An Injured Chao
Chapter 4
Sonic clenched his fist as he watched the shady looking hedgehog, who was trying to pry the windows open. "why is he trying to break into Amy's house?" Sonic mumbled and swiftly used his speed to jump on the tree in the pink hedgehog's front garden. He now stood on a branch towering over the shady hedgehog, which Sonic could now see was a red hedgehog.
"Hmmm, seems no one is home, that means they could both be gone. I'll come back later." The red hedgehog muttered to himself as he looked around making sure that no one saw him. He was still unaware of Sonic's presence above him.
The blue hedgehog watched as the hedgehog left and he growled, "when you come back you'll have me to deal with. No one tries to break into my friend's home specially when they're not there." Sonic said as he settled himself into the tree. "I wonder where Ames is anyway…?" Sonic questioned as he placed his arms behind his head.
….
Amy followed behind King Zoto with Echo flying beside her, the chao king lead them to the waters edge. All the chao and Amy gasped when the king raised his staff in the air and a beam of light shot out and hit the water, making it separate into a wall of water.
The king gestured for the pink hedgehog and Echo to keep on following, she nodded when Echo encouraged her, and they continued. Amy awed at the sight of the water towering above her, they soon reached a stone square panel in the ground. It was engraved with a picture of an ancient looking king chao.
King Zoto muttered words that Amy hadn't ever heard of before and tapped his staff twice on the ground. Amy wobbled around a bit when the ground shook and the panel began opening, once opened it revealed a stone stairway which lead into a hallway of darkness. Amy hesitated slightly, but she pushed her on and they went down the stairs.
She was relieved when the hallway lit up with torches, after walking down "this is amazing," Amy commented.
"Thank you. We chao pride ourselves on our history and this has been passed down from many generations of chao's." King Zoto said as he continued. They soon reached a room which also lit up with torches as soon as they entered.
The king stopped before another stone panel in the floor this time the panel was smaller than the other one. He muttered the same words again and the ground shook once more, a pedestal appeared emerging from the ground. On top was a red cushion and placed in the middle of it was a pink crystal.
Amy awed at the crystal as it sparkled, "it's so beautiful…"
"Yes, this is our pink crystal. It holds a special power that we chao can use. It protects the user whenever they are in danger, or the ones they hold dear are in danger." King Zoto explained as he flew up the top of the pedestal. He picked up the crystal and brought it over to Amy.
"As thanks for saving my son and taking such good care of him. I want to present you with this. It certainly goes with your fur colour." The king chao smiled letting out a chuckle.
Amy's eyes widened as he tried to hand over the crystal, "oh thank you so much…but No I couldn't take this. You guys need it to protect yourselves." Amy said in protest as she waved her arms.
The King smiled wider and chuckled a little more, "oh, not to worry my dear…We have another one that is more than enough to help us in our time of need, if need be."
Amy raised her eyes as she sighed, she looked to Echo who was nodding as he gestured to the crystal. The rosy hedgehog gasped as the crystal was placed inside in her hands, she lit up a bright pink colour and she closed her eyes for a split second and when she opened them again the crystal was no longer in her hands.
"Uhhhh, were did it go? I only had it a second ago and now its gone," Amy said in a panic looking around herself.
The king chuckled again, "not to worry again, my dear once a person has claimed the crystal or been gifted with it, it will rest within the user themselves."
Amy's eyes widened, "so, its inside me?"
"Yes, and since you can use the magic hammer which you wield, when you call it out you'll be able to use the power with the hammer, when you or someone you care about is in danger." The king explained twirling his staff around.
Amy's eyes widened at the mention of her hammer, how'd the king know about it? She hadn't used it in front of him. "Uhhhhh…..How'd you know about my hammer?" She asked with a raised eye.
The king chuckled again, "I can sense these things, that hammer of yours is very powerful, indeed."
Amy smiled and shrugged, "yeah it is."
"So, why don't we get out hear and I'll show you how to use that power before you leave." The king suggested heading for the exit, Amy and Echo followed suit.
As they arrived back outside Amy looked on in amazement as the water flow back into its normal position. The other chao in the garden all returned to the waters edge to get a drink. "Now, my dear let me show you how to use this power. If you would, would you please bring out your hammer?" The king chao asked.
Amy nodded "sure," she replied and in one swift motion the pink hedgehog flicked her arms and wrist and the hammer appeared in her hands.
"Excellent, now repeat after me…oh great powerful crystal lend me the power to protect. " The king said now holding his staff the same way she was holding her hammer.
Amy nodded and did as asked, "oh, great powerful crystal lend me the power to protect." Amy said as let out gasp as she could feel a power surge going through her body.
She was now glowing a bring pink colour and she yelped when she felt her feet leaving the ground, "is….Is this suppose to happen?!" She asked.
The king nodded "yes, don't fret you'll get the hang of flying."
"Flying…?!" Amy exclaimed, but she soon calmed down, as she floated back down and landed on her feet again.
Echo cheered as she landed "chao, chao."
"Now remember with great power comes great responsibility. I only ask that you make sure that one with evil intentions does not get a hold of this, it could cause a lot of problems." The king said.
Amy nodded in determination, "you can count on me," she said and smiled "thank you so much for this."
"Your welcome, my dear." The king replied.
"Well, its getting dark, I'd better make my way home." Amy said looking towards the sky sadly knowing she may have to leave Echo behind.
Echo chirped sadly, "chao."
As they walked her to the exit which was the same way in which they came Amy turned to face the pair of chao, "Echo it was really great to meet you. Please stay safe here in the chao garden." Amy said sadly as she sighed as Echo was looking rather upset.
"Chao…." He croaked with a slow nod.
"I can't thank you enough for saving my son and taking such good care of him, please assured that your always welcome here." The king chao said bowing his head.
Amy smiled with a nod, "thank you." She said as her eyes widened as Echo now had tears streaming down his face. She gasped when he pounced into her arms she caught him just in time. "Oh…Echo…. Don't worry this isn't goodbye forever I'll come and visit some time." Amy said softly as she hugged the chao back.
"Chao….Chao…" Echo shook his head furiously, he then turned back to his father. "chao, chao, chao, chao!" He exclaimed waving his arms about.
Amy gasped at how sad he looked, and she really wanted to know what he said, the king also gasped at his son. "But…. but….my boy…..You just returned to us….and now you want to leave us again?!" The king said in astonishment.
Amy gasped again, "Echo…"
The chao once again spoke "chao, chao, chao."
The king sighed sadly, and he briefly looked away, but he nodded, "okay my son, but please be careful and help this fine young lady protect the crystal from any evil doers."
Amy frowned in confusion, "what's going on?"
The king chuckled "it seems my son has taking a strong liking to you and doesn't want to leave you. Which is really unlike my son it takes him a while to like strangers."
Amy gasped as a big smile spread across her face, "Echo does this mean you wanna stay with me?"
Echo cheered nodding his head as he flew back into the rosy hedgehog and cuddled her around the neck. Amy giggled in excitement, "Echo your always welcome to stay with me, this is going to be great." Amy exclaimed.
The king coughed and caught their attention, "all I ask is that you take care of my son and he will help you with the crystal, and please don't forget to visit us occasionally."
The two nodded "don't worry your highness, I'll take good care of Echo and we'll come back soon."
The king nodded with smile, "well you better get going you two, before it gets dark."
Echo smiled big as his father was letting him go, "chao, chao!" He exclaimed, and he hugged his father.
"Alright, alright…" King Zoto chuckled.
Echo returned to Amy's side and the pink hedgehog she glanced at the chao, "are you ready to go home now?" She asked.
"Chao!" Echo nodded and flew around her.
Nodding herself Amy started walking through the tunnel from which they came waving as they went to all the chao staying behind. The pair finally made it back home just as it turned dark.
"Now that your staying with me Echo, I can introduce you my other friends. If your up it of course?" Amy asked as she looked the chao flying beside her, they had just arrived at her cottage home.
Echo nodded in excitement, "chao!"
Amy giggled "wonderful maybe tomorrow if they're not busy." Amy said thoughtfully.
As she walked up to her front door she prepared to put her key into the door, but before she could however a loud thud was heard to her left. Amy's ears perked up as Echo let out a growl, Amy gasped in fright as the shadow of a hedgehog stood on the edge of the porch.
