Thanks for being patient, guys. I knew I had another chapter in here somewhere. I wrote it last year before watching the last few episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist :-P Anyways, enjoy!
Night had descended across the sky. Bright white stars twinkled around the crescent-shaped moon which beamed its light above the island.
"I wish I could see the stars again," Cream admitted as her Mum tucked her in the hand-made bed.
"One day you will, dear," Vanilla said truthfully, though feeling rather cheerless inside as living underground stopped her daughter from enjoying the world as it should be. At this rate of the chaos on Mobius, it could be years until Cream will run free on the green grass of Green Hill, having her small Chao friend, Cheese, fly on behind.
"I feel like I haven't seen the stars in so long," the six year old yawned, rolling on to her side to feel more comfort.
"Don't fret, Cream," her Mother whispered, stroking her long, soft ears soothingly. "You never know, if you think hard enough, you may see them in your dreams." Cream smiled.
"They're both strong," Espio told his boss while watching Vanilla's eyes look lovingly at her child's innocence in slumber. "It can't be easy for the kids here. Not being able to go outside."
"Well obviously," Vector droned. "But it's been like this for months, Espio. They'll get used to it."
"They'll get used to it, but they won't enjoy it."
"I enjoy it!" a voice chirped from behind the older males.
"Charmy, what do you think you're doing!?" Vector spat, shaking a fist at the little bee. Charmy flew around in a circle, giggling to himself.
"I'm too tired to sleep!"
"Well, count sheep! You're making too much racket!" the crocodile yelled. Espio rubbed his eyes, slightly exasperated. Luckily for Cream, she never awoke, as the two boys argued for a good while.
Along the end of the bedroom situated tunnel, Sonic walked alone. His steps very soft and in no hurry whatsoever. It was time for his tradition. A tradition he would continue to do for as long as it needed to be done. His forehead began to heat, managing to produce a drop of sweat, concurrently with the nauseating shiver crawling up his spine.
The hedgehog froze. His hand lay on a wooden door knob, as he scanned his green, guilt filled eyes across the engraved words: DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT PERMISSION. Taking in a vast amount of breath, the fifteen year old made his way into the private room, closing the door firmly behind him.
A disturbing song of monotone notes echoed through the hedgehog's ears as he entered a scarcely lit room, very empty yet very small. Sonic kicked the ground childishly, folding his arms in an act of defence. He didn't really have to move towards the corner of the room did he? Of course he did! He bit his lip fumingly. Those frightening and distressing thoughts flashed across his eyes as he moved towards the only furniture in the room – a bed.
Smoothing out part of the bed, he sat very cautiously on the bed, sinking his head into his hands, scared and sorry about the accident he had caused. Lying under the layer upon layer of blankets, sleeping soundly was Amy Rose.
"… We had fish …" the teenager said miserably, not having a clue on what to say. What do you say to someone you failed to protect? Can they even hear you? Sometimes Sonic believed it, as he watched the bruised face of the pink hedgehog stir slightly.
Sonic rubbed his hands nervously, his palms beginning to roast under his white gloves. There was no use in staying here. Sonic was far too frustrated and miserable to stay in the dreary room, no matter how much he wanted to. Looking at Amy lying still was enough to make Sonic's stomach twirl.
Regrettably, the hedgehog rose from the bed and rushed out the room, apologising as he slammed the door.
"Hey there, Sonic."
Sonic's head spun around quickly, eyes wide open. Standing by his side was Rouge the bat.
"What are you doing here?" Sonic asked alarmingly, moving away from the door to avoid questions.
"Nice to see you too," Rouge frowned, unimpressed as the old friend lacked a warming welcome. Sonic didn't take any notice though, so the bat spoke up.
"Knuckles wants to know if you received the message through the bad weather. Something about a robot in the skies?"
"Yeah, I heard. It's not very likely that we'll be heading out of here any time soon," the hedgehog explained, thinking back to Tails' unexpected, but not first, escape. "I want to keep everyone underground until I know that the badniks have moved on." Rouge nodded.
"That makes sense," she said slowly. "But what about the citizens of Mobius? They need your help too."
"I know," Sonic whispered. He thought for a moment about the celebrations and gracious comments from survivors of Robotnik's terrible schemes. The planet rejoiced over Sonic's selfless acts, and thanked their lucky stars that they knew their hero was there to save them.
At least until Chemical Plant Zone detonated.
"So?" Rouge said impatiently, hoping the hedgehog would have more to say than the various small, sad sentences that literally fell from his lips. She hoped that saving more people would help him get back on his feet, and bring more hope to the survivors. Sonic shrugged.
"If I leave here, then the group will be in danger-"
"Oh come on, Sonic," Rouge whined, her tone appearing annoyed. "Think of the difference you could make if you did leave here. No one has attacked you for a good while, so there's no point in making excuses." Sonic opened his mouth, but the female bat wasn't done. "You have Vector and Espio's strength, as well as Tails' intelligence. Vanilla will no doubt take care of Cream and Charmy, so why can't you leave?"
"Because-" his voice halted. Rage filled his body, but he refused to let an argument endure. Rouge was only expressing her hurt opinion, and she was undoubtedly making sense, but it was guilt heaving Sonic back. Guilt for Amy, Knuckles, all of his friends … everyone.
Rouge placed her arms across her chest plate shaped as a heart and tilted her head.
"I'm sure you won't mind if I crash for the night?" she grinned, lowering her eyelids sensually. Sonic stared; his mind blocked in the previous subject.
Rouge turned quickly, heading to the spare room the group had created especially for their frequent guest which was identified by the drawing Cream had kindly drawn for the bat. The title read 'Rouge and Knuckles in love', followed by a series of crosses, formally known as kisses. Rouge always smiled when she gazed dreamily at the disfigured illustration of Knuckles' oversized head.
Sonic gazed down at the floor, deep in thought about Rouge's sudden strict words. She wasn't wrong, and he was in no way going to start accusing her of it. Inside his mind, he attacked himself with depressive thoughts; always blaming and always accusing. What he forgot to realise was that the sooner something was dealt with, the sooner it could change things; maybe for the good of humanity.
Although, last time he had formed a party to counter Robotnik's slaughtering technical equipment he had set up on the outskirts of Mystic Cave Zone, which out of the blue exposed a frightful attack of lethal bombs. No one survived inside the dark town.
But where they truly ready? Or did a more structured plan need to take place? The hedgehog needed a seat.
Moving hurriedly to the confinements of his own room, Sonic sat uncomfortably on the edge of the woven mattress and sat his muzzle into his palms, staring into the darkness.
'Think about it rationally' he ordered himself, frowning as his mind played tricks on him. There were no glowing lights dancing around his walls. 'What happened last time was enough to stop any of the group from trying again.' That seemed a solid enough reason not to choose to find the villain. No, he wasn't going to find the insane man that ruined this peaceful world, Sonic was going to free the Mobiuns in hiding, if there was any left, which he hoped would be.
The hedgehog rubbed his eyes wearily and mused once again.
On the last occasions, nearly all of his friends suffered terrible injuries, especially Knuckles; whose arm had practically lost its ability to move, and Amy; who, due to unexpected events, was caught in a collision of caging boulders. There was only a ten percent change she was going to make it out of there alive. They never did work out the fraction on her life to remain forever in a deep sleep.
And there was no new muscle on the scene to help out. If he had a chance of fighting Robotnik-
'No! I'm not going to fight him, I can't risk it' he scolded himself after thinking of another dark thought.
If he had a chance of saving people, he corrected, then the only ones capable of helping would be Team Chaotix, Rouge, Tails and possibly Knuckles, and even then it left Vanilla and Cream helplessly on their own, taking care of a motionless Amy.
Sonic grinded his teeth. It was a risk, and a huge one at that. For all he could be doing, he could kill all of his friends, and Robotnik would finally be able to dominate the world and use the defenceless Mobiuns as his slaves to become an outrageous and power-mad ruler.
Before he realised, the teen hedgehog had fallen into the safe sanctuary of sleep, where only his nightmares could harm him.
It was only then that a gentle voice spoke softly words of support, that a minute curl edged its way on Sonic's mouth.
"You are the hero of Mobius. You will always continue to live up to your title. And if you save the helpless citizens from a life of torture and grief, you can take them to safety. Then, when the time is right, you can rid of Robotnik and be free forever. Will you save us?"
Eyes shot open a vibrant shade of green, and stared shockingly into space.
"… Sonic?" Amy whispered.