"Visiting hours are over." Sonic growled.
He and Tails moved to the end of the bed and blocked Amy from team dark. Shadows eyes narrowed. Sonic tensed as the black hedgehog stepped forwards. He was stopped in his tracks by Rouge the bat who placed a warning hand on his shoulder and strode into the hospital wing. Her heels clicked as she sauntered towards the boys. Sonic recognised the look in her eye. She was going to try and talk them round. If that didn't work she was going to take what she wanted. He felt his knuckles tighten.
"What do you want?" He demanded.
Rouge smiled and leaned against Doctor Clovers desk.
"What do I want?" She repeated. "Right now I want to be at home asleep surrounded by priceless riches but unfortunately I was torn from my bed and sent down here to sort this mess out."
"Everything is fine." Sonic said through gritted teeth. "Thanks for stopping by."
Shadow grunted a humorless laugh.
"Pah," he spat. "Your girlfriend here summoned a murderous psychopath from thin air. I'd hardly call that fine."
"He didn't kill anyone." Sonic pointed out, letting Shadows 'girlfriend' taunt slide. "It was just the three of us and him. Nobody got hurt."
Shadow raised an eyebrow towards Amy, sat in her hospital bed.
"She was unconscious when I got there." Sonic said defensively.
Shadow shook his head and sneered. "Well you should have stuck around longer." He growled. "Three of our agents were killed by that sadist after you left. Burned alive."
Amy's hand shot to her mouth. "Oh no." She gasped.
Shadow turned his full attention to her. "We can't let anyone else get hurt. You're coming with us."
Amy swung her legs out of the bed. Sonic put his hand out to stop her.
"She doesn't even know what happened." He snapped. "You can't hold her responsible."
Shadow had reached his limit. He stepped towards Sonic with a nasty look in his eye.
"The fact that she doesn't remember makes her even more dangerous. G.U.N can't risk her remembering again."
"What do you mean again?" Tails demanded.
Shadow had the good grace to look uncomfortable. Sonic took a step forwards with his fists clenched by his sides.
"You knew this might happen?"
Shadow remained silent and looked to Rouge. She just shrugged her shoulders.
Sonic moved quickly and grabbed Shadow , pinning him against the wall by his neck. Behind him the others readied themselves. He heard the whir of metal as Omega readied his laser. There was a 'Piko' as Amy summoned her hammer.
"Careful." Shadow called across to her. "We don't want you summoning something you can't handle."
Sonic pulled him in then angrily bashed him into the wall again.
"I have a right to know what's going on." Amy shot at him. "What does all this have to do with G.U.N?"
"That information is restricted." Omega responded. "Authorised personnel only."
"Then you'd better authorise us." Sonic growled, his eyes locked with Shadows. "Or these hospital beds are going to fill up fast."
Again it was Rouge who defused the tension. She gently pushed Omegas arm down. Sonic noted that it remained primed. Amy lowered her hammer as the bat approached her.
"I'm sorry kid." She said, sounding genuinely remorseful. "Please believe me, we didn't know until today."
"Rouge, this is a violation of protocol." Omega warned.
The Jewel thief smiled. "Sometimes rules are meant to be broken. When the kid hears what we have to say she might just listen. No one needs to get hurt. That is the whole point in this isn't it?"
The last comment was clearly directed at Shadow. The black hedgehog brushed Sonic off and strode over to Omega. He pressed a button on the robots chest. An image was projected infront of them all. Amy, eight years old in her little orange skirt and green top. The little Amy was weeping.
"I didn't mean to." The little hedgehog squeaked.
Sonic moved closer and put a supportive arm around his Amy's waist. She was shaking.
"It's okay." Said an unseen male voice. "You did a brave thing. You saved a lot of lives."
"Daddy will be SO mad." Little Amy sniffed. "What if he comes back?!"
The voice laughed softly.
"We will help you Amare." It said. "Come with us and we will make sure that you never remember him. He will be gone forever. You won't be able to bring them back."
The child wiped her eyes. "All of those people? I shouldn't have done it. Lady Amy said i shouldn't send anything living there. I should bring them back."
"No." The voice was harsh now. Little Amy flinched. "You can never remember what you have done. It's better for everyone."
"Okay." The child whispered fearfully.
The recording ended. They all stood in shocked silence.
Sonic saw a face appear behind Omega. Doctor Clover stayed silent and raised a questioning eyebrow. Sonic shot her a warning look and the sheep retreated.
Finally Amy spoke.
"You took my memories?" She said softly.
"You agreed." Shadow snapped. "It was for the best then and for the best now. Four years ago you banished your fathers army to a pocket dimension to stop them invading our world. If I'm not mistaken it's the same dimension you use for your hammer. We cannot afford you summoning them to."
"I won't." Amy promised earnestly."I'm not even sure how I summon my hammer so there's no way I'd know how to summon an army."
She looked to Sonic, her eyes wide and desperate. He clenched his jaw and turned to the others.
"You know Amy would't hurt a fly."
Shadows eyes narrowed. He had been on the wrong end of that hammer more than once. "We might think we know Amy. But who knows what 'Amare' is capable of. It's best she comes with us. We will wipe her memory again and move her on somewhere safe."
"No." Sonic insisted. "You are not taking her away from me."
Shadow shifted his position. Sonic knew his fighting stance well and shifted to his own.
"In all of our fights I have always held something back." He warned the black hedgehog. "I've always thought you would do the right thing in the end and left you that chance. If you try and take her I will not hold back.'
"Neither will I." Shadow grunted.
He and Sonic dashed forwards and hit each other with a sickening thud of fist on flesh. Sonic lifted Shadow over his head and sent him flying into Omega who was raising his arm to shoot.
Rouge swore and rushed to stop the fight. She was blocked by Tails. The bat aimed a flying kick at the little fox. He dodged. Rouge's heeled boot came into contact with a large yellow hammer instead. Amy sent Rouge flying backwards over the next bed.
Something long and fury stretched through the doorway and grabbed hold of Omegas arm. It tightened its grip and pulled, spinning the giant robot around. A blast from a gun sent Omega tumbling backwards. A young lemur and a wolf stood framed in the doorway. Without a moments pause they leapt into the fray. Tangle stood back to back with Sonic while Whisper kicked Dr Clovers desk over and used it for cover.
"The Doc said you were in a jam." Tangle grunted as she lifted Rouge from the floor and sent her flying at Amy.
"What's the issue?"
"Long story." Sonic grunted as Shadow hit him hard in the chest with a superman punch.
"I'll take the abridged version then." The lemur quipped.
They ducked to the floor as Whisper sent a spray of rubber bullets across the room.
"Protect Amy at all costs." Sonic said through gritted teeth.
"Business as usual for you then?" Tangle teased.
Sonic rolled his eyes. Omega had got to his feet and was baring down on Whisper. The robot stopped a few feet from the desk and craned his neck skywards.
"Enemy incoming. 500ft."
Rouge groaned. "There's enough of them in here."
"300ft."
They all looked up to the ceiling.
"100ft... incoming."
The ceiling exploded. Everyone threw themselves to the ground. Sonic aimed for Amy and landed on top of her. He spread his body over hers, shielding her from the falling debris. They were nose to nose, their lips inches from each other. Sonic paused a moment before looking up. Something was descending through the gap in the ceiling. The rider floated down from above saddled on his horse, a swirl of fire around them.
"How did he find us?" Tails demanded.
The rider shuffled some cards in his hands, Sonic recognised them instantly.
"The cards will always find their mistress." The rider said impatiently and scanned the room. His eyes settled on Amy, stood behind Sonic.
Sonic moved first. To his surprise Shadow moved to. They both hit the rider at the same time. The rider grunted and was knocked backwards through the air.
"Enough games." He snapped.
The rider waved his hands and a dozen bee bots flew into the room. Hundreds more hummed overhead followed by the distant sound of screaming.
"They're attacking the town!" Tangle gasped.
"Go!" Sonic instructed. "All of you. Leave pony boy to me."
Everyone but Sonic, Amy and Shadow raced to the surface. The black hedgehog cocked his head to where Sonic was stood.
"Take her and run." Shadow muttered.
Sonic nodded and scooped Amy up into his arms. He felt a burning sting lash his back.
"No!" Amy screamed.
Sonic staggered forwards still clutching in to her. Fire swelled all around them. Tearing through the hospital wing it disintegrated the curtains separating the beds and engulfed the empty cots.
Shadow charged at the rider. The older hedgehog swung his sword, cutting across Shadows stomach. Sonic caught him before he hit the ground. Thankfully the it was a glancing blow and Shadow was otherwise unharmed. He brushed a sonic off and they both shot at the rider again, raining down blows on his head. On the ground Amy summoned her hammer and began aiming burning furniture at a the rider. A large filing cabinet sent him tumbling to the ground. Sonic and Shadow took full advantage and charged at the hedgehog. They were inches from him when an invisible force sent them skidding backwards into the flames.
"I said enough." The rider grunted.
Overhead the horse reared and whined. The rider clambered to his feet and summoned the flames to his side. He rose into the air and back onto his horse. As he did so Sonic saw one of the flames lash out and wrap itself around Amy. She screamed and he jumped to his feet. The fire surged forwards. Sonic stepped back and tried to jump through. This time it wouldn't work. He felt a terrible burning all over his body.
"Sonic!" Amy screamed as she was pulled up towards the horse.
Sonic shook on the ground as Shadow slapped out the flames on his quills, with perhaps more vigor than was required. Using shadow as an anchor Sonic climbed unsteadily to his feet. Above them the horse rose up through the gap in the ceiling. Sonic tried to move forward but stumbled to his knees.
"No " he moaned. "Amy!"
