-DISCLAIMER-

Sonic the Hedgehog and all related characters/themes © SEGA and/or Sonic Team.

'The New Age Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog' © Kathryn Christine Starcrafter/Lumorean Arts.

-THE RETURN OF METAL SONIC-

Chapter 3: Secrets in the Night

Three days had gone past since their meeting. Three very dull, confusing, drawn-out days it had seemed. And during every single one of those there had been only one thing on the minds of a blue hedgehog and a young princess. Their meeting, that brief exchange of words had germinated and bloomed into thoughts of 'What If...'

That rainy day Amy -the Pink One- had been his only reason for abandoning the shy yet humble human woman. Sonic, after once again loosing his shadow, had done a complete one-eighty in a desperate and knowingly futile attempt at relocating the individual he had been forced away from. To no avail. Obviously she had gone to seek shelter, something he should have done. Was it worth catching the flu for trying to find someone -a girl no less- out in the rain? After that he finally decided to head indoors for the day. There was also the fact that the other girl on his brain had finally latched herself to him while he had been preoccupied by his thoughts. After that Amy had gleefully forced him into a glorified hotel that overcharged for every service that would have normally been complimentary at any other.

Elise herself had in fact headed home. Thankfully the suitor her father had called in never did show. Her mood had even lifted enough to devour two serving of those pancakes she had missed from her childish tantrum. No, instead the man came the next morning in a chariot drawn by four milk-white equines adorned with brindles of gold and pearls. Well, apparently they did share a love of shells and animals. But, that was about it. This Brandon Jay of Landuc marked himself little higher than all those before him. Tall, muscular, blond-haired and blue-eyed, every single generic Damsel-in-Distress would be automatically swept off her feet in adoration. Elise, however, was not your everyday defenseless maiden. To put a long story short Mr. Brandon Jay of Landuc had taken his permanent leave of the manor in a fit of boyish rage over the rules of jockeying. And that was all there was to say about that.

And so the third day was drawing to a close. Solaris gradually gave submission to his sister and mate, Illumina. She in her full glory speckled the horizon with diamonds and bathed all below in her milky embrace. The air lay thick with the scent of the sea that constantly remained in motion by the mansion's eastern border, of which Elise's balcony partially overlooked. Mostly it had been turned to her city and the wilderness that was so close she could outstretch a hand and grasp a mighty oak that shaded a section of the uplifted veranda.

It was upon a limb of this spectacular timber that the hedgehog had chosen as a hideaway to think over what he was going to do and how he was going to do it. So there he sat, quills against scratchy bark and embraced by the greenery of a summer's eve. Within on paw he held a folded length of cloth dyed sea-green in the fading light. A grin softened his auburn muzzle, and without thinking he brought the scrap beneath his nose and inhaled.

Sonic had noticed something yesterday when he was forced to vault away from the woman he had abruptly crashed into in the rain. The scarf she had given him in a moment of selflessness, there was some kind of smell to it. Not a bad one, just a smell. Normally females loved to adorn their skin with exotic perfumes so pungent that taking a deep breath near one would cause any of the opposite sex to spasm in a choking fit. Such scents were so strong that even their clothing seemed to be seeped in the stuff. But, this small extension of fabric had such a delicate one. The hedgehog could discern the artificial fragrances of lavender and vanilla, soft and decedent. Yet far beneath, intertwined in its very fibers there existed yet another flavor his nostrils could only faintly absorb. It made his quills prickle in a sense of euphoria, muscles suddenly tight like the end of a hard run.

Viridian irises shot open as the thought struck. He shook his head to rid himself of such thinking, forsaking such an absurd daydream. He had come to return the garment, or at least that was his excuse none-the-less. Ears perked from a sound in the distance. Immediately his face shot to the balcony were an ambiance of amber light shimmered forth beyond a veil of silken curtains. A shadow approached from behind the meager shielding of cloth and glass.

Elise took hold of the divide between sliding doors, pulling first the curtains away to reveal the landscape of forest, sea, and civilization in peaceful unity. With slender fingers she undid the lock and forced the two to part. Eclipsed by a sudden burst of humidity twined with the salty tang of the ocean, she drew in a deep breath and stepped outside.

From Sonic's position he witnessed the appearance of an angel haloed in silver and gold. She stepped forth, a slender beauty any human male would kill just to be graced by her glance. So, what was his excuse? Why couldn't he look away, set his mind straight again? Every subtle move she made, waltzing forward towards the very edge of her mezzanine, mesmerized him. A single slender appendage reached forth to grasp the finely carved rail of mercury-veined marble. The other lay clutched to a shawl of down draped across a gown, thin and tight against her petite frame. Again he smiled, heart beat escalating to uncontrollable levels.

Stormy eyes lifted to the sky, examining the luminous pearl that hung upon her chain of crystals. Not a cloudy blemish in sight. Elise sighed, again thoughts cast back to that moment in the city. Why was she clinging so desperately to that memory? So she had met Sonic the Hedgehog, big deal.

It wasn't as though she had never heard of him. Sure, everyone knew him, world savior and selfless hero, as swift and untameable as the wind itself. She had seen him on TV and in the paper, heard him on the radio, even casually talked about him with her friends. So why now, after meeting him face to face, does his very existence enrapture every thought? Come to think of it, ever since she had witnessed his exploits on the news when she was twelve she had been sort of intrigued by the anthro. She even remembered that it had been in Station Square, with some sort of water monster. Only now that she really thought of it, Elise noticed how her interest in him had grown since that day. Not so much as to be called obsessed or fangirlish, just anything about him always caught her attention. She always watched the television for sight of him or read the paper when he made the front cover. And now, she had talked to him, touched him, even given him her most prized possession. Was it possible that he was the vision in her dreams? Could that wind have been him on the night of the Sun Festival?

So lost in herself at that moment the starstruck girl yipped, nearly toppling over the edge of her balcony at the sudden appearance of the very individual who's existence consumed every waking thought. Immediately she swerved to face the diminutive figure kneeling only a foot from her upon the guardrail. He stood, balancing on the slim length of stone, muscles taught and face bearing the expression of amusement.

Sonic gave a heartwarming chuckled. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

Elise, took a deep breath, heart grown light from his unexpected, but well appreciated, arrival. "No, no, it's alright." She smiled, pulling back a portion of her mahogany hair.

For a few moments all was quiet, in that time the hedgehog sat himself, legs dangling over the inside edge. Elise took notice that in this position his height perfectly matched hers, though top-most quill perhaps just a bit higher. Yet again he out-held a paw to her, upon it lay the same earthen-green garment she had bequeathed to him in the rain three days ago.

"Thanks," he spoke as softly as the eastern breeze.

The woman reached forward with a tentative hand. Her first reaction was to accept his return. However, she paused, and instead curved his fingers with her palm around the delicately folded length of cloth. The hedgehog's muzzle turned up to her, confused. To this, her expression softened with sincerity, touched by his offer.

"Keep it." And her fingers rolled down his like morning dew from a fern leaf, satisfied with her choice.

"Are you sure?"

Elise nodded. "Yeah, I have plenty of others, trust me"

"I thought you said this one was special?" The hedgehog's expression turned back to its usual playfulness.

"It is, but I think it's already worked its magic, for me anyway. Perhaps it may do some good for you."

So, Sonic took the slim packet of cloth and set it to his lap, eyes forever affixed to hers.

"Was that really why you came all the way here? Just to give me back my scarf?"

"Sure," he shrugged. "Why not?"

"And here I thought you'd be well on your way to some other more interesting destination. One without so much water."

And they both laughed, melodious and somehow comforting to both.

"Well, aside from that, Soleanna is very nice. Peaceful, even," Sonic responded, finally turning his sight away to the horizon stretching out indefinitely before them. "It's weird though. I almost feel like I've been here before."

"Really, why's that?"

"Don't know. Wish I did."

"I bet you've seen so many beautiful places," Elise mused soberly.

Again his irises returned to her, she transfixed into the distance by some life she could not grasp.

"Yeah," he finally answered. "But, nothing compares to having a place to return to at the end of a long day."

Now it was Elise's turn to give him an estranged glance. "That didn't seem very 'Sonic-like.'"

An he chuckled, "it's true though."

Curiosity got the better of her. His words only begged the question, "You have a home though, don't you? A place to return to at the end of the day?"

"Yeah, in a way."

He seemed so unperturbed by the question, but to her his answer seemed incomplete. However, she let the subject drop and silence overtook them. And for a long while the two just remained contently beside one another stargazing, almost as though they had done so before, in some distant past long forsaken by memory. Neither knew what to say, nor did one wish to leave the other just yet.

Eventually the hedgehog's eyes began to drift away from the sky to rest upon the woman at his side. He thought back to the Festival of the Sun a few nights before and how his impulsiveness had brought him face-to-face with her. That same unearthly shimmer returned to her smooth skin, irises flecked with quicksilver. Suddenly an emotion overcame him, burning his chest and heart. He had felt this way before, so many years ago. But, how could this girl bring up such intimate feelings long buried? Ashamed, he dropped his gaze to the delicate square of folded cloth.

Elise noticed the sudden change in atmosphere and shifted her sights to her companion. She witnessed his sullen face and grew worried.

"Sonic, are you alright?" she asked in tender concern.

The hedgehog returned her gaze and smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking."

She responded amusedly, "thinking, really? Now, are you sure you're really Sonic and not some impostor?"

And he laughed wholeheartedly, "and what's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, the Sonic I know doesn't let anything bother him. He leaves his cares to the wind, goes wherever he pleases. It doesn't matter what others think of him, he always stays true to what he believes."

The hedgehog took a moment to absorb her words. Through her praises he had caught a hint of sorrow it seemed. He jumped to a stand, balancing on the rail like a gymnast as he came towards her.

"Hey, even heroes get worried sometimes. Sometimes."

"Really? And when has the great Sonic the Hedgehog ever been worried?" she giggled.

He shrugged. "Can't think of one." Though it was a lie.

Elise sighed, turning back to the heavens. Her continued solemnity made him feel a bit uneasy so he responded:

"Well, perhaps maybe once. But, just a little."

Again the young woman turned to him. "If you say so then I guess they do. Even if it is just a little."

Then more silence, heavy though not with ill. The night had seemed to draw onward and the weight of the day finally draped across both their shoulders. It was high time to turn it. Still, neither wanted to part for who knows when they would reunite again? But, in the falling darkness many things can occur. With somnolence thoughts can be distorted and emotions wild.

Elise drew a hand to her mouth and yawned. And as addictive as yawns were, Sonic soon found himself doing the same. It had been a long couple of days, for both of them. So to finally have some quite time -together- made all the difference. Now, staring out across the sea of blue and green and star-dusted cityscape, made both hearts grow light with a sense of peace and familiarity. The hedgehog, in particular, felt at home here, despite the water and the supposed truth that this was in fact his very first visit. He felt comfortable and content here, around her. This was not Knothole. This was not Mobodoon or Knotthole. As yet, it was 'Home.'

Elise spoke first, shattering his train of thought first with a petite giggle. "Guess it's time to say goodnight."

"Aw, come on. You're not seriously tired already?"

"And you're not? I saw you yawn."

"That was only because you did first."

"You live a much more exciting life than I do."

"Maybe too much living the life. Don't mean I'm set." He turned to her. "What about you?"

A thought crossed her mind. This play of events. It was funny how they appeared to mimic how her own mother put her to bed when she was little. A young Elise had been dubbed a Night Owl because of her aversion to sleep. So her mother invented a fun way to put her down at night. Though at first it seemed silly and had the opposite effect, the eventual result tuckered her out enough to finally allow her parents some peace and quiet. A spark of mischief ignited in the girl. Besides, it was all in fun, right? What would it matter? He would not stay very long anyway so why not make her time with him memorable?

She came close to him, who still remained standing gallantly upon the elegant stretch of stone. He could see in her eyes something that had not been there before. And for a while they remained affixed to one another. Till something began crawling up his hips. Sonic's first reaction was to jump away from the unexpected contact but figuring it had been of the girl's invention he allowed her to continue, a hot blush on his muzzle. Suddenly those advancing digits made their way up his arms and onto his neck. Without warning Elise began assaulting him viciously.

There was no blood involved but there was screaming. It had taken some creativeness to keep hold of the anthro's lithe body as the childish woman preceded to tickle him as her mother had done to her. Eventually the great Sonic had fallen, though Elise made sure it was on the inside of the balcony. Laughing frantically and without clear sight of laws or formality, both rushed inside to be embraced in the delicate warmth of candlelight. At first it seemed Elise had the upper hand in this fight. However, after a few swift evasive maneuvers, which in truth was simply after a quick spin-around, the hedgehog was soon on her tail instead. The childish and unexpectedly willing play from her companion caught her off-guard. She turned to watch him vaunt on top of her. The action was timed perfectly to allow the young woman to fall backward and flop gently onto the side of her bed. Face to face, both continued their giddy euphoria.

Then, without any warning, without even a second of thought, Elise brought her face up to his and kissed him. It had only been a tiny peck, a brief moment of intimate contact. But when she realized what she had done, instantly tensed and brought both hands to her lips, startled and embarrassed. Sonic however, had gone silent the instant her heat enveloped him. As if frozen, his eyes remained wide with mouth only slightly agape.

Tentatively she removed her palms to whisper the words, "Sonic, I am so sorry."

But anything after was instantly cut short. For he had taken her invitation and brought his lips against hers. Now it was her turn to sharply inhale with irises quivering in surprise. It wasn't as though he had forced himself on her. No, it was almost as though he had asked for just one more taste. For when he brought his face to hers the contact was so soft, so warm, so very familiar.

The princess relaxed in his hold, releasing her breath in a sigh. Eyes closed, content. Lost in the moment, rules and regulations foreign, she gradually lifted her hands in want of further embrace. Even so, when her palms were meant to grace his cheeks she felt nothing but air. In an instant he was gone but his presence still remained twined around the very air. When Elise opened her eyes to confirm his absence the only thing she caught was the ivory veil of her canopy. Even still his imprint lay gingerly upon her lips.

Fear made her chest burn and heart heavy inside her rib cage. She lay her appendages across her breast in wonder if she had unintentionally cast him away. How Stupid! How Foolish! How Uncivil of her to let her emotions run her every action. She had been raised better than that. What did it matter now scolding herself? The deed was done with nothing else to say except that it had been fun while it lasted.

When Elise was finally able to pick herself up and get into bed sleep came late, her mind swimming in blacked turmoil. And even when slumber overcame her sill the dream did not come.

-END OF CHAPTER-