THE SEVEN

Act II: THE FALL

Track 13: Landslide

︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎CENTRAL CITY

The crowd of 53,000 people was roaring, the sounds of their screams and cheers echoing throughout the massive football stadium. Screaming for Amy. Screaming for Sonic.

Screaming for them all.

Amy felt the world slowing down, her long, ethereal white and gold cape flowing behind her. She was a Gold Dust Woman, wearing a lacy white dress that showed her legs, her bare feet, and everything lying underneath.

Yet the cape was the cherry on top.

It was the most goddess-like outfit she had worn yet.

She walked up the stairs, hearing the cheers of her name filling her ears like a whirlwind of voices, all ready to watch her shimmer.

She lifted her head, looking at the lights in the sky as the crowd went wild.

On October 10th, 1978

The Seven performed to a sold-out crowd of 53,000 people at Westopolis Arena in Central City.

"Ladies and gentlemen, introducing…" The announcer began over the massive speakers, earning more screams of delight from the biggest crowd the band had played yet.

"The Seven!"

The band walked on stage, with Shadow in a black suit, and Silver in a white one. Blaze's black cropped shirt blew behind her, following behind Rouge in her velvet dress. Sonic waved to the crowd, his guitar hanging from his back.

When Amy approached the microphone, she held her arms out, the long white cape engulfing her entire frame, looking like a swan ready to take flight.

The crowd of fifty thousand went wild.

It would be their final performance.

When Guilt Over Me began playing, the crowd launched into a deafening uproar, watching as Sonic and Amy stared at one another the entire time.

Something was off with Sonic.

Amy saw it, and she didn't have the heart to look at him with love.

It was fear. It was terror. It was disappointing.

SILVER: If you told me that morning that it would be our final show? I mean, I would have laughed.

Blaze stared at Silver the entire time, yet his eyes never met her.

He never looked in such misery.

He was broken.

So was she, but she needed something. Anything.

Knuckles kept his eyes to his drum set, never once looking up. Shadow stared into space as he played, his mouth pursed in anguish.

Rouge couldn't stop staring at Knuckles.

KNUCKLES: [He frowns, swallowing as he looks at the floor].

SHADOW: I was trying to have a good time. I – I didn't wanna see it.

"Have guilt over me,

But I'll make it hard for you."

Amy's eyes slid over to Sonic, smiling softly yet attempting to ignore the gnawing at her mind.

Sonic's smile was wide and bright, and for a moment, she could see he was ready to throw it all away.

All of it.

It didn't delight her, no. It terrified her.

"Have guilt over me, but I'll always beat you to it,"

Go ahead, have guilt over me, but I'll always regret you too."

Blaze couldn't stop staring at Silver across the stage, watching as he shut his eyes and played. There was nothing she could've done.

BLAZE: [She looks away towards the wall, her eyes full of tears that remained contained].

AMY: [She bites her lip, tilting her head as tears fill her own eyes. She sighs].

ROUGE: I was broken. That's it. I – I'm gonna go grab a glass of water, hon.

When the song ended, the crowd was delighted, and Amy watched as Sonic stared at her, shredding his guitar messily. His eyes were hungry, his smile was devilish, and his aura was toxic.

Amy looked at him nervously, shaking her head in utter confusion. This side of Sonic was one she had never seen.

She held onto what Sonic was. The strength of his sobriety that always drew her closer.

A beacon of hope for her own cleanliness.

His light was dying out.

SONIC: There's still a lot you don't know.

When Amy addressed the crowd, she stopped for a moment, listening as the crowd screamed in delight.

She watched in total agony as Sonic took a swig from vodka in the wings.

AMY: You still don't know what happened that day.

︎

︎ ︎ ︎ ︎11:30 AM

Sally smiled softly in the hotel lobby, watching as one the band's assistants grabbed Sonia, leading the blabbering kid off. Sonic stared at her, concern washing his face. He zipped his leather jacket down, biting his lip as he inspected his wife.

"Sal, is everything okay?"

Sally sighed, turning to him. "I…" she laughed quietly, rubbing her eyes, "I don't know."

Sonic smiled, yet his brow furrowed at her response. Vector handed them their keys, watching in confusion as Sonic grabbed them, locking his hand in Sally's and leading them off. He turned to watch, earning a cocked eyebrow from Tails and Cosmo. "Soundcheck's at four," Vector muttered to Sonic as he passed by.

"Are they okay?" Tails asked.

"I learned to stop asking, honestly," Vector said with a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I saw your grandma, dude – she was having a great time!" Shadow said to Knuckles, grabbing his keys from Vector.

"I'm sure," The echidna said dryly. Knuckles was still reeling from his family, letting their words destroy his mind, and everything he thought he had become.

When Rouge approached from behind, he cleared his throat, grabbing the keys and walking off. Her face fell as she watched him leave, inhaling deeply in sorrow.

"Soundcheck's at four…" Mighty trailed off, cocking an eyebrow.

Rouge sighed, rubbing her forehead. She watched him sauntering off, not meeting Mighty's eyes as he handed her the keys.

"Soundcheck's at f-"

"Four. I know," Rouge said dryly, snatching her keys. The managers' eyes followed her, scowling in confusion.

"Did someone piss in everyone's cereal today?" Mighty asked.

"We remembered to get Amy's tea, right?" Vector asked, a brief worry in his eye.

"No, we got that. So…that isn't it."

When Silver and Blaze approached, Silver launched into an enthusiastic conversation. He held Blaze close, and Mighty scowled at how uncomfortable she looked.

"Soundcheck's at four," Vector said, tossing them their keys, "Not four-fifteen. Four."

Silver nodded with a smile, taking Blaze's hand in an uncomfortable grip and sauntering down.

Then there was Amy. Alone with her big, fluffy fur coat.

Before Vector handed her the key, he pulled it back, earning a sarcastic squint from Amy.

"What do you think? Is today the day where you don't lose your key?" Vector asked mockingly, earning a chuckle from Amy.

Amy snatched the key, putting her hands on the crocodile and armadillo's shoulders, giving them a radiant smile.

"I want you both to think about how boring your lives would be without me."

Vector laughed, giving Mighty an amused glance. Before they could walk off, Mighty turned to her with a shit-eating smirk.

"Soundcheck's at three."

Amy rolled her eyes, pointing after them with a grin. "I know about Amy Standard Time!"

"I've used that trick myself."

Amy's sarcastic grin immediately launched into one of delight. She knew that voice.

Turning around, the lemur approached in her fur coat, holding her hands out in delight. Amy squealed, throwing her arms in the air as she ran towards her.

"Tangs! You made it!"

She launched into a hug, the lemur rocking the hedgehog back and forth. "No, you made it! I've been gigging here all week! You're only twenty minutes from Westopolis, you know!"

Amy smiled, squeezing her arms. "Thank you for saying yes."

"Thank you for asking," Tangle replied with a smile, rubbing Amy's arms as they clutched her shoulders.

"You hungry, Ames?! I haven't seen my girl in too long!"

Amy laughed, throwing her arm around her shoulder. "Let's do it!"

Amy could die right then.

How far they had both come from two doe-eyed girls playing in clubs, hoping, and praying someone would connect.

They were.

They had made it.

The pair sat in the hotel dining room, with beautiful chandeliers and tables. They dined like rich women, though their lives were no less discordant, no matter how lavish they may have been living at the minute.

"It'll be just like the old days," Amy smiled, her long floral coat swallowing her whole, "Just two chicks singin' rock and roll."

Tangle laughed, brushing down her leopard print shirt, "Uh, there will be 50,000 people there."

Amy laughed, nodding as she swallowed a bite of her pasta.

"It ain't nothing like the old days!" Tangle laughed, brushing her hair down.

Amy sighed with a smile, wiping her face with a cloth. "So, what's this I'm hearing about Sonar Records?"

Tangle sighed, grinning. "Well…right now we're sort of in limbo."

"What do you mean? Espio told me everything was working out?"

"Well, right now we're in a bit of a tight spot," Tangle said knowingly, pursing her lips.

Amy shook her head, giving her a smarmy grin. "After all that shit in Venice, huh? I thought this was what you wanted?"

"Yeah, uh…I did, and I do want it, it's just, uh…"

"So, what's the hold up?" Amy asked, giving her a confused look.

Tangle sighed, tapping her fork against her plate in thought. Her eyes met Amy's, giving her a somber smile. "I never knew why my first album flopped. I used to think it was the song selection, or maybe I was trying too many things. Finding my voice…but I knew my voice. I've always known my voice. I was just afraid to use it."

Amy nodded, her smile fading as she watched her friend struggling.

"When I went to Westopolis, though? I stopped being afraid, and people went nuts. But…that's what Sonar started saying no too. Sure, they were saying yes to everything else, but…they're saying no to the things that matter. My family. My heart."

Amy smiled, resting her chin on her fists. "Tangle fighting Sonar Records, and she's doing it for love. You sentimental bitch."

Tangle chuckled, nodding with a grin. "Yep. I am."

Then Tangle saw tears flooding Amy's eyes, watching the hedgehog taking a deep, shaking breath. Amy closed her eyes, turning away with a smile as she attempted to drown the emotions. Tangle tilted her head, raising an eyebrow as she watched her friend seemingly struggling to hold on.

"Amy…you okay?"

Amy sighed, moving her eyes as a tear made its way from her eye. "I don't think I can do this. Anymore."

Tangle gave her a sympathetic smile, studying her closely.

"With him," Amy finished, resting her chin on her fists again. She lifted her hand to swipe a tear away, and Tangle looked down at her food with a smile.

Tangle nodded, taking a deep breath. She sighed, meeting her friends gaze.

"You know…if it kills you this much - if it hurts this much? Maybe…maybe you shouldn't."

Amy felt her heart smashing into pieces. She didn't want to leave. She didn't want it to end.

But how long could she keep hurting herself in the process?

She had to ask if it was worth it anymore. She didn't know if it was.

She couldn't tell anymore, but she knew every day she laughed with Sonic, smiled with him, wrote with him – another part of her died away.

Was that worth it?

︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎12:03 PM

The loud metal music blasted in the boombox in Knuckles' room, where the echidna stumbled through a sea of empty bottles.

It hadn't been this bad in a long time. He groaned, holding his head as he whipped it around, letting the music plunge into his ears. He jumped onto his bed, flopping down with a roar, reaching for another open beer and drowning the rest of it into his throat.

Julie-su laughed, taking a swig as she watched Knuckles rubbing his eyes. She snickered, kicking the can across the room.

"How fucking good does this feel, Knuckles?!"

Knuckles laughed, sitting up as his head caved over, causing him to roll off the bed. Julie-su laughed, grabbing his arm and helping him up.

"I – I don't fucking care anymore!" Knuckles exclaimed with a smirk, throwing his arms up. Julie-su laughed, watching the echidna prancing drunk around the room.

"That's right, Knuckles!"

"I mean – fuck them! They don't – they don't know me! They don't know anything about me!"

"That's fucking right!"

Knuckles laughed, kicking the can of beer against the wall as it crumpled, sliding onto the floor. Knuckles whipped his head around, stumbling into walls and laughing.

"You're on top of the fucking world, Knuckles! Who cares about them!"

"Right! Who the fuck cares!"

Julie-su laughed, stumbling towards them as she popped the top from a bottle of vodka. She got into his face, throwing her arm around his shoulder as she raised the glass.

"Let's fucking do this for them. This is the fucking life," Julie-su spat, taking a swig from the bottle. She leaned into his face, letting her eyelids drop. Knuckles grinned, chuckling.

"That's the fucking truth, Ju – Julie. They don't know anything about me! I'm fucking winning!"

ROUGE: I still have never seen anything like it.

She stormed down the hallway, following the sound of pounding metal music. She didn't look angry, no, she looked utterly crestfallen. She knew exactly what was happening in his room, and it terrified her as much as it devastated her.

She had tried to help him, yet to no avail. At the same time, she never once attempted to understand why this was his way of life.

When she reached the door, she pounded at it. She stayed for a second, her glare falling as the music didn't stop. She pounded again, and again, and again until it felt like her hand had broken.

When the door opened, she was met with the sight of a reeling, forlornly drunk Knuckles, who's hazing eyes looked at her.

"R – Rou-"

Rouge pushed the door open, her face falling in shock at the state of the room.

Bottles littered the floor, the beds and couches were a tip, there was smoke surrounding the ceiling, and cocaine powder covered the carpets.

It was mayhem.

She looked up, seeing Julie-su laying in his bed, lifting her equally drunk head.

She burped, wiping her mouth. Before she could speak, Rouge pointed at the door.

"Go to the fucking arena. You have work to do."

Julie-su stumbled from the bed, sliding across the floor as her hair bounced, shooting a glance at Knuckles. Knuckles watched her leave, slithering past Rouge as the bat pinched her nose. She stormed to the radio, slamming it off and turning to Knuckles with a devastated look.

Knuckles burped, his entire body hanging forward.

"What the hell are you thinking?" Rouge spat, yet it came out as a pained whisper.

"Fuck them. They don't – they don't know me."

"That's what this is about? Knuckles, I told you that-"

She watched the echidna stumble back, his body weight slamming onto the couch and dropping his head back. He burped again, holding his temples.

"Knuckles, we have soundcheck in three hours. You're a fucking mess."

"So, what!" Knuckles exclaimed, "It doesn't even fuckin' matter! None of it matters!"

"So, what? You just drink your life away with Julie fuckin' Su, then?!"

"At least she understands!"

Rouge scoffed, shaking her head. "You really think she gets you better than I do, huh? You don't think I didn't notice the fucking lipstick on your cheek, hm?"

Knuckles lifted his hand, holding his cheek and examining his glove, seeing red remnants on his cheek. His gaze fell, letting his mouth hang open.

"Rouge, it – it isn't-"

"Save it," Rouge spat, holding her hand up, "If she understands you so well, then I'll let her enable you to drink yourself to death. I'll leave you be. It's been fun, Knuckles. It's been great."

"Rouge, come on-"

"No!" Rouge screamed, eyes full of tears and voice cracking in pain, "No, you know what?! Fine! If this is what you want, you can fucking have it, because I'm done! I – I can't save you, Knuckles. I can't."

Before she could turn on her heel, Knuckles grabbed her softly, holding and pleading into her eyes, though the scent and aura of alcohol burned her irises.

"Rouge, ple – please, I can't lose you! You – you're the only one who's been there for me!"

Rouge looked into his eyes, "I thought Julie-su was."

"She's-" Knuckles started, sighing, "She's not. It's you. I'm – I don't know what to do anymore."

Rouge chuckled, shaking her head. "Knuckles, don't you get it? You aren't fucking ready for this. I should be mad at you for kissing her, but you know why I'm upset? It's because after all this time, after everything, you still couldn't see that all I wanted was for you to be okay. All I wanted was for you to be happy, and I guess I'm selfish for thinking I could've given that happiness to you. But – I can't. I can't give it to you. You have to do this on your own. You have to want to get better, but I – I can't be the one to save you."

Knuckles let a drunken tear slide down his cheek, his brows furrowed in a pleading glance. "Rouge, I – I can't do it without you!"

Rouge sighed, rubbing her tears. "You have to try. I'm sorry I didn't understand the pain you had. I'm sorry I didn't see it. I'll be there for you, but you need to get better. You can't drink away this pain. It doesn't leave just because you have a bottle of jack, Knuckles! You have to face it, and I wanted to be there when you did – but I can't be. I can't because if I do, I'll die out too. We have to do this apart."

"Why won't you – help me?"

Rouge sighed, shaking her head. "I've already tried. I've always tried. I can't save you from this. If you can – then maybe…maybe this can work. But not when you're like this. I – I'm sorry."

Knuckles watched her leave, choking on a drunken sob. "R – Rouge, please!"

The bat didn't have the will to say anything. She only wiped her tears, shaking her head in utter devastation as she opened the door and left. She leaned against it, resting her head on the surface as she stared at the ceiling in a dead glance, letting the final tear roll down her cheek.

S: What did you mean by saying you'd die out too?

ROUGE: [She sighs]. Knuckles was in pain. I never really understood that. I just thought, you know, he didn't have control over his vices. If I tried to keep helping him, I only knew I'd fall right back into his lifestyle. It would only kill me in the end. It would kill us both. It couldn't work when he was hurting. The more he hurt himself, the more I hurt. There's only so much you can do for someone before you have to…before you have to walk away.

︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎12:35 PM

Sally walked out of the hotel room, pulling her sheepskin coat around her body. She sighed, shaking her head as Sonic followed her out. His face was in utter confusion, watching as Sally turned around.

"Sally…what's going on?"

Sally sighed, wiping her eyes. "I saw you and Amy in the kitchen at the house, Sonic."

He felt his heart immediately plummet to his stomach, his entire body locking up in shock. He knew that Amy and him weren't doing anything, but now the power of their bond had made itself fully evident to Sally.

Sonic shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sally, it's-"

"Sonic, I – I mean the way you guys were looking at each other. I don't know, god – maybe I'm overreacting and maybe it was nothing, but my gut doesn't lie, Sonic. It just doesn't."

Sonic sighed, "Sally, we've talked about this. I was explaining to Amy that what – what we have is for the world. It's for the music."

Sally shook her head, putting her hand on his chest. She smiled, closing her eyes tight. "Sonic, I just want the truth, okay? We are both adults, and we've both done things-"

"There's nothing-" Sonic stopped, turning to her with a squint. He scoffed quietly, inspecting her face. He felt his blood freeze solid in his veins, letting his head reel and his mind launch into overdrive.

"What do you mean? What do you mean we've both done things?"

"You know what it means, Sonic, okay? You-"

"No," Sonic said, his voice becoming harder and colder as he allowed his mind to race, "I don't know what it means."

Sally shook her head, rubbing her temples as her eyes fell to the ground. She crossed her arms over her chest, leaning against the wall. "It's okay, Sonic. I just – I just want the truth. If something is going on-"

"There's nothing going on," Sonic replied, his voice dropping into a pained whisper. Sally knew there was more to it.

She knew, and as much as it hurt, she understood.

She just wanted the truth.

"Sonic, just tell me how long it's been going on."

"There's nothing-" Sonic started, rubbing his head in pain. Sally smiled softly, shaking her head as she watched him. The hedgehog sighed, knowing that the truth would only hurt them both more, yet he knew he couldn't lie to her.

He owed everything to her.

"Alright, look…she kissed me once. It happened in the parking lot at the studio. We were fighting about a song, and she just – she just kissed me. It happened – I don't know – it just happened, okay? I – I don't know why she did it, or why it happened, it just – it just did. But that's all, okay? There was nothing else. I've been – I've been loyal to you the entire time. I've never wanted anyone else but you. It happened, and I'm sorry it happened. I didn't initiate it – and – god, I don't even know if it matters if I did or didn't, but every time she ever alluded to something, I told her the truth. I told her that I couldn't be what she wanted. I told her I was yours, and that I always would be."

Sally let him ramble, nodding along as he explained. She didn't know if it mattered or not. It hurt her to her core, yet she wasn't sure how to feel. She knew she would be a hypocrite, but that didn't make it hurt any less.

This was still the man she loved. He was her entire life. He always was.

"Sonic," Sally cut him off, "Do you love her?"

Sonic couldn't answer. He stared longingly at his wife, his mouth dry and hung open as his eyes inspected her own. He wanted to say no, God, he wanted to say no badly.

But he couldn't.

Sally knew he couldn't.

"Why can't you say it?" Sally whispered, grabbing his cheeks. "Sonic, it's okay – but I need you to be honest. I – I do deserve that."

Sonic felt the tears poisoning his gaze. Before he could answer, the elevator dinged, sliding open as Amy walked out. Her coat dragged behind her on the floor, freezing in her tracks as she saw Sonic and Sally in a close conversation.

"Sorry, I-"

"No," Sally said, rubbing her eyes, "Stay. You can stay."

Amy's eyes fell to the ground, biting her lip as her body locked. There was pain in the chipmunk's voice, and despite everything, she felt horrible.

How could she hurt someone like her?

Sally nodded at Sonic, watching as he stared at the ground. The chipmunk breathed in, nodding as she regained her composure.

"This – I don't-" Sally started in a whisper, beginning to turn on her heel, "I think – I think I'm done here."

Sonic watched Sally leave the hallway, her long sheepskin coat blowing softly behind her. Amy stared at the ground, tucking her tongue in her cheek. Sonic turned around, holding his hands on his head.

He took a deep breath, leaning against the wall in defeat.

Sonic's eyes were riddled with tears, as was his voice, cracking softly.

"She thinks we're having an affair."

Amy nodded, her eyes falling to the floor. She bit her lip, clenching her fists tight at her side.

"She thinks I'm in love with you."

Amy's eyes lifted from the ground, looking hard at his face. She sighed, shaking slightly.

"And…did you say anything?"

Sonic sighed, meeting her gaze. It broke her heart to see how devastated he was. It ruined her to see.

How could she have gotten between that.

"There was nothing to say, Amy. There's nothing to say now. I'm sorry, but it cannot be what you want it to be. I'm sorry."

Amy nodded, her mouth dropping open slightly as he walked away. She let a tear roll down her cheek, making it to the carpet as it soaked into the floor.

Holding her arms across her chest, she stared at the floor for what felt like forever.

Suddenly, alone in this hallway, all she felt like was a ghost, dancing alone in a quiet room, with a broken, beating heart.

All while staring at the space where Sonic once stood.

Gone.