The rider stood over the bodies. Two squirrels and a cat, though you wouldn't know it to look at them anymore. The flames had burned away the flesh from their bones leaving charred, black skeletons still cowering in the same positions they had died in. The rider bent down low and pulled a twisted ring of metal from the ashes. He turned it over in his hands and wiped the soot from it with his thumb. 'Property of G.U.N'. He tossed it back down into the dirt with a callous disregard for where it landed. It shattered the cats skull as it fell. Behind him his horse snorted and pawed at the ground. He didn't bother to look around and shifted his hand from his hip to the hilt of his sword still sheathed in its scabbard.

"Are you keen to join your friends?" He said quietly.

The voice behind him chuckled. "Oh they're no friends of mine." It said with a twisted smile. "And I see from the short work you've made of them that they were not top of your Christmas card list either."

"Christmas?" The rider growled.

He finally turned to see a human stood a few paces back from him. He wore a red jacket which clung tightly to his oval shaped body and hid his eyes behind dark glasses perched on a large hooked nose. The rider did not trust any man who would not show his eyes, they were after all a window to the soul. The man leaned casually against a nearby rock and stroked his mustache. The rider found this disconcerting. What kind of man could stand so casually infront of a swordsman and three burnt corpses? If the human was afraid he showed no outward sign.

"I'm guessing you're not from around here?" The man smirked.

The rider felt no need to reply, the answer to that question seemed fairly obvious to him. Indeed the human did not seem to be looking for a response and launched straight into his reason for being there.

"I am a scientist." The man explained. "Dr Ivo Robotnik, although some of my enemies prefer to call me Dr Eggman. My subordinates here detected a strange energy surge from this lake."

He waved a hand towards the lake where a sour looking platypus stood with two strange looking metal men. The yellow man with the square head waved brightly but the platypus merely scowled.

"Are we to assume that the energy source had something to do with you?"

The rider curled his lip and glared at Robotnik. "It is none of your concern."

He waved his hand over the ground. Small pieces of card floated up from the dirt and ash into his outstretched palm. As he pocketed the deck he saw Robotnik raise an eyebrow, the human was clearly intrigued but the rider offered him no explanation. He turned to mount his horse.

"They'll keep coming you know." The doctor warned. "G.U.N can be relentless."

The rider waved vaguely at the corpses. "If the others were as pitiful as these fools then I see no challenge. Even the blue hedgehog…."

"Oh ho ho, you've already met Sonic." Robotnik laughed.

"You know the boy?" Robotnik had finally piqued the riders interest.

Eggman smirked a wicked smile. "Oh yes. By your tone I imagine you didn't get off on the right foot with him. Well the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Why don't you join me aboard my ship and we can discuss this further. The longer we stand around the more chance we'll be interrupted."

Robotnik turned to leave. The rider stayed where he was.

"Oh come now." Eggman called over his shoulder. "I promise I don't bite. I'm sure we can both learn a lot from eachother. My ships not far. I'll even let you bring the pony."

The rider considered this as Robotnik continued to walk away without looking back. After a few moments he grabbed the horses reins and led it after the disappearing human.

x

The little pink hedgehog bounced excitedly on the bed. Higher and higher until she stumbled and lost her balance. She reached out desperately and grabbed hold of the drapes to break her fall. By the time her governess entered the room she was fully entangled in the curtains which had been ripped from the side of the four poster bed.

The governess tutted and waved her hand. The thick curtains released princess Amare and settled themselves back in their original position.

"Ooh!" The little princess thrilled. "Teach me that one. Please, please, please!"

The governess shook her head and sighed. She settled the small copper bath that had been carrying by the roaring fire. It began to fill itself. Large soapy bubbles floated across the room.

"I will teach you when you show you have the discipline to learn princess." The woman scolded her.

Th governess was an elegant grey hedgehog with her quills slicked neatly back away from her face. She wore a simple red dress as all servants did but to set her apart from the kitchen maids and cooks she had been allowed to keep her jewels. Amare was particularly enamored with the large red ruby which bedecked her governesses neck. The princess frowned. Magical or otherwise, she hated bath night.

"I'm getting better." The little hedgehog said proudly.

The governess smiled. "Show me."

Amare stood tall and closed her eyes as she focused. She held out a tiny pink hand. There was absolute silence for a few moments and then 'poof' A small butterfly emerged in her hands. The governess looked far from impressed.

"Amare." She frowned. "Nothing living. We've talked about this. We don't know if they can survive in the pocket dimension."

"The butterfly did." Amare argued.

The governess was still not happy. "You are supposed to be practicing with your mothers hammer."

"It's too big!" Amare moaned and pulled the large yellow hammer from under the large wooden bed.

The governess sighed and pulled the little princesses green t-shirt off over the child's head.

"You must learn to hide it if you do not wish to suffer your mothers fate."

The governess saw the child's face fall and softened. "I'm sorry princess." She lifted Amare into the bath. "I just don't want to lose you to. Our order has lost too many witches in recent years."

Amare sat quietly in the bath for a few moments and allowed her governess to pour soapy water over her quills.

"Why did she have to die?" She asked eventually.

The governess' face darkened. "She didn't. But alas, your father has strong views on women using magic."

"Because of the prophecy?"

"Yes."

The fire crackled and the bubbles popped in the tub. The little princess wiped her eyes. "I hate him." She whispered.

The governess smiled sadly and lifted the little girl out of the bath. She wiped Amare's tears away as she dried the child with her towel. "Maybe things will be different for us all in the new world." She said kindly.

Amare brightened a little.

"I'm glad we left home behind us." She said, remembering the barren wasteland that had been her home planet. "But I quite like it here. The flickies are nice."

The governess laughed. "This place is too little for us all." She smiled. " A few more days and we will be in the new worlds orbit."

The pink hedgehog blushed slightly as the governess pulled her nightdress down over her head.

"Do you think he'll be there?" The girl sighed dreamily. "The boy in my dreams."

The governess arched her eyebrow. "Possibly. Assuming your dream really was a vision."

"It was!" The princess insisted. "He was so handsome. Maybe he's the prince of the new world. Maybe we'll get married and live in a castle."

The governess struggled to hide her amusement. "You already live in a castle."

Amare ignored her and reached under her pillow. She pulled out some well thumbed tarot cards. "I did a reading the other day." She informed the governess. "It said he was my destiny! That he would help me reach my true potential."

The governess considered this as she drained the bath and banished it with a further wave of her hand. "That doesn't necessarily mean you are meant to be in love." She smiled. "Sometimes our enemies can bring out the best in us. They make us rise up and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. I believe THAT is your destiny princess. Your mother believed it to so please, for her sake remember to practice."

Amare nodded. "Okay, but if my handsome prince is a hero to I'm definitely marrying him."

The governess smiled fondly at the little girl and moved to the window to draw the curtains. As her hand reached the drapes she froze. Amare saw her eyes widen in fear and rushed to join her. Four riders galloped through the keep with flaming torches raised in their hands. The governess turned quickly to Amare and held the child by her shoulders.

"They must never know what you can do." She whispered urgently.

The governess scooped the tarot cards up and quickly stashed them under the floorboard by the fireplace. She turned to the princess.

"You must hide the hammer."

The little princess was shaking as she let out a terrified sob. "I can't." She cried. "You need to do it. I'm not good enough."

There were tears in the governess' eyes as she stroked the girls cheek. "You are." She whispered. "I know that you can do this. You HAVE to do this. You must hide your power from your father until you are ready."

"How will I know?" The little girl sobbed and fell into the governesses warm arms. The woman held her tight and kissed her on her head. "Perhaps your prince will let you know."

She broke away as the sound of screams erupted from the castle below. The governess snatched up the hammer.

"Do it now."

Amare held the hammer in her tiny fist and took a deep breath. Her face was set with grim determination.

'Piko'

She gasped and opened her eyes. The governess was smiling back at her.

"Good girl." She whispered and lifted the child into bed. The governess tucked Amare in with a lingering kiss on her forehead.

"Be strong." She said and drew the curtains on the bed. "Whatever you hear stay in this bed."

There were heavy footsteps in the corridor outside.

"No." Amare whimpered and hid herself under the covers.

She heard the door slam open with a bang. There were muffled voices beyond the curtains of her four poster bed.

"Lady Amy Flynn?"

"You know it is me Graves. State your purpose, you're disturbing the princesses bedtime."

"You are hereby charged with witchcraft. The penalty is death."

Amare clapped her hand to her mouth to stop herself from screaming. The governess sounded calm.

"Do I not deserve a fair trial?"

There was a harsh barking laugh from the soldier. "These are orders of the emperor himself. Where is the child?"

The governess sounded frightened now. "No Graves, please! Leave her here. No I beg off you!"

Lady Amy's desperate screams continued as she was torn away down the corridor. Under her blanket Amare fought back tears. The sound of heeled boots clicked towards her bedside. She held her breath as the curtains were ripped aside. A black gloved hand reached under the coverer's. Amare screamed.

x

"It's ok. It's ok."

Sonic was at her side within seconds of her waking. He took her hands in his and squeezed them tightly. Amy looked around the room. It was depressingly familiar. She was the last in a row of white hospital cots with machines beeping at their sides. Green curtains separated each bed but as Amy was the only occupant in the restorations hospital wing all of the curtains were open. Dr Clover and Tails stood at the end of her bed. The sheep looked far from happy.

"Back again Ms Rose?" She sighed. "Another visit and we'll name the wing after you."

"Is she going to be okay?" Sonic asked, his eyes still firmly fixed on Amy.

Doctor Clover shrugged. "Well as I can find no medical reason for her collapse it's hard for me to say." She bleated. "Yet again my recommendation is bed rest. A recommendation which you three will undoubtedly ignore."

"I tried to make her listen last time Doc." Sonic said innocently. "He's stubborn."

He turned to Amy with a smile. There were silent tears pouring down her face.

"Perhaps you could try and be a little more persuasive." Dr Clover said sardonically.

Her eyes softened as she saw Amy's tears. The doctor patted the pink hedgehog gently on her arm. "I'll give you three some space. Try not to get into trouble while I'm gone."

They watched her leave and Tails perched himself on the end of Amy's bed. "I get the impression Dr Clover disapproves of your adventuring." The fox teased Sonic.

The blue hedgehog shrugged. "Nah, she loves me." He smirked. "I mean, I'm the classic hero type. What's not to love?"

Sonic heard a sniff to his side and turned his attention back to Amy. She fell into his chest and buried her tear stained face into his fur. He caught Tails eye and patted Amy awkwardly on the top of her head. But as the heartbreaking sobs rocked Amy's body he couldn't help but pull her in tight for a hug.

"Who was that guy then?" He asked gently.

Amy pulled away and wiped her eyes. "I don't know." She breathed. "I still don't remember anything."

"He called you Amare." Tails supplied from the end of the bed. "And he said you're a princess."

Sonic grinned at Amy. "That's pretty cool eh your highness." He gave an exaggerated bow. "Of course he also said that you betrayed your father…. And some other stuff about me that probably wasn't important."

Amy stared blankly ahead. Sonic took her hand again.

"What's going on?" He said gently. "You can tell Tails and me anything. Whatever it is, we will protect you."

"I.." Amy started. A harsh voice cut across her.

"Stop."

They snapped their heads to the doorway were Shadow the hedgehog stood with his arms folded across his chest. Behind him Rouge the bat leaned nonchalantly against the red metal frame of Omega. Sonic gripped Amy's hand tighter.