THE SEVEN

Act II: THE FALL

Track 10: Tightrope

It wasn't quite the end to the night they were expecting.

The band waited in the hotel waiting room, all holding themselves in a brewing, nervous anticipation.

Tikal had gone back there, throwing her own scrubs on, and joining the hospital staff.

It felt like they had been waiting there for years, hoping, and praying that the answer to Espio's state would be answered soon enough.

Silver gave Blaze's hand a reassuring squeeze, and Knuckles held his arm around Rouge, holding her tight to his side. Shadow was accompanied by Maria, who held onto his arm as he watched the clock in anticipation.

Amy noticed that Sonic had been staring at the ground the entire time, not even so much as lifting his head an inch. She reached forward, grabbing his arm with a squeeze. He still didn't meet her eyes, yet she felt his muscles tense – and she knew he was with her still.

AMY: There's a certain connection you have with someone where you don't even need to know what they're thinking, what they're doing, or even what they might be looking at – you know the answers to those questions, and all you can do is offer your support. I could be in a crowd of a million men, all looking just like him, and I could still pick Sonic out like a sore thumb. That's the kind of mark he made on me. That's the kind of connection we had.

When the doctor entered the room, they soared to their feet, watching him in nervous dread. Sonic namely rushed forward, his breath heavy and quick as he bit down on his tongue, anticipating the worst.

"There was a blockage to the blood flow into his heart."

"What – what does that mean?" Sonic asked, earning a sigh from the doctor.

"It means that we might know the extent of the damages for some time, but he's stable."

The band sighed, all rubbing their faces in relief. Amy thanked the doctor, holding her hand over her chest.

Keep making it through, Espio. You have too.

After some time had passed, Sonic and Amy found themselves in the hospital chapel, staring up at the cross on the wall. They sat lonesome in a pew, with Sonic sitting upright and Amy leaning her head in her hand.

Sonic clenched his jaw, shaking the tears from his voice, "I could really use a drink right now."

"But you won't."

"I – I won't."

S: Was that true?

SONIC: That I wanted a drink, or that I wouldn't?

S: Both?

SONIC: [He sighs]. Amy represented the desires I couldn't have. The desires I shouldn't want. I tried so hard to keep staying sober for my family. It was always about my family – even when I had slipped away from my family.

"Do you think everything happens for a reason?" Amy asked, earning a confused look from Sonic. He averted his gaze to the wall for a moment, sighing.

"I – I don't know. Do you?"

Amy rubbed her head, biting her lip as she stared at the cross. "I used to. I used to believe in everything – Gods, angels, heaven – that there was somebody up there watching us. But that night in Seaside Hill, I swear I died for a moment on that shower floor."

Sonic winced, biting down onto his lip.

"And there was nothing there. Not a goddamn thing. So, now I don't know."

Sonic sighed with a smile, rolling his eyes. "Wow, you're really cheering me up, Amy, thank you."

Amy snickered, leaning her head into her hand as it rested on the pew. "I'm just telling the truth."

Sonic sighed, looking up at the ceiling. His mind began racing with thoughts, swallowing down the temptations that burned in his brain.

"So, how do you explain us? I mean, I should've been dead a long time ago. I should've been killed in action like half of the boys in my high school, or drinking myself to death, like my old man, like every other rock star. But that's not what happened, is it? I started playing in a band, I met Espio buying cigarettes in a market…" Sonic trailed off, watching with a smile as Amy laughed at the sentiment.

He smirked, clenching his jaw as his eyes began to well up. "And then I met you, and here we are."

Amy smiled softly, looking up at Sonic with her large eyes, ignoring the tears pricking the edges of them. She felt her breath begin to quicken, sighing shakingly.

"We're here, in this place, with this life? You're telling me there's no one up there looking out for us? Come on," Sonic whispered, smiling at the pink hedgehog.

"But – you could've died. I could've died," Amy whispered, earning a hesitant nod from Sonic.

"Maybe that's all the proof we need there's someone protecting us."

SONIC: I used to think it was a sham, too. I used to not believe in God, or angels, or heaven, or whatever. [He stops, biting down on his tongue gently]. Then I met Amy, and suddenly heaven ripped itself open and showed itself to me. I believe in God because I met Amy Rose.

"Sonic…"

The blue hedgehog raised his eyebrow, pursing his lips. Amy sighed, shaking her head.

"I'm only going to make you crash," Amy said, "You've made it this far without needing the things I need. Sally's your rock. She's your comfort space. She's your ground. She's your balance. I'm a mess, and I'll only drag you back into your old habits. I'm happy you want to protect me – but I'll only destroy you in the end."

S: Why did you say that to him?

AMY: [Her eyes fall]. Because it was true. Sonic was my guiding light for sobriety, and if he loved me? [She pauses]. I'd kill us both.

S: Was that why you loved him?

AMY: What do you mean?

S: Because he was your guiding light for sobriety – is that why you loved him?

AMY: [She laughs]. Of course, not. It went so much deeper than you even know right now. But…part of me wanted him so that somebody could save me - so that somebody could save me before I burned out and faded away.

Before Sonic could respond, the door to the chapel opened, watching as Vector and Mighty came in, followed by a doctor.

"Hey," Mighty whispered, "He's awake."

"Can – can we see him? Sonic asked, immediately sitting up.

"One at a time," The doctor said, "He's still slightly out of it."

Amy turned to Sonic, fanning the tears from her eyes, and squeezing him on the arm. "You go."

Sonic nodded, lifting himself from the pew and following the doctor.

Amy watched him as he left, her solemn smile fading away quietly.

"It's on you too, sir. You have to take care of yourself. No more smoking, no more drugs, cut back on the red meat and alcohol…"

Sonic wandered in as a doctor was explaining Espio's condition to the chameleon, who only looked relatively unimpressed. Tikal sat by his bedside, offering his hand a squeeze.

"What about work?" Espio asked.

"Depends – how stressful is your environment?"

Espio chuckled, shooting a knowing glance at Sonic. The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes with a grin, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Look, you won't survive another one of these."

Espio sighed, "I understand."

As the doctor left, Tikal excused herself, not before giving Sonic a quick hug. He sighed, rubbing her back quickly as she left, sauntering over to the chair by Espio's side.

Sonic leaned forward, smiling softly as his eyes inspected his face. He seemed exhausted, and his typically shining gold eyes did not have as much shimmer in them.

"I love you, Espio. I owe everything to you. If you died, I don't – I – I don't know what I'd do," Sonic said, his voice breaking. He cleared his throat, rubbing a tear from his eye as Espio chuckled endearingly.

"I'm not gonna die, son. No, not yet anyways. But when I do, you definitely are not speaking at my funeral."

Sonic smirked, causing Espio to wheeze a laugh, before divulging into a small coughing fit. He rested his head back on the bed, letting a sigh escape his lips.

"Just promise me you'll take it easy, alright?" Sonic asked, "Don't burn the candle at both ends. Espio, if it kills you…"

Espio shrugged, smirking. "Then I die on top of the world. But – I can promise that if you can promise me something."

Sonic sighed, nodding. "Anything."

Espio began to lean forward slightly, his voice dropping into a shaking whisper. "Vector told me what happened to Amy, Sonic. He told me the whole story."

Sonic winced, feeling himself slither back until Espio grabbed his hand, patting his forearm.

"You're a good man, Sonic. But – this is not your fight. You have come too far from where you were to fall right back into it. I know you two have…an undeniable connection. But you know what else I know? Fire collides with fire and creates an explosion, especially when they mix cocaine into the heat. I'm proud of you for protectin' her, but I won't let you two destroy one another – not when you have a family at home."

His family.

Sonic swallowed, nodding.

SONIC: Espio's words changed my life that day. It…made me realize what I had known all along. Everything I did, everything I was, everything I tried so hard to do was for Sally. It was for my family. It was to be the best man I could be, even if I still made mistakes along the way. [He pauses]. Even if I still couldn't shake something from my soul that burned so bright.

Amy sat in the hospital waiting room with the band, staring into space as Blaze rested her sleeping head on the hedgehog's shoulder, smiling as Silver rested his head on her shoulder.

She sighed, stroking her hair before she heard the door to the hospital open, the clicking of heels filling the air.

Tangle.

Amy stood up, lightly positioning Blaze's head against the chair as Tangle hurried towards her. Tangle held her fur coat tight across her body, her cheeks streaked with tears.

Amy stood up and sauntered towards her, watching as the lemur's breath shook. "Is he okay?"

Amy sighed, "He's okay." Tangle sighed in relief, rubbing the tears from her cheeks.

Amy recalled standing next to Tangle, both waiting outside of Espio's room while Knuckles and Rouge were inside talking to him.

They were leaning against the wall, with Amy deep in thought and Tangle reminiscing, though they didn't quite meet each other's eyes.

"It was Espio who noticed me," Tangle said, biting back tears, "He took me under his wing. He gave me my shot. I just thank God he's gonna be okay."

Amy nodded, staring up at the ceiling with tears flooding her eyes. She sighed shakingly, turning to Whisper as her voice dropped into a cracking whisper.

"I want us to be okay."

Tangle didn't look at her for a moment before she finally turned to meet Amy's gaze. She swallowed, and while Amy could still see remnants of anger in her eyes, she could tell Tangle, maybe, wanted the same.

She watched the pink hedgehog begin to hyperventilate quietly, her hand shaking as she rubbed tears from her cheeks. Amy scrunched her face, letting her lip quiver uncontrollably.

"What I sa – said was so – it was – so awful," Amy said in between whispered sobs, "And I'm – I 'm so sorry."

Tangle turned to Amy, shaking her head. She bit her own lip, before walking forward, pulling Amy into a hug. She rocked her back and forth, letting the pink hedgehog cry into her shoulders.

It was a start, Amy thought. It was a start to mending the bridge, and she knew Tangle wouldn't quite make it easy for her.

But this was the first step to saving the one friendship in her life that was truly, always…beautiful.

︎SILVER: After that was a sense of calm.

BLAZE: Just the usual band stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary.

KNUCKLES: Except for Shadow dating a movie star.

SHADOW: I was dating a movie star!

AMY: And Sonic and I were…well, we were never just one thing. But, for the first time, I think I could imagine a version of us that might last.

Sonic and Amy had survived being mobbed by fans on their way to a small burger joint, both wearing hats to keep their identities obscured.

They laughed over something as the waitress put their food down, both turning to thank them. Before she left, she stopped, squinting.

"Wait…I know you two from somewhere."

Sonic turned to Amy, cocking an eyebrow with a smile. Amy shook her head back at him in disbelief. The waitress's eyes lit up, laughing.

"No way! Well, hey, as long as you're in my section – no one will bother you. You have my word."

Sonic smiled, nodding. "Thank you very much."

Amy watched her walk off, turning back to Sonic with an amused grin. "Crazy. It's only gonna get worse with the next album."

Sonic crossed his arms over the table, smirking. "You've been thinking about it?"

Amy rested her head in her hand, nodding as she plucked at the furs of her coat. "I mean, yeah, sure, I've been thinking about it."

"Well, have you written anything?"

Amy squinted, shaking her head. Sonic smiled, grabbing a fry, and popping it into his mouth.

"Yeah, me neither. Not really."

"Besides," Amy started, "It's not really fun writing without you."

Sonic smiled, his eyes falling to his glass of water. He sighed, nodding.

"I like writing with you," Sonic said, causing the pink hedgehog to tilt her head, her face falling into pure admiration.

"I like writing with you, too."

SONIC: Then I said something I shouldn't have said.

"I like a lot of things about you."

Amy's grin fell, inspecting the blue hedgehog intensely as his jaw clenched, averting his gaze to the table. Amy sighed, smiling at what she just heard, but knowing no matter what he said it was futile.

"I'm – I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I – I can't."

Amy nodded, "I – I know."

"I shouldn't say that stuff to you. I can't say that to you."

Amy sighed, smiling as she looked up at the ceiling. "Right now, Sonic, all I care about is that I enjoy being around you. That's enough for me right now."

"Why?"

"Because I don't like fighting with you. I know we're going to do it until we drop dead, but this is what I like. I like it when we can go out, eat a burger, and laugh about stupid stories and songs. We don't have to think about all the bad shit we do to each other. We don't have to – to think about what we struggle with. We can just…be okay for a moment. I'll take a moment."

"But – you still…"

"I still, Sonic. It doesn't matter, though. Not right now. I want to enjoy this right now."

"Okay."

AMY: Sonic and I never said it out loud, as badly as I wanted too.

SONIC: [He shakes his head]. Sometimes, I think if that moment could've lasted forever, I would've been able to shake it. But, uh, it didn't. I was torn up, and every time my heart drew closer to Amy, it made me want to see Sally. I still couldn't shake it. It's never easy because you're not supposed to love two people. Even if you know who you'll always choose, it still somehow happens. That invisible string still exists, even when you really wish it didn't.

"And," Amy said, smirking, "I do have to say that there was this one song I was working on-"

"Check, please!" Sonic exclaimed, turning to his waitress with an excited grin.

Knuckles awoke, rubbing his head in agony as he groaned. He sat up, seeing the pile of empty bottles around them. He sighed, standing up with a slight hobble as he sauntered his way to the back of the bus. He opened the refrigerator, grabbing another bottle of Jack and popping the cap off, taking a quick swig with a belch.

ROUGE: There wasn't a moment where he wasn't drinking. It was him and Julie-su, drinking the days away.

S: What did you do?

ROUGE: Well, someone had to keep up. I was tired of hoping he'd cut back. I thought the incident with Amy and Khan would've given him a clue, and for a minute, it did. But it didn't last long.

Knuckles watched as Rouge stumbled in, stealing a look at the passed-out Julie-su on the couch. Rouge groaned, shooting him a drunken glance.

"You and your – your girlfriend have fun?"

"Whatever," Knuckles muttered, hobbling onto the couch as he took another drink.

"What – whatever my ass. I thought we were getting better. Like always, I'm fuckin' wrong."

"Well, look at you, Rouge. You're drunk too. Here, have a bottle of Jack just like I am."

"Fuck you."

Knuckles sighed, holding his head. "I'm young, and I'm in a rock band. Why can't we just get drunk and have fun?"

Rouge groaned, kicking a bottle across the floor. "You just – don't know when to quit. Now I gotta start drinking more to keep up with you. I never see you fuckin' sober."

"Why do you even care?" Knuckles started, standing up, "Are you just jealous that I decided to drink with Julie-su because you won't drink with me?"

"I have been drinking with you! I've been throwing up for, like, three times a night for the past two weeks! I decided that if I want to be around you, I have to accept it's gonna be when you're piss-drunk, so I have to get piss-drunk too."

"You make it sound like it's an obligation," Knuckles spat.

"It basically is. We're gonna drink ourselves to death and it'll be so romantic. It's fine, Knucklehead. Just enjoy yourself."

"Rouge, come on-"

"Nah. I don't really have anything to say right now," The bat said, swiping a bottle of vodka and dumping a drink down her throat.

She wiped her mouth, shooting daggers at the Echidna and walked out of the room. Knuckles sighed, going to follow before he tripped, slamming into the wall with a daze. He groaned loudly, holding his arm as he cursed.

He snatched a can of beer, popping it open and taking a quick swig, before tossing it to the wall, allowing the can to spill beer onto the carpets.

KNUCKLES: It was becoming increasingly obvious to her that I was slipping away quicker and quicker as the days went by. It just – it wasn't obvious to me.

Amy and Sonic sat in the lobby of the hotel, the pair waiting for the buses to come and grab them to take them to Los Angeles, where they would perform on Bunnie and Antoine's show.

Before they went, however, Amy promised Sonic the song.

"It's…a rough draft," Amy chuckled, tuning her acoustic. Sonic nodded, taking off his hat.

"Doesn't matter. I just wanna hear it."

Amy smiled, beginning to strum lightly on her guitar. She cleared her throat, staring right into Sonic's eyes as she sang.

"I wish an angel had come to warn me, love,

This is not a path to enlighten,

They said their love will never live,

To see the destruction it had ravaged,

I'll always forget my name,

Whenever you darken my soul,

You say, it'll never be the same,

We'll never go back to the way it was."

Sonic held his chin in his hand, smiling as he listened to Amy's whispering voice fill his ears. He shook his head, allowing every word from her song to flood into his being, pulling at his heartstrings and ravaging his very being.

She was perfect. For a moment, he thought she may have been the most beautiful person he'd ever seen.

How he loved Sally Acorn so much, yet how he burned for Amy Rose as well.

"I didn't know it would happen like this,

I wish I could've controlled it,

I know how badly you wanna stop it,

But I know we can't shake this…"

As Amy launched into the chorus, Sonic's eyes began to well up slightly. He clenched his jaw, feeling his heart rate pick up and his breathing quicken.

His heart was nearly imploding.

"It'll always be you,

It'll always be you,

It'll always be you,

It'll always be you,"

On the final repeat of the line, her gaze moved back to his. She choked back slightly, swallowing as she let his eyes pierce through hers.

How he saw her.

He smiled, shaking his head in disbelief as Amy suddenly felt insecure, averting her eyes.

"That was a bit of a mess," she laughed.

"Amy," Sonic said, tapping her knee, yet pulling away just as quickly as he reached forward, "It's incredible."

Amy stared at him, her eyebrows falling as she gazed into his eyes. He sighed, clenching his jaw.

It was a beautiful song, and Sonic knew who she was singing too.

But how could he give the fire back to her?

They stared at each other forever, no one daring to move a muscle, or speak even a whisper. It was a relentless gaze, and it was haunting as much as it was beautiful.

SONIC: She was still…damaged. She was still hurting, and even in our best moment, I thought about how we might destroy each other. I thought about how Sally was my rock, and how she continued to keep me grounded even from miles away. [He shakes his head]. Love is funny. It never happens at the right time, and it never happens in the way you want it. It doesn't play by any rules. I knew my family needed me, and I knew I needed them. Otherwise? Every profession Amy gave me, and everything I thought I wanted to say back to her, would've ended up in the two of us burning each other to ashes.

︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎LOS ANGELES, 1977

THE BUNNIE & ANTOINE SHOW PERFORMANCE

Nicole stood backstage, rubbing her head in pain as she slammed down another shot of whiskey.

She really, really didn't want to be there.

But she agreed to start playing piano in Bunnie and Antoine's live band, which meant that on the night Sally's husband would be there, and so would she.

NICOLE: You know, it's funny. I don't even think I was uncomfortable. I think what worried me more was seeing the two singers and how they interacted. I didn't want to be right about what I was afraid of.

She turned from her dressing room, watching as The Seven all walked by, being led by PA's. A fox and a seedrian followed close behind them, as well as a crocodile and an armadillo.

Nicole sighed, rubbing her eyes, and turning back towards the mirror. She rubbed her face slowly, shaking her head.

Sally wasn't here.

Not that she knew of.

And for the first time, she was praying she didn't come.

S: Why weren't you at that show?

SALLY: [She smiles]. Being a mother doesn't stop because the dad has a performance on the biggest pop music show in the country.

SONIC: I was praying she was there, and she wasn't. It definitely set the precedent for me that night when she couldn't come.

"So! You guys are playing…If You're Gonna Leave Me," Bunnie started, stretching her arms in her Bohemian white dress, "And you're playing Turn Me Around…"

"And that's a duet with Sonic and Amy?" Antoine finished, earning looks of confusion from the band.

"It - it is?" Blaze asked.

"When did we…decide that?" Shadow asked, turning to see Sonic and Amy, both looking like deer in headlights.

"It was…kind of impulsive," Amy muttered, rubbing the back of her neck. Silver turned to the band, shrugging.

"I mean, hey – what're you gonna do? Means we can have a smoke break!"

"Well, either way!" Bunnie exclaimed, fixing her flower crown, "Y'all are gonna be on fire! We're happy to finally have you all."

"But I should ask," Antoine said, rubbing his neck, "We heard about what happened to Espio. We've been calling to try and get through to his room, but we haven't been able to catch him yet. Do you know how he's doing?"

"He's okay," Amy said, holding her arms around her stomach, "He's a tough guy. Heart attack can't stop him."

Bunnie whistled, "I know that's right. Well, look – we're on in five. We'll call you when it's your time to shine!"

When Bunnie and Antoine took the stage, Silver listened to the audience clapping and singing along to the pair. They were the biggest pop duo in the country, and Silver remembered always loving their show when it was on.

Blaze held onto his waist, resting her head on his shoulder, and tapping her foot.

SILVER: The band were mostly a bunch of rock-heads. They only listened to that kind of music. Blaze and I loved pop, we loved dance, we loved folk, we loved soul – I think that was the strongest thing we had in common.

BLAZE: I think I always thought we'd all venture into different genres as the band went on. Never hope for too much, I guess.

Shadow remembers making an uncomfortable eye-contact as Nicole left the stage, so they could prepare for the band's set.

Shadow turned to her, swallowing as he went to follow.

"Hey! Hey, you're-"

The lynx turned, offering a smile. "I am."

"Right. Um, so – I didn't know you played on this show?"

Nicole laughed, "I do! Yeah, it's – definitely crazy seeing you all here."

Shadow nodded, turning over his shoulder to see Sonic and Amy laughing together, before turning back to the lynx.

"I won't tell anyone if you and Sally have something."

"We don't. Not anymore, at least."

"That's not how it seemed."

Nicole sighed, "I loved her. She loved me. It's all true. But I'm not playing second base. She knows what she wants, and so do I. It can't work."

Shadow nodded, yet he let out a slight chuckle, earning a cocked eyebrow from Nicole.

"What is it?"

"Nothing, just – Sally never looked as…complete as she did that night."

"I think it was just the emotions from her husband-"

"I don't think so."

Nicole stopped, sadness filling her eyes for a moment. Shadow sighed, taking off his sunglasses.

"Look, I don't know what happened, and I do know that no matter how much I think Sonic may not deserve her – he's never going to leave, and…I don't think she is too. They are truly in love. But it's like this shit that's so evident with Sonic and Amy – you and Sally's connection, even though I saw it just for a moment, was unlike anything I'd seen with her. I can't tell you it'll work out how you wish it would, but I think you owe it to yourself to truly see how she feels. Even if it's the last time."

S: What did you think about that?

NICOLE: [She pauses]. I think love isn't linear. I think those connections don't ever die. But I also realized that Sally and I may have been passionate, and we may have seen each other's full parts, but that was all it was. There was no safety blanket. The passion died as quickly as it started, and that's how it would've ended up if we had tried. Dead.

"Now! I know y'all ain't here just to see us! We have a special guest tonight!" Bunnie exclaimed into the microphone, earning a round of applause from the audience.

Knuckles had already assumed his drum set, followed by Blaze sitting down by her keyboards.

"So – give it up for the best rock band in the world right now!" Antoine began, gesturing behind him, "The Seven!"

SALLY: I remember watching at home. Sonic was wearing this lovely blue suit jacket. Bunnie and Antoine were known for their high fashion, so I told Sonic he better make himself look presentable. No more denim on denim. [She laughs]. Amy, though – good Lord. She had this unbelievable white gown, flowers weaving into her hair. She might have been the most gorgeous woman I'd ever seen. [She pauses]. I don't think I was the only one to realize that.

Sonic couldn't stop staring at her.

That was usual on stage, of course. It was typical that Sonic would constantly find himself staring at the pink beauty beside him.

But this was different.

SONIC: I was in awe. She…may have been the most gorgeous woman in the world. But. [He breathes deeply]. Sally meant more. That's the deepest truth. I tried so hard not to feel anything for anyone else, but with Amy…it was impossible. How could I be around Amy and not be mesmerized by her? I couldn't. I just couldn't. Maybe there was a time where – I don't know – maybe there was a time where Sally wasn't the woman I was in love with the most. But I was always going to choose her. Always. No matter how much Amy Rose burned a hole right into my soul. No matter how tight the invisible string between her and I was, I still needed Sally to survive. I needed Sally to be better. But for that one night…I could've fallen into the void.

Knuckles tapped four on his drumsticks, staring off the quick-paced song. Shadow's riff was laidback and tough, Silver's bassline was grooving, Blaze's organ was shimmering, and Rouge's violin plucks were staccato and pristine.

Amy banged the tambourine on her legs, never once daring not to look at Sonic.

Sonic barely smiled, no. But his mouth hung open the entire time as he watched the hedgehog next to him lean into the microphone.

"You came to me in a daydream, baby,

But I've been awake all along.

My heart sinks low, my eyes are closed,

I guess our best days are gone."

Sonic's strumming on the guitar was tight and pristine, and yet he could never take his eyes from Amy Rose.

"It doesn't mean we have to end it,

It doesn't mean we can't go on,

It's the way that we move throughout the storm,

Baby, that's the way it goes."

With two thumps from the snare, the band moved into the chorus, where Sonic and Amy's voices soared together.

"If you're gonna leave me,

Just make it feel easy,

If you're gonna walk away,

If you're gonna leave me,

Just don't let it hurt me,

If you're gonna walk away,

Don't you dare tell me you love me while you're leavin,

If you're leavin' me now,

If you're gonna leave me,

Just make it feel easy,

If you're gonna walk away."

SILVER: [He pauses]. Something shifted with them that night.

SHADOW: We all could see it.

BLAZE: Everyone.

S: Did you see it?

SALLY: I did. But I told myself to shut those thoughts from my mind. I knew what Sonic and I had. I knew what we had. And…I knew what I had done too. There was always a test. Always. [She shrugs]. But again, I don't know. I wasn't there. I could only see what the TV showed me.

Sonic cracked his neck, beginning to sing his part. He never stopped looking at Amy.

Ever.

KNUCKLES: No, seriously. Ever.

ROUGE: I don't know – I was more focused on how the guy I was dating was a massive drunk. [She shrugs].

"I can see us swaying in the skyline,

As the mirage sets in.

I know that can be us, giving a secret,

That no one else can know.

I know you're inside my mind now!

I know you're everywhere!

Don't leave me shattered like glass on the floor,

Don't make leavin' so hard."

Amy took notice of everything about Sonic. His dark green eyes, the tufts on his ears, the bushy fur on his muzzle, the way his eyelids were a darker blue than the rest of his body.

AMY: He was perfect. A sculpture to me. I idolized every crevice of his. That's what makes it all so much worse in the end.

Amy stormed over to Sonic's microphone, grabbing it as they began to sing the chorus in the same microphone. Their faces were close now, and Amy felt her heart shudder when he only began to steal a few glances towards her.

"If you're gonna leave me,

Just make it feel easy,

If you're gonna walk away,

If you're gonna leave me,

Just don't let it hurt me,

If you're gonna walk away,

Don't you dare tell me you love me while you're leavin,

If you're leavin' me now,

If you're gonna leave me,

Just make it feel easy,

If you're gonna walk away!"

TAILS: Yeah, that was a great song for them to do. It was mellow enough to fit Bunnie and Antoine's typical sound, and it still had enough energy. But…

COSMO: The duet with Sonic and Amy was a completely different story.

When the band exited the stage, it was just Sonic and Amy. Sonic sighed, tapping his acoustic absentmindedly as he watched the flowerchild dressed Amy saunter up to the microphone. He could see her take a deep breath, and when she turned to look at him…

It all stopped.

They are sitting in a mansion, with gorgeous Venetian-style architecture and brilliant columns of marble. They are sitting on a couch, one fit for a king and a queen.

BUNNIE: When you're operating the biggest pop show in the country as one of the biggest pop music duos in the country, you ain't ever really thinkin' about the possibility that someone could come on your show and outdo what you do.

ANTOINE: But Sonic and Amy…wow. I think if anyone had doubts that Amy Rose was a force to be reckoned with, that certainly proved them wrong.

BUNNIE: I'll also say…I was right about them. What I had always thought about the two of them? I was right. Good heavens, I was right.

ANTOINE: And the funny thing is – I don't think we wanted to be right.

Sonic began strumming a mellow guitar riff while staring at Amy. She smiled, hanging her head as her hair fell into her face, yet those green eyes never left Sonic.

Ever.

"It doesn't matter how hard I try,

I can't earn some things in this life,

Must tell myself that's alright,

Remind myself you're why I feel,

Alive."

BLAZE: You know when you can hear that there's a lump in someone's throat? That's what she sounded like. It just…killed everyone in the room. Her singing to him like that. Her looking at him like that. It was unbelievable, and it was devastating all at once.

Sonic almost messed up his guitar playing many times, losing himself as Amy's tear-filled eyes sang to him. She was tearing her heart open on national television, and practically dropping it at his feet. She smiled as she sang, yet Sonic could swear that every piece of her heart was chipping away and dying out.

Like a garden being poisoned, yet Sonic was the sun – even though he knew he couldn't be the sun.

"If you're out there one day, maybe I'll still come and find you.

If you don't go away, maybe the string will tie us down.

Turn me around, shine like the sun I know you are.

I know you'll never be mine, as much as I will always be yours."

Amy leaned away from the microphone, sniffling quietly as she smiled at Sonic. Her ethereal dress blew lightly in the breeze onstage, and she could catch a glimpse of Bunnie and Antoine watching in awe from the wings.

Sonic didn't dare move a muscle, and he could never look anywhere else.

SILVER: The entire time I was thinking – I hope Sally doesn't see this. I really hope she doesn't see this.

SHADOW: I mean – you could just tell. Anybody could tell. That was the night it became extremely real.

SONIC: You try playing a song like that with a woman like Amy and not lose your goddamn mind. Especially when the woman you love is watching on television. I was a powder keg. I thought I was going to blow at any second.

"You push me away from you,

Like gravity I come back swingin'.

I know you won't catch me, as much as I know you want too,

Guess that's fine, long as you know,

I'm with you,

Even when you'll never be mine."

She sang like an angel that had descended from a million clouds, all tainted black and filled with glitter.

Her words broke Sonic's heart, as did the lump in her throat and the tears in her eyes.

It was destructive and beautiful, and he couldn't look away.

They couldn't look away.

VECTOR: That performance was electric. They were looking at each other and singing to each other – it was like they were tearing their hearts out on national TV. You don't see that every day, especially these days. If you were watching the show that night, you really felt like you just saw something special. Something you'll probably never see again.

"All I know is that I want you to be better,

I know there's another rock for you to live on,

If that rock can be your home, then I'll guide you there,

Even though I'll have to go,

The fire must go out sometimes,

So that the water that you love can help you grow,

But know the string will not be cut open,

And forever, I'm yours, though you'll never be,

Mine."

When the song had ended, the studio applause roared, beckoning for the band to come back onstage. They all grabbed hands, bowing, though the squeeze from Amy and Sonic's grips were tight and brutal.

She looked at him, and they didn't smile – they only looked miserable.

There was no happiness there, for they knew what could never be.

SALLY: No matter what road you go down, you'll get hurt on the way. I mean, that's just how love is. Sonic and I broke each other's hearts as many times as we made each other whole again, because we always made each other whole again. We were the foundation for us being better people. But yes, watching them that night…that was one of the times I really felt my heart crack.

[She pauses, taking a deep breath].

At the same time, I understood it completely. Because I too had a connection like that.

When the show was over, Sonic watched as Bunnie and Antoine partied with the band, all enjoying drinks and lines of cocaine like usual.

He watched as Amy did a line, and it made him wince in pain. She only did one, sure, but you only needed one.

S: Was it hard being around that?

SONIC: It was never easy. Amy made it worse, but at the same time, she also made me understand how I needed to stay strong. She could never have helped me stay strong, no. Sally was the one who did that. Amy understood that dark side of me. I understood hers just as much.

Amy approached him, her long gown flowing on the floor. Sonic smiled, shoving his hands in his jacket pocket. Amy started rubbing her arms insecurely, stealing a look behind her.

"Uhm – can we talk?"

Sonic nodded, grabbing her hand, and pulling her from the room. They took a few steps down the hall before Sonic turned around.

"Is everything okay?" he said, his voice coming out as a whisper.

"I – I just wanted to say I really loved singing that song with you tonight."

Sonic smiled, rubbing his neck. "Yeah, I think – I think people really liked it."

Amy nodded, her eyes falling quietly. She lifted her head, her gaze meeting his lips. Sonic sighed, feeling his hands clench.

"I saw you do a bump of coke."

"It's just one bump."

"You only need one, Amy."

The pink hedgehog sighed, shaking her head. "I – this is the best I can do in the circumstances."

Sonic nodded, "I know, but if you want to get clean, you know that I'll-"

"Sh," Amy said, putting her finger on his lips, "I don't wanna think about that right now. I'd rather think of something else."

"Well," Sonic began. "What are you thinking about?"

Amy stared at him, pursing her lips as tears pricked her eyes. She began to lean forward, the barely grazing the bottoms of his lips before he pulled away, feeling his eyes slam to the ground, his entire figure tensing like a padlock.

"I –"

Amy stepped back, rubbing her lips quickly as her mind began to panic. Internally, she was destroying herself, her hands beginning to shake in complete embarrassment.

"Amy, I – I can't. You know…you know I can't."

"Mhm," Amy muttered, refusing to look at him.

Neither of them moved their gazes. Sonic took a step forward, biting down on his lip.

"I – "

"Sonic, it-" Amy said, laughing dryly, "It's fine, okay? It is."

"It isn't fi-"

"No, Sonic, seriously," Amy said, her eyes wide as her voice began to take a pleading tone, "It's okay. Let's just – forget it, okay? I just – it was the song. It was just the song. I know you –"

"Amy-"

"It's fine, okay? I'm happy that we're getting along. I'm happy we're enjoying each other's company. I'm starting to feel like we're okay again. I don't want that to stop. Please, please, please let's just forget this and keep being okay. Please."

Sonic nodded, yet before he could respond, she turned around and walked back towards the party.

He watched her leave crestfallen, feeling like her ghost began to swirl around the spot she just stood.

AMY: [She shakes her head]. I told you I regret a lot of things. I don't know if I regret that. I sang a song with the man I loved. A song where I told him how I knew he'd never be mine, and I'd still be his no matter what. That takes a toll.

S: You don't regret your wedding, but you regret that?

AMY: Huh? Did I – did I say I didn't regret my wedding?

S: You did.

AMY: Oh, Jesus. Of course, I regret my wedding to Ken. Dear god, maybe one of my biggest regrets. What I don't regret is the dress I wore that day. [She laughs].

SONIC: I knew I'd always go back to Sally. She was my rock. She made me better. I straightened myself up and stayed loyal to her. I had too. I wouldn't have survived if I hadn't. But…that didn't mean I loved Amy Rose any less. How couldn't I love her? She completed me in a way no one else did.

[He pauses, breathing in deeply].

She was the other half to my broken soul.