So I havn't really been here in what, Months due to my school work and other new things I got into in life HAHA, but I got time to finish the last bit of this chapter today. If its so short I'm sorry...there was nothing else to put xD

Chapter 22: New Guidance

The 'Merp' people had watched over to two sleeping hedgehogs inside the safe tree all night. They chattered to one another worry in their voices. The sun was barely coming out and the clouds had cleared out during the night. That meant it wasn't going to rain for a while. The sun's ray, to a point, reached Amy's eye. She moaned and grabbed some of the straw she was sleeping on, crunching it in her hand. "Not now," she turned away from the light and without noticing she had moved closer to Sonic who slept on his back, one hand on his stomach while the other behind his back.

The 'Merp' people then cried out in shock and turned to each other as they discussed with flagrant. Then they took action. With their stretchy hands, they grabbed on to the branch below and fell out of the bushy leafs. They landed on the branch and hide on other bushes below. Some of the many few 'Merp' people went inside the tree hole where the hedgehogs slept.

Amy's eyes slowly opened hearing scatter noises around her. She felt too tired to open them all the way, but she was able to see the small creatures' position themselves in fighting positions which pointed out towards the outside. She groaned and closed her eyes without any suspicions.

A burgundy flying animal was coming from a distance. It looked tired and about to reach its limit on flying. It reached the tall tree and landed on the same branch where it led to the two hedgehogs.

The flying creature landed on the branch and sighed. "It's been three days now…when am I going to find the—AH!" The burgundy buff ball exclaimed out of surprise.

Amy's eyes opened all the way with a gasp as she arose from her sleeping position. She looked around trying to find the one who screamed an outcry. Everything she saw in her vision was a bit drowsy and blurry but with a few blinks in her eyes she was able to see everything clearly. Sonic was awaked as well but he looked annoyed. "What now?" he asked pestered.

Amy got up was jogged towards the entrance. "I don't know but I heard a depress cry." She explained without much detail. The 'Merp' people were blocking the exit but when they saw her it was like they froze. Amy gave a look that meant to step aside forcefully and they listened. Sonic's eyes narrowed. "Amy!"

Amy jumped outside and saw in an instant the thing that was crying out in help. It was a flying animal with a white tuft on the top of his head and a similar one on his tail. On his chest there was a green round ball that reminded Amy of the Christmas ornaments she us to put on her tree for decorations. The creature looked gorgeous in her words. Although, it wasn't the time to think of it, she thought to herself because the 'merp' people had grabbed a few rocks which seemed strange when they were up on a tree.

"No! Don't hurt me!" the creature pleaded as he was held by the 'merp' by the arms.

Amy shook her head and ran towards the area he was. Sonic was barely coming out of when he saw Amy run in front of the creature the white short animals were holding and then they threw the rocks at her direction.

"AMY!"

Some rocks passed Amy but a few others hit her in her arms, chest and then one hit her forehead pretty hard. Amy whimpered holding her head and crouching down. The 'Merp' people all gasped in their language and the rest of the rocks they were holding dropped with clatters from the contact with the hard branch. Sonic pushed through the 'merp' people and to Amy. Wrapping her arm around her shoulder and looking down to try to see her face.

"Merp?Merp!" "Merp!" "Merp! Merp!" "Merp Merp?" "Merp MERP MERP!"

The clamoring coming from the animals were bothering Sonic but all he was concentrated on was Amy. He moved Amy's hands away from her forehead and turned her around from her chin. She had a red bump, but no blood which relieved him in every way possible, but still he was concerned. He gave her a reassuring smile and patted her head. "You okay?"

Amy pouted in annoyance to why he was even patting her but she nodded and he helped her up. The 'merp' people all were bowing at her by that time, apologizing for what a few did.

"No, Its okay. I'm okay," she assured them hoping they would calm down for she was okay. He head hurt, but everything else was fine. She paused and then remembered, "Speaking of being okay," she turned around and found that animal still there, looking straight up at her with a speechless opened jaw and eyes opened.

"Are you okay?" she asked him with a smile.

The animals saw her red bump and raised an eye brow. "I don't know if that's a question you should really be asking," he got up and with his small green wings and flew up to her. The 'merp' people were again ready to attack. The animal touched her forehead where the bump was with its paw and then a light bloomed.

Bewildered, everyone stood in shock seeing Amy suddenly be healed before their eyes. The creature backed away and smirked. "Now you're okay," he corrected.

"Wow," Amy gasped. She touched the spot where her injury was. "I don't feel it hurting," she said sounding a little too excited.

Sonic rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Whatcha do to make them so angry?" Sonic then asked the creature.

The little animals shrugged "Nothing. These Merpsters are naturally feisty defenders." He claimed.

"Merpsters?" Amy turned to them all. "Their names are Merpsters?" she asked.

"These nasties are called that from around here." He said.

Amy didn't like the way he was insulting them. The merpsters already looked mad, but couldn't do anything. Amy then got curious. What was he? She had never in her life seen someone of his kind. "What are you doing around here?" he asked her before she could come up with any questions. She sucked in her breath, but Sonic cleared her when he answered back to him.

"That kind of stuff shouldn't concern you. We're just here then we'll be gone." Sonic's tone grew firm and strong.

"No, it should concern me. You see, your both targets to this world." He said. Amy blinked a bit confused that he was getting a point where she had heard the things he was saying before, somewhere ago. "If I'm not mistaken, you're both the legendary heroes people around here have been taking about. Am I right, Amy, Sonic?"

Sonic and Amy flinched back and turned to face each other. Amy shook her head and tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Who are you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Merp! Merp!" one of the Merpsters yelled pointing at the creature but it just ignored it and smirked. "I'm Seth," he said saluting her with his hand.

"Seth." Sonic repeated with a bitter taste in his mouth when he said the name. "Sounds like a devil's name," Sonic eyed the puff ball but it only shrug with a hint of a sly smirk.

Amy stepped forward and chuckled nervously. "It's nice to know we all know each other, but we have to get going soon, so you must better be on your way." Amy suggested nervously. She swayed her hands towards him and Seth backed away. "And why would you lovely couple be headed towards the witch's layer?"

His tone was mocking in a way and Amy furiously blushed. She made a weird face and backed away. "We are not a couple!" she defended.

Sonic gave a skeptical look and shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest and a scowl look frowned soon making Seth fly a bit backwards from him once he leaned forward. "Look…bird,"—Seth blinked in annoyance of being called a bird—"It's important we get there and we get there soon, no questions ask." He turned to Amy and gave a hard stare. "C'mon let's head down now." He ordered her walking down the branch. The Merpsters all began to clamoring, coming out from the tree's leafs and discussing it over themselves. Amy began to follow and Seth found himself losing grip of the two. He nervously looked around and then spoke without a second thought:

"Wait!" Everyone's attention went back to him and it grew very quiet. Seth flew in front of the two. "I can take you to Yubala's castle."

Gasps and screeches were heard. Everyone's but Sonic's. He glowered at him and then looked as he was going to jump at him. "No!" he replied his answer straightforward

"Sonic," Amy whispered harshly.

"No don't you go there again. Do you know what happened last time you trusted someone from this world!" He angrily told her.

"But we are lost and have no idea where to start from." She explained having her point in the front lines of the argument. Sonic turned his whole body to her and spat, "Stop being so blind! Do you see that castle over there!? Yes, well that's the road we're following!"

"But there is danger up that road. I know what lies out there. I can help you surpass that." Seth suddenly added in Amy's defense.

Sonic's chest tightened. That feeling again. The feeling of danger just up ahead the road and it was eating at him. He didn't know why he was feeling that way or what was causing it, but he had an idea it was that thing. Sonic clenched his fist and looked back at Seth. He was a small thing, the same size as his palm and maybe he wouldn't cause harm. Of course things were curtain but he made a bit of faith, hope, that this creature was telling the truth. Amy, he admitted, was right with her case but still that didn't stop the fact he had that pestering feeling in his heart. For all he knew this 'Seth' could be a mere fiend.

"Alright," Sonic slowly agreed. Seth's face lit up in shock, but before he could say something Sonic interrupted him. "But listen to me well bird. You will guide us there—but you will guide us safely!" Sonic pointed at him, his finger up Seth's nose and his face close to his making Seth tremble a little. "Don't go finicky on us and if by any chance you betray us," He pushed at his forehead and pushed him away with full force on his finger. "I'll cut the light of day out from your eyes,"

Amy grew fear even of Sonic. He was always so scary once he was messed with at school or pranked, even worst when in a fight. Sonic was fierce and she always underestimated that. She never thought he'd be a problem with arguments, but this was his protective side, a rare thing to her. He sounded deadly to her at the moment and couldn't bring herself to say a thing. Half in shock half impressed, she watched as he turned around and looked at her, giving her a quick nod over to the trunk where they had climbed the tree. Seth flew besides Amy and turned to Amy. "Is he this scary?" he asked.

Amy smiled warmly. "No, he's just very protective,"

hmmmmm...