a/n: It springs eternal, somehow. Thank you. For all said and unsaid.

She picked up the mask and held it up to her face.

"Is it really over?"

Amy stood across from her in the darkness.

"It really is."

"Who are you?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes, it does."

A cheeky smile with those ruby red lips of hers. "I don't know. I might be you. I might be me. I might be him. But I'm more than likely you."

"Which me?"

"One borrowed from the future to pay penance to the past. He's paid the balance."

"Why?" she asked, knowing the answer.

"Mm...who knows." A teasing grin.

"You were supposed to die. We both were. Maybe all of us. I'm confused. She made me a woman and now I'm stuck to her."

"So this was too far ahead."

"I didn't consider falling in love with another girl."

"That just makes it a bit sweeter. Do you adore her?"

"More than that. We're far too connected now," Amy said. "Too wrapped up. I think we'll have to go on like this. It's not so bad, you know. But my head is still filled with him."

"And your heart?"

"My heart too. But she's there also. I think it's my body that's stubborn. But I liked it, what happened between us. She's good to me."

"Do you think she'll continue like this?"

"I don't know. Does it matter?"

"It never did," she said. She started to do up the mask.

"What happens now?" Amy asked.

"You discover and grow. Let's never meet again, Amy Rose."

"Okay."

She smiled for a final time before bringing the mask over her face. She carried the oversized sword at her side.

The feral child appeared in the light ahead. The masked one waved the sword at the child's head and made her squeal in fear.

The world dispersed into light.

Rouge appeared, floating upside down. She gave Amy a wink, and got a smile in return. They floated away from each other.

Gradient colours.

The world was slowly replaced.

Eyes open.

He could see the world again.

Distant pain.

"Hero of Earth...reporting in..."

He coughed up blood.

"You require medical attention."

He wanted to chuckle but knew he didn't have the strength.

It was suddenly warm and soft against his head. He could smell perfume. Familiar.

She was stroking the top of his head gently. It all hurt, but he could appreciate her tenderness.

Another body of warmth on his right side as he sat in the dirt. Her head against his shoulder, hand rubbing his back. Her breathing was peaceful and rhythmic.

"Twenty five minutes until nuclear munitions are launched."

He closed his eyes.

"They're sure determined to win."

He lazily opened one again to stare at the new visitor.

"Tails, hey," Amy said. "We managed to do it. But...we're not gonna make it out, are we?"

"I spent the past twenty minutes walking around. I didn't find much, but it should do the trick. They're just gonna be launching a Tomahawk out over the ocean. I'll need Omega to help brace against the recoil."

"Recoil?"

"Yup."

"Twenty five percent power remaining. All systems functional. Commencing defense mission," Omega rumbled.

"Okay, let's go. I've already plotted out the trajectories, but we've got exactly one shot at this."

"Affirmative."

Tails walked back up to the surface as Omega boosted himself upwards. Rouge and Amy slowly helped the hero to his feet and lent him their shoulders. They led him, battered body and all, up to the light.

The sun's sting was welcoming.

Blood was layered all over his form. His fur, singed black with patches of blue. A thin layer of smoke continued to rise from his scarred skin. Evaporating white blood ate at bits of exposed muscle.

"Just gotta wait a bit until launch. Shouldn't be long now."

Amy and Rouge set him down on a cool portion of the asphalt.

They said nothing as they looked on. Was there anything left? Besides those mysteries to be solved...maybe not. Maybe not now.

The fox boy sat on the robot's shoulder, braced by one of his bulky arms. On his own shoulder was a weathered Stinger missile launcher, complete with the requisite ammunition. The sun glared off of the weapon as he steadied it.

"You think they won't send another, kiddo?" Rouge asked.

"Shadow said he'd take care of it if they tried," he called back.

"That sounds like our old Sunshine, yeah."

"I'm gonna head home after this," Amy said. "See what I can get done."

"Mind if I come with?" Rouge asked.

"Sure. I wanted to finish cooking, anyways. I'll treat you."

"Alright."

"Here she comes. Steady, Omega," Tails said.

"Roger."

"And...there."

The missile fired, making a loud pop as it exited the tube and floated ahead. It then shot forward with a loud roar, accelerating to twice the speed of sound as it exited the city.

"Hey, kiddo."

"Yeah, Rouge?"

"What was the yield on that bomb, anyways?"

Tails blinked before smiling sheepishly.

"Sorry. Didn't ask."

A rush of wind blew open Rouge's blouse as she shrugged.

"No skin off my back. Just wondering."

An artificial brightness tinged the afternoon sky.

"I'll take care of Sonic. You two can cool off," Tails said as he hopped from Omega's shoulder. Tails slung the blue hedgehog over his shoulders after dropping the missile launcher to the street. "And we can get Omega charged."

"Tails, we can..."

"Like I said, it's fine. I've got this."

Amy nodded. "Okay. But you know where to find me."

"Yeah."

"Rouge?"

She examined a damaged button on her blouse. "I'm right behind you."

The five walked down the empty street before silently heading their separate ways. The wind died down. The artificial shine faded to nothing.

Ever so slowly, they could return to the beginning.

"Well, I figured it would end like this. Or maybe...you wouldn't let it end any other way."

Tails smiled to himself as he carried his brother forward. Omega kept pace beside him, observant as always.