scoffed. "No."
Marine chuckled back. "You're not a tiny bit curious?"
"Are you? Does seeing all these couples make you wish you had a boyfriend?" Blaze retorted.
Marine looked to the sky in thought, humming a soft tune. "Not really. I don't care for romantic garbage."
"And that's why you're still a little kid," her best friend stated.
Marine gasped. "I am not a kid! I am a young lady!"
"Whose tomboyish ways is second only to Daisy," Blaze hopped off the bench and gestured to the institution. "Come on, let's go see the residential Romeo and Juliet."
"I don't know Blazey," Marine sucked in a breath. "I sense an evil storm approaching. If we were on the high seas, our ship would be caught in a whirlpool."
"Then it's a good thing we're not," Blaze rolled her eyes. "This kind of activity is normal. Now, are you coming or not?"
"You're a brave soldier, Blazey," the raccoon sighed and accepted her fate, "But I can't let you fight the battle alone. I'm coming with. Charge!"
Marine rushed to the building with a fire in her step. Meanwhile, her buddy simply looked on with a deadpan stare.
"I can't believe how easy that was."
Thankfully, Blaze stopped her energetic friend before they got separated and showed her the easy way to their destination.
"I'm surprised your fanbase isn't waiting to ambush you," Marine commented. The thought made Blaze frown and wrinkle her nose.
"They don't know I'm in disguise. This is the only way I can walk around freely. Otherwise, we'd still be at the courtyard being bombarded with questions."
"It's not much of a disguise though. You're just wearing glasses," Marine couldn't comprehend the magic behind her friend's cover.
"And these glasses are warding off suspicion. People are looking for a cat with a red gem embedded in her forehead and her hair up. My gem is covered by my unbound hair, and the likelihood of someone recognizing me is slim, unless one of the staff points me out, or you keep blaring my name."
Marine chuckled.
Classical music increased in volume as the girls got closer to their destination. The feline closed her eyes as they entered the studio, letting the melody shine over her. Its beguiling incantation willed Blaze's body to move.
"I love classical music," she sighed blissfully.
"I'd fall asleep in here," the raccoon retorted with a faux yawn. "I'm more into high-energy pop."
Blaze huffed. "You just don't appreciate the history of classical music and what it has cemented. It's because of classical that we have a lot of modern music today."
"Still doesn't make me any less sleepy," Marine shrugged.
Blaze didn't argue farther. She chose to admire the duet showcasing their love of her favorite music.
The synergism of the instructors was nothing short of perfect. With no words spoken between them, the duo was like birds dancing in the air.
Blaze, enraptured by their presentation, drew closer and watched them twirl. Combined with the elegant flow of the music, Luigi and Daisy had the whole audience swaying. Even couples joined the duo and shared a dance themselves, but for Blaze, she had no qualms swaying by her lonesome.
"I'm too nervous, Tails. I can't do it, not in front of so many people."
Silver's confidence skyrocketed after Vanilla positively appraised his composition. He entered the dance studio with a kick in his step, having evaded the pool of people with minimal scratches. That confidence shattered after seeing the sheer size of the audience and remembering what he came to do.
"Silver," Tails said in a level tone, "Normally, I'd give you some encouragement, but after having my tails nearly trampled several times, I'm not in the mood for cowardice. I feel like having fun, even at your expense."
Before Silver could respond, Tails slammed his namesakes into the hedgehog's back. He gave his friend a merciless smirk as they stumbled forward. Tails' tails were pretty strong.
"Tails!" Silver shouted, stunned by his friend's betrayal.
"Hello there," a gregarious voice warranted his attention.
Silver tensed up and turned nervously. He was greeted by the friendly smiles of Luigi and his partner, Daisy. Unfortunately, much of the audience had the poor artist under their gazes, including one feline in disguise.
Blaze couldn't believe her luck.
'He did show up. Why is he carrying that huge backpack?'
"Umm, h-hello!" Silver bowed. "M-My name's Hedgehog the Silver," he immediately straightened up, "I mean Silver the Hedgehog!"
Daisy tried not to laugh, and Blaze cracked a smile.
"I'm-a Luigi," the man in green spoke in his partner's stead. "This is my wife, Daisy," she curtseyed while still stifling a giggle.
'Silver.' Blaze let the name etch itself in her memory.
"It's a p-pleasure. I watched you guys at Twinkle Park," Silver gripped the strap on his bag. "You were incredible, and, um, I-I was r-really moved by it. I'm sure you must get that a lot, but I wanted to thank you guys for giving me the inspiration I needed. So," Silver fumbled through his horde, sweating under the rapt stares of the masses. He pulled out the wide painting and, with much hesitation, presented it to the duo.
"I hope you will accept this as a token of my appreciation."
Luigi graciously agreed to receive the gift and looked over it with his beautiful flower. As with Vanilla Rabbit, the man in green and lady in yellow had their breaths caught in their throats.
"Wow," Daisy whistled. Before she caught herself, her arm went around her partner's shoulder and held him close.
"Mamma mia," Luigi commented. He looked at the awaiting Silver. "You said your name is-a Silver, yes?"
The painter rubbed his arm. "That's right."
"Silver, this is astounding. How long did it take?"
Silver thought about it for a second. "About… thirty minutes, give or take. When I watched your performance, I knew I had to capture it somehow. This is what I came up with."
"It's-a piacevole," Luigi said in awe, "Beautifully done. It's strange though. The art style looks familiar to me."
This set off alarms in Silver's head. Instinctively, his body tensed up again.
"You're probably just imagining it," Daisy replied.
"Maybe," Luigi sighed back, but something about it was recognizable. Whatever it was, the green dancer did not say.
"You got talent, Silver," Daisy complimented. "Can we keep it?"
"Oh, y-yes!" he nodded enthusiastically. "I'd be honored."
"Grazie, amico mio," Luigi said, "Uhh, thank you, my friend," he clarified.
"Y-You're welcome. Thank you for the wonderful show."
Blaze's curiosity was making her impatient. She desperately wanted to see the painting. She had a liking for art too.
'He's a painter then. Interesting.'
"Umm, by the way," she focused on what the hedgehog was saying, "I'm not sure if she's an instructor here or not, but do either of you know where I can find Blaze the Cat?"
Blaze heard the record scratch blasting in her head.
'He's looking for me?'
The disguised feline caught Daisy's eye. She wordlessly pleaded with the instructor to not blow her cover.
'I need to learn more.'
"She swung by earlier," the woman in yellow answered back, "Said she'd give a friend a tour."
Blaze narrowed her eyes at the mischievous glint in Daisy's eyes.
'What are you planning?'
"Why do you ask?" Daisy inquired.
'Yes, why?'
Silver tried to hide his blush, but the redness in his cheeks greatly contrasted with his white fur. He hated how bashful he became when the cat came to mind. There has been no conversation between the two and barely an interaction. A greeting wave does not count as a conversation.
'I'm going to get teased so badly for this.' He accepted his fate.
"I have a picture for her too," he almost squeaked.
Blaze covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. She quickly adjusted her glasses and distanced herself to avoid suspicion, but she stayed just close enough to hear the conversation.
"Ooh, I'm sure she'd love it," Daisy cooed. Her amber eyes shifted back and forth from Silver and the disguised Blaze.
'I'm going to get a lot of mileage out of this one.'
"Y-You think?"
Blaze motioned for Daisy to cease her madness, but the lady refused, and with her tongue stuck out for a brief second, Daisy straightened her posture and placed her hands playfully behind her back.
"Oh, I'm one hundred percent sure. Blaze has been a student here for years, and she's always been a sophisticated girl. She may even fall in love with a cultured young man like you."
Blaze hissed and held back every urge to throw embers at the woman's face.
Silver, on the other hand, turned crimson and started mumbling responses too fast for those within earshot to comprehend.
Daisy chuckled and then fell into full-blown laughter. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I'm sorry, I like to tease."
'Oh, Rouge would love you then.' Silver took deep breaths. Remembering his mission, he got his nerves under control. Find the last performer and present his composition. Whether or not they liked it didn't matter. As long as they were aware of his gratitude, that's all Silver cared for.
"Blaze shouldn't be too far away. She tends to stay close to her favorite teacher. Have fun winning her over," Daisy got one last jab in.
"It's not like that!" Silver declared.
'And Luigi is my favorite, thank you very much!' the incognito performer promised to get back at the instructor for this embarrassment.
"Sure, whatever you say," Daisy winked and danced towards her partner.
Silver took this chance to escape with a smiling Tails in tow.
"Not. One. Word," he stated, the redness in his cheeks fading away.
"Worth it," Tails replied.
Blaze watched them leave. Her curious soul refused to let things continue.
"There you are mate," Marine appeared. "I couldn't find you anyWHERE!" Marine found herself seized by her best friend and dragged out of the room.
"Whoa, what's gotten your knickers in a twist?"
She mirrored Blaze and pressed her back against the wall. The purple feline peeked around the corner, and Marine did the same after dropping lower.
"Did you find some treasure?"
"Not exactly," Blaze responded. "Do you see the white hedgehog and yellow fox?"
Marine squinted her eyes. Past a group of Overlanders and Mobians were the mentioned duo. The silver-colored hedgehog was on his hands and knees while the twin-tailed fox rubbed his back for support.
"I see 'em. What's the situation? Did they do something?" Marine's eyes sparkled. "Are we getting revenge?"
Blaze resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Didn't you see what happened in Mr. Luigi's studio? The one with the backpack gave him and Daisy a portrait."
"Oh, that's what all the hullabaloo was about? I thought some larrakin kept flapping their gums."
The girls followed the boys. "I remember seeing him at Twinkle Park. After my performance, everyone in the audience was quiet except him. I was impressed."
Marine's brow lifted. "That's all?" she motioned for Blaze to continue.
The cat sighed. "You wouldn't understand. I've told you numerous times how I respect others for maintaining a high level of focus."
"Yeah, your weird fetish."
Blaze, with rosy cheeks, smacked her friend upside the head with her tail.
"It's not a fetish. It's being aware of your surroundings. I never know when a crazed fan might come close, so I train myself to evaluate everything around me. My hearing, my sight; I've trained them to be stronger than normal."
"That's cool and all, but what does any of that have to do with us tailing those two? They look as innocent as they come."
Another smack from Blaze's tail. "The hedgehog made me a portrait too. You know I love art. I need to see it, but I can't drop my disguise."
A lit bulb flashed above her head. "I got it."
Blaze whispered her idea to Marine.
"Aye eye, mate," the raccoon saluted. "Leave 'em to me."
Blaze retreated while Marine straightened up, watched the duo for a few more minutes, and then approached.
The boys leaned against the wall, the hedgehog trying to hide his face from the world.
'Blazey, you are one strange cat. I just hope your curiosity doesn't kill you.'
"Is everything alright, mate?" she asked Silver.
He nodded but kept his face covered.
"He's not good at accepting compliments or being teased. One of the instructors had a fun time poking fun at him," the yellow fox stated.
"I have a good guess who," Marine didn't need to know who the culprit is. She can hear Daisy's laughter echoing in her cranium. "My name's Marine by the way. Nice to meet you, boys."
"I'm Miles Prower, but everyone calls me Tails.
"I'm Silver," he raised his hand slightly, "Silver the Hedgehog."
"You mean Hedgehog the Silver," Tails corrected.
"Shut up," Silver groaned and slumped against the wall. "I'm so embarrassed, and there were so many people."
"Are you a student here, Marine?" Tails asked to the raccoon's refusal.
"Nah, this isn't my kind of scene. I'm more of the high-seas kind of adventurer. A great friend of mine attends though. She actually sent me to find you."
Tails tilted his head to the side. "She did?"
Marine shifted her eyes back and forth, making sure no one was listening in. She placed her hand against the side of her lip and leaned closer.
"You're looking for my friend, Blaze, right?" she whispered.
Silver shot up at the question.
"We heard from Miss Daisy, said a timid hedgehog wants to profess his love by giving her a gift."
"It's not like that!"
Marine waved it off. "Not my words, mate, sorry. Anyway, Blaze said she'd accept the gift and is waiting for ya in Miss Vanilla's office. It's the safest place away from her loyal fanbase, and trust me, you don't want to be caught in that ripsnorter."
"Are they that bad?" Tails asked.
"Let me put it this way. Every instructor knows some form of butt-kicking and had to put it to use at least once."
The boys shuddered at the thought. If someone as sweet as Vanilla could flip a man twice her size on the ground with no effort, that would be a terrifying sight.
"Best not keep Blaze waiting, mates," Marine stated. "Let's set sail!"
Her curiosity made her heart go pitter-patter as she waited for Marine to escort the artist. After getting permission from Vanilla to use her office, the feline ran as fast as her legs allowed her and got ready. She removed her glasses, tied up her hair and let her ruby gem show, and patted down her purple dress to level out the wrinkles.
Deep breaths filled her lungs and then exited through her lips. Seconds ticked by, and Blaze lost her sense of reality when she pondered what kind of portrait Silver wished to give her.
'Is it a scene of me dancing? Am I happy? How did you capture me?'
Blaze placed her hands on the desk and leaned back, her head tilting back.
'Why am I so fixated on this? It's just a painting. You've received scarier things, heard scarier declarations. This should be easy. But if Luigi and Daisy were speechless then Silver must be quite the artist.'
Her musings were cut short upon a rhythmic knock tapping on the door.
"Come in."
'Let's get it on.'
The door slid open, and the hurried voice of Marine was heard urging the boys in.
"Come on, hurry up before someone sees."
"Alright, alright, you don't need to push," Tails complained.
"You can't be too careless on the high-seas. One wrong move and your ship sinks."
"You really like the ocean, huh?"
"Of course! The sea is amazing! Clear waters, blue skies with the fresh air of adventure beckoning you. They don't call me Captain for nothing."
Silver ignored their conversation and swallowed the lump in his throat. His mission was about to come to fruition. All he had to do is give Blaze her gift and thank her for such a lovely performance. It was simple; thank the performer and hand her the present. Nothing else.
"It's you," Blaze feigned her surprise.
"Y-You remember me?" Silver didn't know what to think.
Blaze propped herself on the desk and crossed her legs.
"I'm good at remembering faces. I do recall seeing you amongst the crowd during the Twinkle Park showcase."
"Even back then?"
"I like to observe a crowd and see what I can learn. Call it a bad habit of mine," when she laced her fingers together and placed them in her knee, Silver felt his heart skip a beat. He was NOT prepared for this.
"When Miss Daisy mentioned I had a fan, I was not sure if I should meet with them, but when she said they were an artist, I couldn't resist."
"D-Do you like art?"
Blaze gave a curt nod. "I love it, but please, don't keep me in suspense."
"Oh! Sorry, sorry! I tend to ramble," Silver cleared his throat. "Okay, late introduction, but my name is Silver. Umm, I'm sorry for bothering you. You were probably busy."
'Busy satiating my stupid curiosity.'
"You're alright. I was being dragged around by Marine anyway."
"Hey!"
"How long have you been painting?" Blaze's golden eyes shine with an intrigued glimmer.
Silver smiled fondly. "For as long as I can remember. I'm not as good as the professionals, but I do what I can."
"He's lying about his skills," Tails whispered.
"I wish he'd get on with it already," Marine puffed out her cheeks. "Poor mate got his tongue… are you recording this?"
"This is ammo for later," Tails' evil grin spread across his face. "I'd be a terrible friend otherwise."
Silver slid the bag off his shoulders and dug through its contents.
"I'm not sure what you were told, but I promise I'm not some crazed fanboy wanting autographs or something."
The soft laugh that came from Blaze's lips had Silver fumbling more.
"I've gathered that. My fans are normally more invasive and energetic, but you seem genuine, so thanks for that."
"N-No problem. It must be hard for everyone."
"I've gotten used to it," Blaze averted her head, "but it doesn't lessen my annoyance."
"Th-Then I hope this will make up for it," Silver hung his head as he presented the gift.
Blaze happily accepted the gift and took a few deep breaths. 'Finally, let me see your passion with my own eyes.'
"You have nothing to be afraid of," she assured the humble artist. "I'm sure your talents are…"
For the third time, Silver rendered his judges speechless.
Marine hurried to her best friend and snuck in a peek. At first, she mirrored the purple cat's countenance, but she recovered faster and gave Silver a round of applause.
"This is gnarly, mate. If this is your worst, I need to see your absolute best. What do you think Blazey?"
Blaze eyed the portrait for what felt like hours. The colors were so clear. No clashing strokes overwhelmed the composition, and the smooth tone complimented the central focus of the piece, which Blaze couldn't tear her eyes from.
"I love it."
She looked exquisite. Her pose and posture were perfect, facial features matched her character nicely, and no visible marks caught her eye. It was like a photograph.
Blaze looked up and down from the painting to the bashful Silver.
"I love it. Thank you."
"Y-You're welcome."
'I'll never forget this.'
"How do you think Silver's doing?"
"Making a fool of himself. Knowing him, he's stuttering his way through. Tails had better be filming."
"Sonic," Amy sighed.
"What? You're thinking it too," the blue hedgehog laughed, "That day he had a stroke of inspiration, we were thinking the same thing. My bro got a crush."
Amy didn't object. At that moment, the romantic side of her wanted to press for details.
"It's very likely," she stated, "But, as two of his best friends, we must be supportive."
"Oh, I'm definitely supporting this," Sonic clenched his hand and looked over the horizon. "At long last, my baby brother is starting to become a man. Operation Uncle doesn't seem like a farfetched dream after all."
"That's too far ahead," Amy scolded him, "Baby steps, Sonic."
"Like you're one to talk, Miss Sister-in-law."
Amy wagged her finger. "That's not a possibility though. It's a certainty. My heart is never wrong."
"Amy," Sonic clapped his hands together and made a chopping motion, "we would have to get married for that to happen, and before then, we'd have to be dating, which we're not, and before you say anything, no, this isn't a date."
Amy smirked, throwing her hands on her hips. "Then why did you let me cling to you?"
"Because I don't want us getting separated," he nearly stuttered. "Yeah, that's it."
"You're getting flustered," Amy stepped closer, half-lidded stare penetrating Sonic's guard, "Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah, of course. You're just imagining things."
The pinkette took another step closer.
Sonic, trying to prove he wasn't unnerved, stayed still, but as the pink hedgehog drew nearer, the blue blur wanted to hightail it away. He wasn't afraid of her, but ever since he was caught sharing that dance with her, something stirred inside him. He watched the video at least five times since Rouge had the brilliant idea to send it to him as a reminder. Every time, Sonic had to swallow a lump that hid in his throat.
He was so focused on the chili dogs at first that he hadn't realized it. There was closer chemistry between him and the pinkette. They laughed, poked fun at one another, but they were happy. Sonic, slowly throughout their excursion, noticed something he rarely did. He was watching his buddy more intently, studying her features, getting lost in his imagination.
"Is it just my imagination?" Amy inquired. They were too close to Sonic's rapidly beating heart. "Your face is red."
"It's the heat from those chili dogs. I wanted a little kick to 'em, and the vendor didn't disappoint. You better watch out, Amy, you got some competition."
"Mhmm, you know, it's cute seeing you nervous," Amy giggled.
"I'm not nervous, Ames. The only one who can make this hedgehog docile is Cream's mom."
"Are you sure about that, my darling Sonic? I seem to be having some effect. You never turn red around me."
"I-It's the chili dogs like I said," Sonic scratched underneath his nose. "No delicious chili dog is a match for me. You know that."
"Riiight," the pinkette was unconvinced. "So, the heat is from the food and not the magical dance we shared a couple of days ago?"
Sonic grew tense, and Amy, smiling larger, twirled her pink locks.
"I've been thinking about it too," she said. "It's still fresh on my mind."
"Amy, I know what you're thinking," the blue hedgehog spoke up, "It is not a sign that destiny wants us together. It was just a coincidence."
Amy imitated a buzzer alarm, "Wrong," she booped him on the nose, "That was the power of music, dance, and love."
"Music and dance, yes, but not love. Friendly love, sure."
"And when you stared into my eyes, your heart didn't skip a beat like mine did when you took my hand and spun me around?"
Sonic cleared his throat. "I-I was making sure the audience didn't crush you in their enthusiasm. Thanks to me, you didn't bear a scratch."
"Yes, I'm feeling a million times better," Amy purred.
A fit of giggles erupted from her lips. Sonic's dumbfounded stare was too comical for Amy to hold back.
"Oh, Sonic, you should see the look on your face."
The blue blur took a calming breath. He didn't know how fast his chest was beating. For a while, he was under his friend's spell and getting more entangled in her web. He shifted his gaze to the ground.
'Keep it together, Sonic. You're not one to get embarrassed.'
"I did enjoy it," Amy stated.
Sonic raised his head and caught the expression of pure joy on the pinkette's face. Aside from his brother's paintings, it was the prettiest thing Sonic has seen in a while. It extended from her shimmering eyes to the depths of her pure soul. So vibrant and free, even in the teasing way she spoke to him, it was natural and beautiful.
'Uh-oh, what's happening?'
"Me too," Sonic breathed, "It was in the heat of the moment, but I had fun too," he covered up his astonishment by grinning and scratching under his nose again. "I think you're supposed to thank your partner after a dance, so," he put a hand behind his back and bow with the other hand resting against his chest, "Thank you for the dance, Amy."
The pinkette almost squealed. A moment like this wouldn't come often, and she refused to ruin it by shattering glass.
Amy curtsied. "And thank you as well, Sonic. I hope we get to share another one in the near future."
'I hope we get to share plenty of wonderful memories, Sonic.'
