Mina flopped onto the bed in the band's hotel suite, glad to be out of St. Claire's after almost three months. It was thanks to the staff there that she was more or less back on track with her life since being captured by Cidana but she still bore some serious mental and emotional scars. Having Sonic to talk to always helped too.
That thought got her going. She still had mixed feelings about him especially after he told her what had happened during the two weeks he'd been gone. She had yet to meet Fiona but something about her seemed shifty. Mina knew that Sonic believed her to be mostly reformed and she believed that he believed it. Not to mention that Fiona and Sonic had hooked up, a fact that tore at her more than anything else. She had thought that after all she and Sonic had been through they had something but maybe she'd been wrong.
"You in here, Mina?" Ash asked as he knocked on the door. She invited her brother/band manager into the room, an unpleasant expression on his face.
"I know that look," she said as he closed the door. "Give me the good news first."
"Well, we got that big gig in New Mobotropolis," Ash Mongoose said, flipping through some of the papers in his arms. "Not that we're hurting for work or anything since a certain singer didn't warn us about checking herself into a mental institution."
"Oh come off it," Mina sighed and rolled her eyes. "What's the bad news?"
"I'm still getting requests from certain members of the military here to give them a report about the Highwind," her brother continued. "I've told them that I don't know anything and that you don't talk about it to anyone, not even me, so stop calling. This is the fourth time I've told them but they can't seem to take a hint."
"They won't stop until Sonic or I tell them something useful," Mina said, flopping back down onto the mattress. "And I know neither one of us is in any rush to relive that."
"I still don't understand why you'll talk to him about it and not me," Ash said, setting down the papers he was carrying. "For crying out loud, I'm your brother and you've only known him, what, a couple months?"
"It's not something you could understand, Ash!" Mina yelled, jumping off the bed to get in her brother's face. "You have no idea of the hell he and I went through."
"It's not like my life has been all sunshine and rainbows either, Mina!" he yelled back. "The things I did to make sure that we had a place to stay after Mercia kicked us out are still coming back to bite me but you don't see me huddled up in the corner." Mina slapped him, leaving a bright red handprint visible through his fur.
"You think that doing a few 'favors' for some small-time crime bosses can even compare to what happened up there?" she asked, almost snarling. "If I hadn't gone to St. Claire's and if Sonic hadn't been there for me then I can guarantee you that I wouldn't be here right now."
"Well that much didn't change about you," Ash retorted as he picked up the papers and headed for the door. "With everything we've been through you still act like a child. You want that military dog, fine. Have him." He slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Mina alone and fuming.
Mina was still furious at her brother by the time the concert rolled around. The entire time she and Ash barely said one word to each other unless it was absolutely necessary. Just before they started their first set she spied Sonic waiting off in a dark corner.
"You know, you're acting more like a stalker than a fan," she told him as she walked up.
"Yeah, well considering most of these Mobians wanted me tried for treason I figured the best plan was to not be seen."
"Guess I can't argue that," Mina admitted with a light laugh. "Still, it's good to see you again. We're about to go on so if there's nothing else..."
"There actually is," Sonic said as she started to turn. "But it can wait until after the show. For now let's just say that I'm keeping a promise to you." Mina raised an eyebrow but still walked to the stage where the rest of the band waited.
Several hours later the curtain closed and the band dispersed. Mina grabbed a quick shower remembering that Sonic had wanted something. She had been hoping for something like a romantic dinner but the way he and Fiona were it didn't seem likely. Once all their stuff was aboard she told the shuttle to go ahead without her saying that she had a few things to take care of. When she turned there was Sonic waiting to greet her and she hugged him, nearly tackling him in the process.
"I take it it's been a rough few days," Sonic said as they separated.
"You have no idea," Mina replied as she looked around. "So what was this promise you're intent on keeping?"
"Remember how we were talking about going out somewhere once you got out of the hospital?" Mina nodded. "Well I had something special in mind."
"Dinner?" Mina asked playfully and Sonic rolled his eyes.
"Maybe later," he said with a smirk. "First, I need you to close your eyes." Mina raised an eyebrow and Sonic insisted. She sighed and did as he asked, occasionally peeking out with one eye. Sonic grabbed a scrap of material and tied it around her eyes, much to her protest. "Since I can't trust you not to look I have to blindfold you," he explained as he held her hands. He focused on a place he hadn't been to in ages and the wind picked up around them. He then led her down a mountain path until they reached the spot he had in mind. "Now, picture the most peaceful place you can."
"What's this all about?" she asked. Sonic said nothing so she grumbled and did as he said. Sonic watched the landscape around them before removing the blindfold. Mina opened her eyes and gasped. They were standing in a meadow of flowers that seemed to stretch for miles. "It's beautiful," she whispered.
"It is, isn't it?" Sonic asked. "Much prettier than the last time I was here."
"What does that mean?" Mina asked. "I thought you couldn't do that teleport thing if you hadn't been there before."
"It's called 'shifting' and I can't," he explained. "Well, if I know where another Guardian is I can join them but that's the one exception and even then it's not easy. I used this place as a training ground back when I first became a Guardian. For some reason it can amplify and project your thoughts into particular images."
"I'd remember being somewhere this romantic," Mina said.
"As I said, amplifies. What about something like it?" Mina picked one of the flowers and held it to her nose.
"I know this flower," she realized. "My mom used to grow these in her garden back in Mercia!" She looked around again as memories came flooding back. "Every single one of these flowers she grew at one time or another. But why bring me here?"
"The last song you sang I noticed something," Sonic admitted as they walked through the meadow with Mina picking flowers for a bouquet. "Towards the end I could see the heat of your soul pouring out. It was enough that even people in audience could feel it."
"Like a warm fuzzy feeling?" she asked.
"Basically but times a hundred," Sonic said with a nod. "Seeing you on stage made me think that we've been going about waking your powers up in the completely wrong fashion. Since it stalled out once already we may have to do it manually."
"If there's anything I can do to help then I'm in," Mina told him prompting a curious stare. "Seeing you aboard the Highwind made me realize just how useless I am. I'm tired of everyone protecting me." She closed her eyes and stopped walking. "For once, I want to protect them."
"That's a good start," Sonic told her and her eyes opened. "Sylvanix was able to awaken my abilities by forming a link with my soul. He's able to do that because he's already dead. Volcarras could do the same but obviously won't or can't. But from what Syl's told me in the past other Guardians can do the same thing."
"You could help me awaken them?" Mina asked incredulously. "How?" At this Sonic blushed lightly.
"We would, uh, have to do the same thing," he explained nervously, looking off to the side. "We would have to link our souls."
"That doesn't sound all that hard. What's the catch?"
"There..." Sonic hesitated but bit the bullet. "There has to be a physical link, preferably an intimate link." Mina stood in a stunned silence.
"You mean we'd have to..."
"Not necessarily," Sonic answered hastily. "He did say the more intimate the better but it doesn't have to be that."
"So...would a kiss work?" Sonic nodded. "Okay. What do we do?"
"We, uh, kiss and I'll attempt to link our souls together," Sonic explained. "Unfortunately it only works if we're compatible." Now it was Mina's turn to blush.
"Like...soul mates?" she asked.
"Not exactly," Sonic explained. "That's one way to look at it but it means a whole slew of things. But the simple answer is yes." Mina smiled as her cheeks turned redder.
"I wouldn't really mind that," she whispered so Sonic couldn't hear. Louder she said, "Alright, I'm ready." Giving him a moment to get ready Mina leaned in as did Sonic until their lips met. Mina closed her eyes as she felt a warm feeling inside her grow. Sonic could feel the same heat and attempted to wrap his own powers around it. He wasn't sure exactly what happened but felt his Guardian form activate as their kiss grew in passion. The warm feeling from within Mina erupted around them until they finally parted, both short of breath.
"That was incredible," Mina said, unable to stop smiling.
"You're on fire," Sonic told her, a smile on his own face.
"Damn straight I'm on fire."
"No, I meant literally," Sonic said as he looked at his hand. "And so am I, which is a little unsettling." Mina looked at him and then at her arm. Her yellow fur now had streaks of red through it and her hair was now red with random locks turned slightly upward. Her eyes were ember red, glowing with newfound power.
"So this is what it feels like," she said with a laugh. "It feels amazing, like I could conquer the world."
"That sounds about right," Sonic agreed. "I'd almost forgotten what this feels like too. I haven't had time to really enjoy this form." Mina kissed him again and he felt a burst of heat around them. The parted after a moment and he looked around. "Uh, where are we?" Mina looked around and then let go of him as gazed at the familiar landscape. They were next to a lake in a secluded meadow surrounded by the forest. The lake had a dock, indicating they were fairly close to civilization.
"I don't believe it," Mina gasped. "This...this is Mercia, Sonic. This is where Ash and I grew up." She stopped as she looked in the distance. "Over there is where our house used to be, before Robotnik came," she said as she pointed. "Ash and I would play in the lake almost every day we could. If not that then we'd explore the forest together until the sun set over Mt. Mobius." Sonic looked west to see the silhouette of the massive volcano under the moonlight. "I never thought I'd get the chance to come back here. How did we get here?"
"You must have thought about this place and accidentally shifted," Sonic said as his Guardian form faded. "Don't feel bad. My first time I ended up splashing down in middle of Ring Pool in Knothole." Mina chuckled, earning a playful glare from Sonic. "What made you think of home?"
"I always said that I'd have my first kiss here," she explained, leaning against the wooden railing to stare into the water. Her own form had faded, leaving the clearing dark again. Sonic joined her as the night life quieted down around them after the commotion. "While that wasn't my first kiss, especially with you, it was more special than any other in my life."
"I'm happy to hear that," Sonic said as familiar feelings were stirred up inside him. "Mina, when I told you that I don't care about Fiona the same way I do about you that was the truth. But I know that you want a real relationship, not what Fiona and I have right now." Mina stared at the lake. It was as if Sonic had been reading her mind. "After everything that happened with Sally I'm just not ready for that either. But I'm willing to try when you're ready."
"Thank you, Sonic," Mina said, tears of joy forming in her eyes. "You have no idea how much that means to me." She wiped them away before staring at him. "What about you and Fiona then?"
"No idea," he admitted. "I've tried resisting her but, well, it doesn't usually end well for me, so to speak." Mina couldn't help but laugh at him.
"Well then, she's gonna have her work cut out for her from here out," she said slyly, wrapping her arms around Sonic's neck. "So if I wanted to shift somewhere I just have to think about it?" Sonic nodded. "Even if it's moving?"
"I wouldn't see why not," Sonic admitted with a shrug. "What did you have in mind?"
"I suddenly feel like scaring the pants off Ash," she said with a mischievous smile. Her smile sweetened before giving Sonic a brief kiss. "Thank you, Sonic. For everything." With that she vanished in a burst of heat, leaving Sonic alone in the moonlight.
"Well I'll be a blue bastard," Aquira said as she looked across the lake. "Looks like I owe Volcarras that date. Not that there's anything to do in Limbo." She smirked at the Wind Guardian. "And that bit about joining souls? I can't believe she fell for it."
"Fell for what?" Sonic asked as he leaned back on the rail. "That's what Sylvanix told me. Everything I told her is what he told me would work and Volcarras confirmed it."
"Oh. That's right." Sonic put two and two together as he stared at the Magan fox who was grinning from ear-to-ear.
"Son of a... You guys set me up," Sonic realized and Aquira gave him a proud smirk. "But then how did her powers awaken? I know I wasn't imagining that."
"Sylvanix didn't have to do anything for your powers to awaken," the fox admitted. "You already had the desire to protect. All Sylvanix did was separate your body and soul to create the hoshoku-sha. The last time Volcarras tried to awaken her powers she didn't have anything she really wanted to protect but now she does."
"And that something is...?" The fox stared at Sonic. "What, me? Why does she want to protect me?"
"Because she loves you," the Magan said simply. "And can you honestly say that the feeling isn't mutual?" Sonic tried to reply but gave up. "I get why you're so hesitant about a serious relationship considering what you went through with Sally, not to mention everything else lately. If Syl was here he'd say that it was your comeuppance for forcing a link."
"And just like I told him it was the one thing I refused to believe," Sonic reiterated. "I can't honestly say that I'm over her, either. Still, even if he was right I'm not about to apologize for doing what I thought was the right thing."
"I know how you feel," Aquira said closing her eyes. "To lose someone you love is devastating regardless of whether they're alive or dead. At least you handled it better than my sister did." Sonic looked at the fox as a few tears escaped her eyes. "After we sealed Xiaxos she completely lost it and went on a rampage. She ended up doing some pretty horrible things." She looked to Sonic and gave him a forced smile. "Well, I should be going. Enjoy the complicated love life."
"I could use a little less complication in my life," he muttered as the fox disappeared but smiled all the same. Still, this complication he could live with.