"Are you sure she's really ok?" A worried tenor voice said.
"She's fine, it's a lot to handle at one time," a soft voice answered.
Amy became aware of the sounds around her, and recognized the voices belonged to Sonic and Cream.
"Go find the person I told you about," Cream said her voice muted to try and not disturb Amy. "You'll know him when you see him."
The door opened and closed silently, and Amy felt like she could lift her lids. She blinked adjusting her eyes to the light that filtered in from the open window.
She turned to the left and saw Cream smiling at her, instinctively she smiled back. "Hey I just had the weirdest dream," she laughed. "You told me I was a princess, and I had to save my family and planet from some curse."
"Amy sweetie," Cream began slowly her look becoming serious. "That really happened."
"What?" Amy's heart dropped. "Why are you tell me this? Why now?!"
"Because you turn eighteen in four days," Cream said her voice solemn. "I wouldn't tell you if it weren't completely essential for the survival of our home world, Rosellenia."
"I've heard of it..." Amy scrunched her eyebrows together, trying to remember where she'd heard it. "That's the subject of mine and Sonic's project."
"It seems you really are her," Cream smiled. "Otherwise you wouldn't have seen that title."
"You mean it's not a real subject?" Amy asked shocked.
"Not on Möbius." Cream replied with a sly smile.
"You said I have...powers," Amy said slowly.
"You do," Cream replied. "We'll find you a great teacher to help you gain control...and I'll teach you some things I taught myself."
"You know magic?" Amy's whole face lit up in excitement.
There was a sudden knock on the door, then Rouge burst in looking upset.
"What's wrong?" Cream asked worried.
"Is there a reason no one is telling me what's going on?" She seethed.
"Well..." Cream took a breath, she was hoping to keep Rouge out of this. "Sonic, Tails and I came to this planet a year ago looking for our princess, which is Amy. Only she has the power to lift the curse placed on Rosellenia, our home planet." She looked over at Amy.
"Her parents are in hiding at the moment, and the sent Sonic, the son of a nobleman, Tails son of the brightest mind on the planet and me."
"What's your importance?" Rouge asked her earlier bitterness dulled.
"I'm a seer," she sighed at the confused looks from the other two girls. "I see the future...but you should know it's never definite."
xXTruth Beneath the RoseXx
"How are we supposed to find this guy?" Sonic threw his hands in the air dramatically. "How is she so certain he's on Möbius?"
"She's seen it," Tails rolled his eyes at Sonic. "We just keep looking, if she's right he's somewhere in this forest."
"Man we don't even know what he looks like." Sonic said shoving his hands into his pockets.
"She said something about a brownish red hooded jacket, and we won't be able to see his face." Tails said.
Neither of them noticed a figure drop down from a nearby tree. Silently he made his way up to Tails, and pulled on his left tail.
Tails jumped nearly three feet in the air letting loose a shriek, causing Sonic to whip around looking ready to fight.
"Who're you?" Tails asked, his muzzle stained red.
"I could ask you the same thing," the figure said a hint of amusement in his voice. He wore a reddish brown hooded jacket, a green face mask and green pants. All you could see of his face was hazel eyes. "Why did you come here?"
"I think we were sent to find, you." Tails said, Sonic's jaw dropped.
"Who sent you?" He began to circle the two, never letting them out of his sight.
"Our friend," Sonic stated his eyes narrowed. "She said you're the one who has to teach our princess."
"I don't have to do anything," the figure said with a roll of his eyes.
"Cream said-"
"Cream?" His voice turned interested at the mention of the rabbit. "Why didn't you say she sent you?"
"Didn't realize it was important." Sonic shrugged. "She didn't give us a lot to go on."
"Did she happen to mention why I need to teach this princess?"
"No." Tails shook his head. "Is there...a name we can call you?"
"You can call me Phantom." The figure said. "Lead the way." He gestured in the direction the two boys had come from.
xXTruth Beneath the RoseXx
"What kind of powers do I have?" Amy asked excitedly, while Rouge sat in the corner looking grumpy.
"Well if I'm correct, you have telekinesis and when trained properly you will be the most powerful," her brow scrunched a bit.
"Powerful what?" Amy asked.
"I can't remember...things from Rosellenia are becoming blurry." Cream said resting a hand on her forehead. "If that happens..."
"Well that's ok," Amy smiled at her friend. "I'm sure it'll all come back."
"I can't remember what we are." Cream said. "Why..."
There was a knock at the front door, and Rouge took the opportunity to run off to answer it still hurt that they would try and keep things from her.
Amy walked to her door and glanced down the hall, towards the stairs. Soon Sonic appeared followed by Tails, and a hooded figure all she could make out were hazel eyes.
When they reached the door, Amy cocked her head to the side. "Who's this?"
"Your teacher." Sonic said smiling enthusiastically.
"Please call me Phantom." He bowed his head slightly. "Your highness."
Amy blushed at the title. "Y-You can just call me Amy."
"It's improper." Phantom replied. "But if you insist."
"Phantom?" Cream appeared in the door way, looking happy yet distraught at the same time.
"What troubles you old friend?" Phantom asked as they all moved back towards the stairs, and to the living room.
"My memory is slowly fogging over, I can't remember what I am." Cream replied.
"You're a seer."
"No I remember that," Cream sighed impatiently. "I meant what our race is."
"Oh," Phantom sighed not sure telling them was the best idea, but it needed to be done. "On this planet," he looked at Amy. "We're known as vampires."
Amy gasped her eyes wide. "V-Vampires?" Her hand unconsciously flew to her throat.
"You are one also," he chuckled at her response. "Only on this planet, do we need mortal blood to survive."
"What?" Cream asked, confusion clear in her voice. Then it hit her, she remembered what she was, what she survived on, on Rosellenia. "We've never needed it before."
"You've also never been to this planet before," Phantom replied. "It's closeness to the sun, it's what causes the thirst. And we only need it when absolutely necessary."
"You mean we need to...drink blood?" Tails asked slight disgust in his voice.
"If you want to survive, to ensure the princess' safety." Phantom said exasperated. "The craving will start soon, especially if you fight it."
Cream looked at her old mentor, worry in her eyes. "Have you-"
"No." He said with certainty. "But there's only so many places you can buy blood bags without being a doctor."
"Will I-" Amy began her voice wavering.
"You've been exposed to this sun for eighteen years," Phantom explained patiently. "You've more than adapted to it. You will never have to feed on blood while you're here."
"How long until we have to-" Sonic began, unable to actually say the word.
"A week at most." Phantom replied. He turned to Amy. "Your powers are only just awakening, they will not be at their full potential until your eighteenth birthday. I can only teach so much while you're in this suspended state."
"Suspended state?" Amy asked confused.
"You can access only about 10% of your powers now," he said his voice holding a hint of aniticipation. "On your birthday, will mark the beginning of your actual training."
"Ok," she nodded in understanding. "What can you teach me now?"
"Basics," he replied as he began to circle her. "You need to start from the beginning, in order for me to get you to the power level you need to be at."
"Ok bring it on." She said smiling determinedly.
"We will need to find a suitable place to train you," he said thoughtfully. "Away from prying eyes."
"I know a place." Sonic chimed in, his interest piqued. "It's where I like to go."
"Then take us there," Phantom said with a nod.
"I'll take you tomorrow," Sonic said noticing how late it was. "Tails and I need to get back to our dorm, before we get in trouble."
"Ok tomorrow then," Phantom nodded. "I'll come back tomorrow afternoon, when your classes have let out."
"Ok," Amy smiled as he left the room.
Cream stood up and ran after him, Amy stood to follow but Tails held her back.
"She needs to talk with him." He gave her a reassuring look.
Cream caught up with Phantom. "Wait."
"What is it?"
"I've seen...I'm not sure-" she sighed heavily. "What I've seen isn't good."
"Just remember what you told me," he said a chuckle in his tone. "Nothing is set in stone." And with that he left.
"So I get left out once again?" Cream turned to face a bitter Rouge.
"No one said to stay away." Cream sighed. "But you're not...I mean I don't...Rouge I don't want you to get hurt."
"So I don't deserve to know what my friends are, and where they're from." Rouge said her tone was hurt. "I'll take my chances."
"I was afraid you'd say that," Cream sighed, a sad smile on her face. "If you're going to be a part of this, then know that we all face extreme danger. And right now no one faces more danger than you, since you're mortal."
"What-?" Rouge stammered.
"We are as you would know, vampires and soon will be overcome with the thirst for mortal blood," Cream said honestly. "I don't want to resort to any of that, so I'm going to find a way to keep it quenched without doing so...but you may want to stay on guard...I don't know how many of them are here." She said the word 'them' venomously.
"Who's them?" Rouge wondered.
"Those who work for the queen," Cream said. "But my memory is foggy, I wouldn't know them now, even if I saw them."
"I'll watch myself, I swear." Rouge said confidently. "We should get to bed, we do have classes tomorrow."
"I'll see you in the morning." Cream smiled as Rouge made her way upstairs to her room.
xXTruth Beneath the RoseXx
Once Cream was out of sight, Amy walked Sonic and Tails to the back door. Tails left with a smile, while Sonic hung back.
"What's up?" Amy asked when he hesitated in the door.
"Um," he scratched the back of his head nervously. "We need to start our project soon...would you wanna meet up somewhere for it?"
"Oh right, school." Amy laughed. "With all that's happened I forgot."
"It is pretty easy," Sonic chuckled as well, put at ease by her laugh. Her emerald eyes sparkled as she smiled at him. "Want to meet up at that cafe tomorrow before Phantom shows up?"
"Sure," she blushed lightly. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Ok," without thinking he dipped down and kissed her cheek, before in a breeze he was gone.
"Wha-" she rested a hand on her cheek, then her face glared red, her heart thudding in her chest. "That was..." She giggled as she closed the door making her way towards her room.
She didn't notice the pair of golden eyes watching her as she disappeared into the house.
"We'll see if you make it to your birthday, little girl." The figure laughed.