A Second Chance

(Amy's POV)

I didn't remember much. All I could remember was Scourge attempting to kill me while I was expecting. Afterwards, I was screaming and crying incessantly. I kept blacking out every second. Then, I heard Blaze's voice; she was agonizingly crying "Amy! Amy, what wrong?! Are you okay?!"

I didn't get a chance to answer her; frankly, I could barely see or hear her. The next thing I know, I was at the hospital. I underwent a painful cesarean-section, and then… Lavender Rose was born. Sadly, I never got a chance to see my newborn daughter. By the time she came— I died.

I have awakened in this new place. Everything's filled with white clouds and the sun-rays were reflecting the skies. I wanted to explore this place, so I got up from a cloud. I just noticed that I wasn't wearing anything at all (kind of embarrassing, but at least no one else is around). I looked over my shoulder to see that I also had angel wings. They're so beautiful.

The scenery is so gorgeous and serene as I was strolling around, even though it's just clouds and sun-lights. I kind of liked it there; so pacifying, so tranquil, so accommodating. I had a feeling that I wanted to stay; although, I couldn't.

Moments later, I saw something strange: a large mirror on a misty wall. It was so weird because it came out of nowhere. My reflection dilated as I got closer to the mirror until I stood about five inches apart.

I stared at it for a few seconds, and then I looked down at my abdomen. I have two noticeable facade scars: one is a thin straight line across my stomach from when Scourge slashed me with his knife. Another is also a straight line, except it's thicker and it ran from my navel down to my lower stomach; it's from that cesarean-section. I turned around to see my third scar on the mirror: a discolored stab wound on my lower back.

The looks of these scars have traumatized me. Despite that Scourge was so close into hitting the aorta and I've lost so much blood, Lavender miraculously survived. I could've been perilous to a fatal miscarriage. The blade went in deep, but it must've missed her.

I faced back to the mirror. Carefully, I touched it with my fingertips and when I did… my hand ran right through. I gasped incredulously and quickly pulled my hand out.

"Oh, my…" I whispered to myself.

I put my hand back on the mirror; my whole forearm went through. I wanted to know where this mysterious object leads to. I breathed in and very slowly, I walked right through the lens. On the other side, all I could see is a very bright light shining everywhere, blinding me.

I opened my eyes and I ended up in Sonic's house. I was in his living room.

Huh? I thought as I looked around, what am I doing here?

Suddenly, I heard a very loud shriek,

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Followed by the violent sounds of glass breaking and crashes. I got scared. I turned to Sonic's mahogany furnishings and I saw him. He was the one shrieking chaotically while breaking all of his fragile possessions off the end tables. He even broke his wall mirror by throwing a cerulean ceramic vase at it, breaking it also.

I was so shocked and terrified at the way he was behaving. He's probably taking it very hard about my fatality. Then, Sonic got into a very heated confrontation with everyone, "No, I can't fucking calm down!" I heard him say.

I didn't pay much attention to the rest of the argument; in fact, I didn't want to listen.

I walked to the shattered mirror. Right below it, there was a pile of remains from the vase. I crouched down to take a closer look and what caught my eye is a tiny red velvet box sitting on the floor, surrounded by shards. Sonic must've put it inside the vase before it broke.

I took the box into my hands. I opened it and I couldn't believe what I just saw: an engagement ring. It's so beautiful, I was so astonished. It's a diamond and it's in white gold. I read the label inside the box: "To Amy Rose, Love Sonic".

Is Sonic planning to propose to me? If he is, then I'd be happy to. But my biggest concern is how will he be able to move on without me around anymore? It's going to be very disheartening to see my future husband raising our daughter all alone… without me.

"No, Wait! " I heard Sonic calling out. I perked my head to him; he was lamenting and struggling in everyone's grip while Tails and Cream, the godparents, were about to leave with Lavender. I was so distracted by the ring, I didn't know what happened. All I know is that Sonic was sobbing uncontrollably, "Please, I just want to see my daughter! I don't mean to hurt her!"

Hurt her? What? What did he do? But by judging the look of his body language, I'm sure it's something unintentional. I rely on Sonic a lot and I know he would never harm our child on purpose.

I watched Tails and Cream leaving the house and Sonic was crying, "Lavender! Lavender, daddy loves you! Daddy will be better, I promise!"

My heart broke when he said that while he was being separated from Lavender.

I turned my head back to the ring box and stared at the ring some more. I can feel myself trembling. Then, I closed the box and stroked the top with my thumb, admiring the velvety sensation on the exterior. I put it back on the floor beside the remains and I got up.

Moments later, Rouge appeared adjacent to me and she was examining the dismantled mirror and vase. She, too, found the ring box. Rouge picked it back up and inspected it for a minute, both inside and out. She then walked back to Sonic and showed it to him. I was surprised she didn't recognize me.

From where I was still standing, I could see Sonic getting emotional to the whole team. I got closer to them and I stood behind Blaze and Tikal, just a foot away. Just like Rouge, nobody else noticed me either; I was very inconspicuous to them.

I've been listening carefully to what Sonic said about me, himself, and Lavender becoming a family together. I even knew about his plan: asking me for a matrimony right after our baby girl is born, but it backfired because… of my untimely death. And it was supposed to be a surprise— that would explain why the ring was inside the vase.

I got emotional, too. I felt disheartened when Sonic said this: "Now… I'm going to end up as a father of a baby with no mother… I don't think I can move on like this…"

I grew teary while he was sobbing. I can already feel his pain.

I took a few steps back from the group. I turned around when all of the sudden, the bright white light reappeared out of the blue, shining all over the room.

As soon as the light faded away, I was back to where I was standing before. However, the mirror mysteriously vanished into thin air. There was nothing but mist and I was just staring at a wall of clouds.

I shook my head a little, hoping to get out of a trance. What just happened? I was so confused. I looked around; nothing… no one… just me all alone. I began to walk away, not even sure where I was going.

I strolled like miles around this cloudy desert. Even though, I liked this place because of its serenity, I couldn't stop thinking about the pain Sonic was going through and everybody else's. I felt so depressed.

I stopped walking and I lied down on my side on top of a cloud. I closed my eyes and wept inaudibly. With me out of the picture, I can see Sonic having a complicated time raising Lavender; he'd be sobbing persistently with our baby in his arms, embracing her.

I had this thought: as Lavender grows up, she would ask "Daddy, how come I don't have a mommy?" in a sweet innocent voice.

Then Sonic would remark, "Well, mommy's in a better place but I'm sure she's watching us now."

"Will I ever see her? And will she ever come back?"

"No…" he'd answered with a breaking voice, "I'm afraid not."

Lavender would see her daddy crying with a sad look on her face; she'd comfort him by wiping off the tears with her tiny hand, then hug him without even letting go.

I opened my eyes and wiped the tears off with the heels of my hands. I sat up, hugging my knees and staring down.

I've been thinking: I want a second chance. I want to be brought back to life. I want to be with the team again. I want to see Sonic and Lavender and be with them forever. But how?

Suddenly, another mysterious thing happened. In front of me, I saw a golden line forming a perfect circle on the cloud and a clear light became visible. I crawled there and perked through the circle, which turned out to be some kind of opening. I took a closer look through the portal and I let out a warm smile. Why? Because my chance has come.

I stood up and slowly walked into the opening. Another bright light appeared as I drifted down.

The next thing I know, I was floating to the ceiling of the intensive-care unit while fluttering my angel wings. There, I saw myself; all lifeless in the hospital bed. Right beside me was Sonic holding baby Lavender and he was weeping in melancholy. As for the other eight, they were sobbing and mourning.

I just saw Sonic putting the engagement ring on my finger. I was really touched.

"…I will take good care of our daughter for you. I'll make sure Lavender will remember you for good. I'll never forget you, Amy Rose. I love you."

I grew teary again, but I fought the urge to cry. I took a deep breath, hoping this would work.

I drifted to the bed, laid down in a supine position, and finally, I entered my body. I can feel my own heart beating again.

As soon as I can breathe normally, I opened my eyes. I looked to my side and for the first time, I saw both Sonic and Lavender. I smiled a little meekly.

"Sonic," I said in a lullaby tone, "I'm back."

His expression— amazed.