Love Struck
Chapter 4
"Let's go out front and see if we can see Miss Tikal coming," Cream said, leading Espio through Amy's house. They had been scouting throughout it, looking for any sign of Charmy and were forced to conclude he was no longer there. Cream hoped that by taking Espio to the front of the house, she could not only keep an eye on him and look out for Tikal – and the rest of the group – but also post a lookout on the whereabouts of Charmy. "They should be coming soon, and...."
Cream trailed off, distracted by a large, hardcover book on a shelf. She walked over to it and picked it up, feeling its heavy weight in her hands. Someway, somehow, this book had caught her attention; not coincidental, something more.
She examined the book's title; still being relatively young, she could just make out, after a little thought, its rather wordy title: How to Deal with Love and Affection in Every Which, Way, and Form.
That got the rabbit's attention; it was only obvious Amy had a book like this in her house – Cream wouldn't be surprised if she had two other copies – but the way it seemed to be calling out to her sensitive ears seemed like it would hold answers – it sounds silly, of course, to say that a book was calling for her, but it's simply a feeling that you recognize when you feel it and hard to imagine if you're not. Almost like an aura, Cream suddenly knew: this was it. This book held answers.
Cream looked over her shoulder to check on Espio, who was gazing vacantly into space, and flipped open the book to a random page. She almost dropped the book when she saw, sprawling over most of the right-hand page, a large complicated diagram of what could only be a love arrow. She quickly made out the heading on the opposite page, "Chapter 6 – Objects Designed to Create Affection," but the rest of the page might as well been written in Greek. She couldn't focus on any of the words long enough to sound it out.
Obviously she needed someone to help her – but who? She scanned the room; Espio could help but was in no fit state to; Jet, Wave, and Storm were definitely out of the question; Big meant well but would stumble on the more difficult words; Rouge was – ominously – nowhere in sight, and all that was left was....
Cream looked at Shadow and sighed. It wasn't likely at all he'd help her, but what choice did she have? She needed to find out how to cure everyone – she needed to play her part as well. Everyone would look at Knuckles and Tails and the rest of them and remember that they were the warriors in this little war of theirs. At least if she could figure this out, they'd look back on it and agree that Cream had helped – it was a small thing, but it helped.
That stiffened her resolve, and took one last look at Espio and hoped he wouldn't run off, and walked tentatively over to where Shadow stood, staring into space as vacantly as the chameleon she had just left.
"...Shadow?" she asked timidly. He slowly turned his gaze to her and fixed his brilliant red eyes on her soft, gentle brown ones. She felt like quaking in fear, but knew, this had to work.
When Shadow said nothing, she said, concentrating on not letting her voice quaver, "I have... a favor I would like to ask of you."
The stare the black hedgehog was giving her was so apathetic, so indifferent, it would have made stronger people quell in fear, but Cream, once again, steeled her resolve.
"Name the favor you have in mind," he said finally.
Cream closed her eyes and thought for a second. She had to make this sound convincing. Opening her eyes, she said, "I... I need to ask you about... love."
The hedgehog remained as impassive as ever. "Love?"
"Yes. You see, Charmy... he has these love arrows, and when shot with them, they really do create love. He's shot several people already, and we need a way to undo it, or they could be that way permanently. I... think I found something that might help in this book, but I can't read it. Could... could... could you p-please read me what it s-says?"
Cream didn't really think she sounded entirely convincing, and half-expected Shadow to burst out in cruel laughter. So she was surprised when he said, "Very well. Let me see the book."
She handed him the large book. He held it and examined the diagram slowly and carefully. He then proceeded to read the rest of the page, looking for any useful information.
"How interesting," he said suddenly, around a minute later.
"What does it say?" asked Cream, who was waiting patiently.
His scarlet eyes glanced at her and turned back to the book. He began to read, slowly, carefully, each word sending a chill of fear and excitement down Cream's spine.
"Anyone who has ever experienced it knows, without question, there is no stronger force in the universe that love, why so many have sought to put a stopper on this peculiar force. Yet there is no stronger sense of crushing grief than heartbreak, its immense sorrow enveloping every particle of being. Truly, the distinctive feeling of heartbreak can crush even the strongest barriers and walls."
Heartbreak. That was it. So simple, yet so effective. All they would have to do, use heartbreak to crush the cloud of love palling the rest of their minds. Strong enough to snap them back to their senses.
Shadow turned his gaze to her once again. He closed the book and handed it to her. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Yes, I... did," she said breathlessly. "Th-thank you, Shadow."
Cream thought he would simply give a curt nod and stalk off, and so was even more surprised when he said, "You are most welcome. Even as an immortal ultimate life form I can possess the quality of sympathy. I am not as heartless as could think."
She stared at him blankly. "I was trying to perform a joke," he said. "I can show I am not heartless only on this holiday, out of the others."
"Oh. Okay." Since when did Shadow have a sense of humor?
"It is vital you stop Charmy. This holiday could use some excitement."
Cream was taken aback by the slight smile the harsh, emotionless hedgehog was giving her. But she smiled too. "I will try my best."
The black hedgehog gave her a small nod, and turned and stalked off to do whatever Shadows do. Cream looked down at the book in her hands and felt a rush of excitement.
She knew. She knew. This had to be it.
The bunny ran over to Espio. "Come on," she said, dragging him over to the front door. Her heart pounding, trying to escape her chest, she opened the door and pulled him outside.
Night was beginning to fall, the last few rays of sunlight just barely shining westward and the sky was painted pink, almost as if it was celebrating Valentine's Day as well, and eastward the sky was already starting to become the bluey-black shade of twilight. She looked around, marveling at the breathtaking beauty. She hoped that Tails and the others would come soon; she knew she should stay down-to-earth and humble, but Cream couldn't help but feel proud of accomplishing what the others couldn't. She was so caught up her thoughts she almost didn't notice Cheese, who had become bored with struggling to no avail and was despondently letting Marine squeeze him.
"Cheese!" Cream yelped, running over to him. "Are you okay?"
"Chao!" he said, slightly muffled from being squished against Marine.
"What?!" said Cream. "Marine got hit by a love arrow and now she's in love with you and Tails and Knuckles and Tikal and Vector have just gone to see if they can find Silver and Amy and Sonic and Blaze to see if they can help you?"
"Chao, chao!"
"Well, you don't have long to wait," Cream said with a smile. "I... think I've found out how to sure her. I haven't tried it yet."
"Chao, chaochao?" Cheese asked.
"Heartbreak," Cream said sagely. "If my theory is correct, than being heartbroken should be strong enough to snap them out of it."
"Chao," he said. "Chao chao chao?"
"I suppose that's what you'd have to do, too, to get Marine away from you." Cream looked thoughtful. "But how do you break Marine's heart?"
"Chaochao chao chao chao chao, chao chao chao," he said slyly.
Cream giggled. "Eeeww! Cheese, that's nasty!"
He gave her a devious chao grin. "Chao, chao chao."
She giggled even harder. "That's just plain naughty, you mischievous little chao!"
"Chao, chao chaochao," he said as Marine, who was apparently deaf to their conversation, squeezed him amorously.
"I guess it could work," Cream said. "But I can't let you do that you-know-what!"
"Chao," he assured her. He thought for a second. "Chao chao chao."
"You're right. She doesn't know Chao, so she won't understand you." She closed her eyes in thought and sighed. "I can't think of anything, Cheese."
However, Cheese wasn't listening. He was gazing into the distance, apparently deep in thought. He looked up at Marine, snuggling him, and uttered a flamboyant "Chao!" in the right tone of voice to get her attention.
"Yea, Cheese? Wha' is it, mate?" Marine said, looking down at him. Not being literate in chao, she had merely thought it was a simple cry to get her attention, but Cream, who had learned by heart the highly efficient tongue spoken by the chao, understood what he meant at once, and gave him a big grin.
"Chao chao chao chao chao," Cheese said.
"Ooh, yes Cheese, I think it'd be important for her to know about that too," said Cream, giving him a small wink.
"Know 'bout what?! Know 'bout what?!" Marine asked excitedly, looking from the rabbit to the chao, to the rabbit, and then to the chao, and then to the rabbit, and you get the point.
"Know about..." Cream paused for dramatic effect, "...Chao Allergy Syndrome."
"Chao... Allergy... Syndrome?" Marine repeated, looking a little worried.
Cream nodded; looking so serious it almost made the chao burst out laughing. "Yes. Chao Allergy Syndrome. It's caused by... um... toxins, in chao fur. It produces a, um, serious allergic reaction in most people that can lead to poisoning. The symptoms include... ah... oddity, obsession of boats and sailing, being annoying, and talking in an Australian accent."
Marine's worry turned to full-fledged panic. "Wh-what?! O, blimey.... Wha' does it do, mate?"
"Well," said Cream, "in mild cases the effects can include rashes, swelling of the tongue, fur loss, temporary blindness and deafness, abnormal speech functions, and limb loss. However, in more severe cases, poisoning ensues, which can eventually lead to... insanity. Of course, rabbits are immune to this, but most at risk are... raccoons."
"Raccoons?! Ahh! Holy Dooley! I'm a raccoon!" She quickly released Cheese who gratefully stretched his stiff wings and fluttered into the air. Marine started to tear up. "Crikey! I-I really do like ya, Cheese, b-but... we can't be togetha if you're gonna make me go insane, mate! This is heartbreaking!"
Cream and Cheese shared a look. "Chao chao chao?" Cheese asked.
"What feels heartbreaking?" Cream translated.
"Ya know, how... Cheese...." Marine trailed off. "Tha's odd, mate. I can't.... I don't...."
"Can't what?" Cream asked excitedly.
"I... can't remember...." She shook her head dizzily. "Blimey, tha's crook. Everythin' from the past few hours is just a blur, mate."
Cream had to restrain her excitement from jumping up and down. "So you don't love Cheese?"
"Love Cheese? Crikey! Well, 'e's a cute fella, awright, but I don' love 'im, mate." Marine got up from where she was sitting on the ground and dusted herself off. "Kay, mate, the last thing I rememba is pom-poms, so tha's where I'm goin', mate." She headed off.
"Did you hear that Cheese?!" Cream squealed. "It worked! Now we just have to wait for everyone else to get here!"
"Chao chao, chao chao!" Cheese said, flying loops in happiness.
"Tikal!"
They both turned to see Espio, who was waiting patiently - as Cream had told him - jumping off the porch and darting off to meet the group of fighters, who – so conveniently it was scary – were arriving at this moment.
"Cream! Are you okay?" yelled Tails, running to meet the rabbit.
"Tails, I'm fine!" she said, beaming. "Tails, listen! I know how to cure Mister Sonic and Ms. Rouge and everyone else! I already helped Marine!"
"Say what?!" Knuckles yelled, running to meet Cream as well. "You do?! How- what happened?! Where did- what do we have to do?!"
"Mister Knuckles, calm down!" Cream said, and with good reason too, since Knuckles looked as excited as if he had drank a dozen sugary sodas at three in the morning. "You see, it's really simple! All we have to do is-"
"CHARMY!!!" Vector yelled at the small bee, unnoticed by everyone but the croc who knew him best, yet though it startled everyone, it was not enough to prevent the small arrow, harmless yet so deadly, from stopping in its fatal path toward the young rabbit.
"Vector!!!" yelled Charmy.
"Charmy!!!" yelled Knuckles.
"Cream!!!" yelled Tails.
"Tikal!!!" yelled Espio.
"Espio!!!" yelled Amy.
"Amy!!!" yelled Tikal.
"Blaze!!!" yelled Sonic.
"Chao!!!" yelled Cheese.
"Vector Charmy Knuckles Tails Tikal Espio Blaze Sonic Cheese!" yelled Silver.
Awkward silence and general staring from everyone present.
"No one yelled my name," Silver huffed.
"Darn you, Silver!" said Vector. "While you were huffing about no one yelling your name, Charmy got away!"
It was true. That dang bee was no where to be seen.
Oh, and Cream was in love with Knuckles, too.
Tails gasped. "Oh no! Knuckles how could you! Now Cream is in love with you!!"
"How is this my fault!?" yelled Knuckles, who by the way had Cream clinging happily to his leg.
"Now we'll never find out how to cure Son- I mean everyone!" yelled Amy.
"I know!" yelled Tikal. "Cheese!"
"We don't have time for any dairy treats!" yelled Knuckles.
Everyone facepalmed and decided to just ignore him.
"Okay, Cheese! Do you know how to cure everyone?" said Tikal.
"Chao! Chao chaochaochao chao chaochaochao chao!" he said, extremely fast, because he was freaked out. You'd be freaked out too if your owner/best friend fell in love with someone ten years older than her, when she's only six.
"What?" Tikal asked, puzzled. "The... brick cow ladybug hopped to a battery bubble with-"
Cheese looked frustrated. "No!" he squeaked angrily. No one seemed to notice he had spoken his first word in English. "Chaochaochaochaochaochao-"
"I can't understand you, Cheese!" yelled Tikal.
"We need to find Charmy!" yelled Knuckles.
"No, we need to find out how to cure everyone!" yelled Amy.
"We need to stop yelling and calm down," said Tikal. "Okay, first off, we need to get Charmy. If he was over here than he probably heard how to cure everyone, so if we can get him, we can score twice."
Knuckles grinned and cracked his spiky namesakes. "We prevent the bee from causing any more casualties and we find out how to help everyone who's already hit. Kill two chao with one stone."
"Chao!"
"Speaking figuratively, of course," he added quickly.
"Charmy wouldn't have gone that far away," spoke up Vector. "He'd be hanging around here hoping to get another hit, so if we scour we should find him. However, if we do find him it's likely he won't tell us how to cure them. It's even probable he's known all this time, yet hasn't told us. We'll need a method of persuasion in order to get any info from him. I should know," he added darkly. "I've worked with him."
Silver crossed his arms. "A 'method of persuasion'?"
"Yes. We'll need weapons, of course."
"We can't use weapons on Charmy!" yelped Tikal. "That's horrible!"
"We won't actually use the weapons," Vector said hurriedly, "we'll just use them to threaten." I hope, he thought silently.
"There's some stuff in my house we could use," said Amy.
Tails raised an eyebrow. "You keep weapons in your house?"
Amy chuckled. "Not weapons. Insect repellent."
Knuckles bared his fangs in an echidna smile. "That just be might be insane enough to work."
AN: Yup, I put this up in time. Hopefully Chapter 5 can be up soon, since I'm not finished typing it. This isn't my favorite chapter, though of course I like it, since I wrote it of course :) One of the things that annoyed me slightly is that I feel Shadow was OOC in this chapter. My sister assures me he's not, but I'd like to know your opinions of that matter in your reviews. So go do it now, please.