Chili with Aroma of a Hedgehog
Chapter 19: Sonic's Jealousy Test
I am flattered with all the positive feedback I received from the last chapter!
Thank you all so much!
Let's get to it.
Shadow arose from his bed early to head to the Corporation where Vector was already waiting.
"Hello Shadow," Vector said as he stood up and both of them shook hands.
"Hello Vector, you don't mind if Eggman joins us for our meeting today right?"
"Not at all, where's Sonic?"
"Beats me," shrugged Shadow as he sat on the Director's desk. "He's probably talking to Amy right now."
"I'm really proud of Amy and what she has accomplished. She has been a great asset to the Corporation," complimented Vector.
"Yeah but I'm worried about her and Sonic."
"Why?"
"My idiotic cousin doesn't seem to like her very much, I hope they learn how to keep their differences aside and get crap done."
Sonic walked into Amy's office and gave her a few documents.
"Hey Amy, so Wave came into the office and gave me these documents."
"And?" Amy asked, motioning for Sonic to tell her what the deal was.
Sonic scratched the back of his head, "I don't know what they are... and I don't want to sign anything without knowing what it is..."
Amy giggled and looked over the documents, "Oh! These are just the Monthly Report Forms, Wave fills them out every month to send to the Regulatory Chili Commission. It's kind of like an update of our activities in the Corporation."
"And what's that got to do with me?" Sonic asked with half lidded eyes.
"You have to look over them silly! And make sure that she filed everything right, if she did, sign it."
"Ohhhh, but I just got here. How do I know all these things happened?"
"Let me see?" Amy asked as Sonic handed her the packet.
She read over them intently and Sonic admired her concentration.
"Everything seems in order," Amy responded as she smiled at Sonic, who grabbed a pen and signed the document.
"What now?"
"Now you give it to Wave so that she can put it in the RCC mailbox."
"What's the RCC?"
"It's an acronym for the Regulatory Chili Commission."
"Ohhhh okay, thanks Ames."
Amy smiled, she liked that nickname, but she liked it when he called her Rosy better.
Suddenly Sonic's cellphone rang and he picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hey Sonic!"
"Sally? Is something wrong?"
Amy flinched and took a deep breathe.
"Nothing, just checking up on you. What are you doing?"
"I'm a little busy right now Sally, Amy and I are looking over some documents."
Amy scowled at Sonic, he was practically rubbing his wife in her face.
"Okay, I'll talk to you later."
As Sonic hung up he turned to Amy apologetically and she waved him off.
"DON'T say a word!" Amy said as her phone started ringing.
Sonic quickly grabbed it and handed it to her.
"Thanks," she muttered as she answered it.
"Hello? Who? Umm... Cream, please tell him that I..." Amy suddenly then looked at Sonic and smirked. "Actually, I'll answer his call, pass him through."
Amy then waited a few seconds before a new caller picked up, "Hello Tommy Thunder!"
Sonic's ears suddenly perked up at the sound of a male's name.
"How have you been!?" Amy exclaimed in exaggeration. "I'm well thank you so much!" Amy then heard the person on the other line and flirtatiously laughed. "Excuse me one second Mr. Thunder."
Amy looked at Sonic with a mocking smile and asked, "Do you need anything else Mr. The Hedgehog?"
"Umm... no... um... excuse me," Sonic said as he hesitantly left the room.
Amy smiled mockingly as he closed the door and she went back to the phone call.
"You're a man with a fantastic sense of humor Mr. Thunder but the day I accept the invitation to go out with you will be the day pigs learn how to fly!" Amy exclaimed in an annoyed expression as she hung up.
"Dr. Pickle from Pickle's Chili Incorporated is in need of our assistance. You remember who he is right?" Vector asked as Shadow nodded.
Eggman intently listened as Vector talked about Dr. Pickle's dilemma.
"Apparently he doesn't have the resources to transport his Chili to Chun-Nan, where his clients are waiting for him. His Corporation went a little bankrupt so he had to let go of some of his Chili Pickers and factory workers."
"Oh wow," Shadow responded, impressed with the situation.
"This is a very sweet deal and he can most likely whip his Corporation back into shape if he delivers the merchandise. Dr. Pickle was a very close friend of your grandfather's and he was wondering if The Hedgehogs could help him export his Chili."
Shadow groaned, "What's in it for us?"
"Shadow. You can't always expect something out of doing good deeds for others. Besides, I'm sure Dr. Pickle would be elated to help if the tables were turned."
"Vector, Vector, Vector, clearly you know nothing about the business world. Just stick to your specialty, detective work and using that detective work to defend criminals on court."
Vector crossed his arms, he KNEW this would happen. He should have addressed the situation to Charles instead.
"So you're not going to help?"
"Tell Dr. Pickle that I'm sorry, it just can't be done."
Vector angrily looked at Shadow and crossed his arms, "Maurice the Hedgehog would be VERY disappointed in you Shadow."
Shadow shrugged as Vector left the room.
Sonic stepped into the main office and approached Wave.
"Wave, here are the documents you gave me."
"Oh! Thank you sir!"
Sonic suddenly heard voices in the office, "Who's in the office?"
"Your cousin Shadow sir, he's having a meeting with Vector and Dr. Eggman."
"He's here?" Sonic muttered to himself but shrugged it off. "So Wave, you wouldn't have a contact list of all my employees right, I want to get to know them all."
"Yes as a matter of fact I do, in this binder," she said as she showed him a binder.
"You wouldn't happen to know a bit of biography about the employees right."
"Of course I do, would you like to know?"
"Yes, let's start with our manager Amy Rose, I know how she managed to get where she is, who does she live with?"
"From what I know she lives with her mother."
"No husband?"
"No sir, she's single."
"Boyfriend?"
"Nope."
"Admirers?"
"Now that's something I can definitely guarantee. Amy Rose is a mystery. I honestly don't know her romantic life in detail but she and Shadow have attended a few social events together and that's where she met most of the Chili Industrialists and Chili Dog manufacturers."
"So you're saying that some of those industrialists and manufacturers could be her admirers?"
"Yes, I'm not entirely sure though, you should ask Cream. She and Amy seem to get along very well."
Sonic nodded as he then noticed Vector stepping out of the office.
"Sonic!"
"Vector!"
Vector and Sonic shook hands and Vector ruffled his quills.
"I heard you were here with Shadow?" asked Sonic as Vector rolled his eyes.
"No offense Sonic but your cousin is driving me insane little by little."
"What he do this time?" Sonic asked as he sighed.
"Let's just say I'm afraid he's starting to forget your Grandfather's morals."
Sonic frowned, it pained him when others would complain about Shadow. He knew the deep inside Shadow was still the same hedgehog he once was... but sometimes... he just wasn't sure anymore.
"I'm so glad you decided to take charge of the Corporation, we'll make a great team Sonic! Just know that if you need anything you can count on me!"
"Thank you Vector I appreciate it!" Sonic exclaimed as Vector left the office.
As Vector left Wave walked up to Sonic, "Is there anything you'd like to learn about me sir!?"
Sonic gave her a sheepish look, "Umm, maybe some other time. I'll be back."
Wave crossed her arms and pouted, Amy always got the attention.
Amy walked toward the lobby and approached Cream.
"I'll see you tomorrow Cream!"
"Oh that's right! I had forgotten Shadow had let you leave early this week."
"Yeah I asked him before Sonic took charge, ooo who gave you flowers!?" Amy exclaimed as she looked at the bouquet on Cream's desk.
"Actually Amy, they're for you," Cream said as she handed Amy the card.
Amy read the card and groaned, "Throw them away Cream."
"But they're so pretty!"
"My gift to you then!" Amy said as she left the building.
Sonic approached the receptionist desk and spoke to Cream, "Hello, Cream right?"
"Yes! Anything I can help you with?"
"You're aware that I will be taking over temporarily right?"
"Yes of course!"
Sonic then looked at the flowers and smiled, "Nice flowers."
"I know! They are Amy's!"
Sonic's smile faded as he turned to her, "Amy's? She must have many admirers no?"
"Yes, I assume so!"
Sonic nodded awkwardly, "And her boyfriend?"
"Um, I don't know if she has one."
"I thought you two were close."
Cream shrugged, "We don't talk about those things, she keeps her romantic life very private."
Sonic sighed and nodded. He NEEDED to find out if she had a boyfriend!
"I think you should take Dr. Pickle's offer Shadow," Eggman suggested.
"Why?"
"Think about it, it's Paprika Enterprise's first order of business. Dr. Pickle's Chun-Nan clients are some of the best clients in the entire Chili Business World. If you do this for him, we can steal his clients, and we can do our shady work... if you know what I mean."
Shadow smiled evilly, "I like that! We share a brain."
Shadow then grabbed the phone and dialed Vector's number, "Vector, I gave it a bit of thought and I have decided to help out the old man, leave it all to me."
As Shadow hung up Eggman said, "When we export his Chili to Chun-Nan, I'll be the one who alters the amount of merchandise sent to them. Chun-Nan will reject it and that will give you the opportunity to sneak in your Chili, which is Spicy Pepper Chili, and sell it to them, ultimately stealing his clients."
"This is why I hired you Eggman! There's no doubt that we speak the same language."
"Okay Espio! I think I got it!" Amy exclaimed as she looked at the wheel of the car.
Espio decided to give Amy driving lessons and Angela tagged along... or was forced to tag along, courtesy of Amy.
"So first, you turn on the car..." Amy said as she turned the keys. "Then you move the switch to drive mode," she said as she did so. "Look straight ahead and hit the gas petal!"
Espio nodded as Angela sat in the back seat, holding a bible and a picture of a Chaos Emerald, praying to Chaos.
"The Chaos Emeralds are the servers the Chaos Emeralds are the servers the Chaos Emeralds are the servers! Chaos please protect us from a catastrophe... The Chaos Emeralds are the MR. CAVIARONTE, ARE YOU SURE THIS IS A GOOD IDEA!?"
"I'm sure Amy's got it in the bag!" Espio exclaimed.
"Call me Rosy, it's a nickname I earned when I was a Chili Picker," Amy said.
"CHILI PICKER! EXACTLY! She's NEVER had to drive before! All she knows how to do is pick Chilis, be stuck in an office all day and cry over Sonic!" Angela exclaimed with her eyes wide, freaking out over Amy driving.
Amy turned to look at her mother with half lidded eyes and a groan. "Thanks for believing in me mom."
"I'm not trying to die!" exclaimed Angela. "Not today Dark Gaia, NOT today!"
"Make sure you step on the gas petal slowly so that you won't drive full speed ahead. Someone can get hurt if you jerk this car too badly," Espio said, oblivious to Angela rubbing the picture of the Chaos Emerald all over her body.
Amy nodded and stepped on the gas petal, but once the car started moving, she got scared and pressed on the brake, causing the car to stop abruptly.
Angela yelped and crowded in a corner, clinging onto her bible and picture with her life.
"I didn't sign up for this when I became a mom!" she cried.
"Don't just press on the brake, you have to step on it slowly, like the gas petal. That way we won't end up jerking."
Amy nodded and drove again, only to get scared again and press on the brake.
Angela yelped, "That's it! I'm out of here!" she then stepped out of the car and headed back to the apartment.
Amy shook her head and Espio chuckled.
"Sonic."
Sonic turned to Shadow who came out of his meeting with Eggman.
"Are you going to the RCC event?" Shadow asked as Sonic nodded.
"I don't think I have a choice."
"True, you don't. Are you taking Sally?"
"I don't know yet, are you taking Rouge?"
"She made sure she was on the list," Shadow said as he groaned and rolled his eyes.
"Do you know if Amy was invited?"
"I think she was. She should have been," Shadow responded as Sonic nodded.
"I think I'm gonna head out early, that okay?"
"Go for it. Later Sonic."
Sonic left the room as Cocoa walked into the building.
"Shadow, I need to talk to you."
Green Hill Zone
"Knuckles..."
Knuckles turned and noticed Tikal had snuck into his cabin with tears in her eyes.
"Tikal... are you okay?"
"He touched me Knuckles."
"WHAT!?" Knuckles exclaimed as he stood up quickly. "That bastard! I'll show him!"
"It's not worth it Knuckles!"
"You need to send him to jail!"
"No. It wouldn't work..." she said as her face turned dark. "I need to kill him."
"Tikal..." Knuckles said as he lifted her chin. "Restricting yourself to a life of crime is not the answer!"
"HE DESERVES IT!" Tikal yelled as she scowled.
"Tikal no... promise me you won't do it! I'll help you, just please don't resort to that!""
Tikal sighed and nodded.
"TIKAL!"
"I have to go!" she exclaimed as she ran away.
Knuckles pounded his hand on the table, he had to do something.
"Too bad Sonic isn't here to guide me..." he said as he looked down, deep in thought, his eyes then lit up and headed toward The Hedgehog Home.
Tails stared off into the balcony with blank eyes, his eyes were cold and lifeless, his smile was no where to be found.
Tails was lost, he felt as if his dignity had been ripped away from him.
He could still feel her sloppy kisses all over his neck.
Suddenly a hand landed on his shoulder, causing him to jerk and turn with wide eyes.
"Woah woah Tails it's just me!" Knuckles said as he held his hands up in defense.
Tails breathed heavily and stepped away from Knuckles, "DON'T touch me. Don't EVER touch me!"
"Geez Tails I'm sorry, I just patted you on the shoulder."
"Please..." Tails said as his knees grew shaky and his eyes widened with tears welling up. "Don't touch me..."
Okay, something was wrong.
"Okay Tails I've had enough! WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU? You've been acting really weird lately! Not to mention extremely reserved!"
"Nothing... nothing is going on," Tails said as he forced a smile. "See, I'm perfectly happy. I just don't like it when people touch me that's all."
Tails nervously laughed as Knuckles raised an eyebrow.
"Whenever you're ready to tell me what's going on, let me know, I'll be waiting to help you," Knuckles simply said as he turned and left the room.
Cosmo, who had been eavesdropping the whole time walked into Tails' room.
"Tails... why didn't you tell Knuckles?"
"Cosmo please..."
"What happened to that sharp and confident fox I met a year ago?" Cosmo cried as Tails glanced at her with an expressionless look.
"He's dead. He was killed a long time ago," he responded as he walked passed her and left the room.
Station Square
"How did it go?" Angela asked as Espio walked in dizzy into the house.
"It was... interesting."
"Want some aspirin?"
"Yes please."
Angela gave him the pill and he drank it quickly as Amy walked in.
"Amy, you have a letter to some RCC event or something like that."
"Oh okay!" she exclaimed as she walked up to Espio.
"When's our next lesson!?" she excitedly said as Espio widened his eyes.
"I think you've got it in the bag... no more lessons."
"Yay!" she exclaimed as she grabbed a water bottle, oblivious to Espio collapsing on the couch.
"What did you want to talk about?"
Cocoa sighed and looked at Shadow.
"Your wife called me. She was crying. Apparently the treatment didn't work. She has not gotten pregnant."
Shadow groaned and grabbed his quills.
"I don't know what to do anymore mom!"
"I say you get a divorce from Rouge and find someone new who can give you the baby."
"Oh yeah? Like who?"
"Maria. She seems like a good contender, seduce her Shadow!"
Shadow smiled, "I think you're onto something."
"Don't make it obvious to Rouge that you want a divorce though. Let her continue getting those treatments, who knows, she might even end up getting pregnant and you won't have to marry Maria!"
"You make a good point. I'll talk to Maria."
Hours Later
Sonic needed to know if Amy had a boyfriend.
He had gotten the address to her house from the binder Wave had given him.
He had spent many hours hesitating in his car whether he should knock on the door or not.
Suddenly the apartment door opened and Amy and Angela walked out in nice clothes.
Sonic smiled but widened his eyes when a chameleon also walked out of the door.
"SHE HAS A BOYFRIEND!?"
"Espio, you really don't have to," Amy said.
"No it is my treat, I want you both to join me to the Grand Opening of my restaurant! It would mean a lot to me."
"Well if you put it like that, let's go!" Amy exclaimed as she approached the car.
Sonic narrowed his eyes as the car left the apartment.
"I NEED to show Rosy that the only man in her life who can love her is me!" Sonic angrily said as he drove the other direction.
Next Morning
Rouge had come back from her treatment and Shadow spent his time comforting her all morning for the negative results that came out of it.
Dr. Pickle had scheduled a meeting with Sonic, Amy and Eggman, Head of the Department of Foreign Exportations."
Sonic had bought Amy flowers and set them on her desk, hoping she'd like them, but she couldn't really see them until the meeting was over. He needed to confirm whether or not that guy was her boyfriend.
"I really want to thank you The Hedgehogs for all your help, it means a lot to me," Dr. Pickle said as he grabbed a cucumber sandwich that Wave had brought in.
"No problem! You were a good friend of my grandfather's and we're happy to help. I'm sure you and Shadow will work great together," Sonic responded as Eggman smirked and laughed internally.
"Now that I have the basics of the merchandise and the shippment process, I think I'm done here, it was nice making business with you Dr. Pickle," Eggman smiled and extended his hand as Dr. Pickle slowly shook it, feeling uncomfortable.
"Mr. The Hedgehog," Wave said as she walked in. "The Head of the Department of Research and Development needs to speak with you."
"Excuse me," Sonic said as he stepped out, leaving Dr. Pickle and Amy alone.
"Amy, where can I find an assistant as hard working as you?" Dr. Pickle asked as Amy smiled.
"I'm actually looking for work sir."
"You're planning to leave The Hedgehog Chili Industries!? But why?"
As Dr. Pickle said that, Sonic walked back in, glaring at Amy.
Amy blushed, noticing that Sonic had overheard.
"Well I think that's it for me, thank you both so much for your help! I'll see you at the RCC event," Dr. Pickle said as he handed Amy a business card from under the desk.
Amy smiled in gratitude as Dr. Pickle winked and left the room.
As Amy turned back around to look at Sonic, her smile faded as she noticed that Sonic was still glaring at her.
"What?"
"When are you planning to tell Shadow? Actually, I want to be there when you tell him that you're quitting, I want to record it all!" Sonic sarcastically said.
"Sonic please, you know this isn't going to work out for either of us."
"I'm only here temporarily Rosy, I'll be out of here before you know it. If I had inherited the Corporation I would have let you quit, Shadow on the other hand is NOT going to let you. I'm warning you now. You're lucky that I was the one who overheard what you said, because if it was Shadow, you'd be dead meat."
"Inherited?" Amy asked with a confused expression.
Sonic blinked in surprise, "I never told you about The Will?"
"What Will?" Amy asked as Sonic scratched the back of his head.
"I could've sworn I..."
The hedgehogs then heard a knock on the door and Eggman walked back in with a document.
"Ah yes! I'm glad you two are here, I have another document for you to sign, it's to export Spicy Pepper Chili again."
Sonic and Amy nodded and both grabbed pens.
Eggman passed the document over to them and they were both on the verge of signing.
"STOP!"
Sonic and Amy turned and noticed Vector standing in the doorway.
"What are you making them sign Eggman?" Vector demanded.
Eggman froze in his spot as Sonic and Amy glanced at Vector confusedly.
"ANSWER ME! WHAT ARE YOU MAKING THEM SIGN?"
I noticed some of you were relaxed with the calmness of the last chapter.
I'm going to tell you right now that these next few chapters are going to be calm for the most part.
BUT! THE ONLY REASON WHY THEY ARE GOING TO BE CALM IS BECAUSE THERE'S A BOMB TICKING.
Yes, you were all shocked with the first bomb which was Sonic deciding to marry Sally.
THIS SECOND BOMB IS MUCH BIGGER, and the THIRD BOMB IS GOING TO BE SO HUGE THAT YOU'LL BE CLINGING ONTO YOUR PHONES OR COMPUTERS.
But don't worry about the third (and final) bomb, that one won't come until WAYYYYYYYYYYY later.
For now enjoy the peace and serenity of these next few chapters before the second bomb explodes ;)
REVIEW!
Next Time on Chili with Aroma of a Hedgehog...
"Come with me Rosy, let's run away to The Grounds. Look at our surroundings, we don't belong here. We belong within the Chili Plants."
"Me... go with you?" Amy asked as Sonic nodded and their faces grew closer.
"Yes... please, accept."
"Accept what!?"
Sonic and Amy widened their eyes as they turned to Sally who was standing right in front of them.