Chapter 3: Heartache

"You know this is kind of getting ridiculous," Sonny said to Miles while they were having lunch on the school rooftop. "When Dr. Robotnik attacks, we get a few weeks off from school. But then as soon as school's back in session, he decides to attack, and we're off from school again."

"He's only done this twice, Sonny," Miles replied. "The first time was to intimidate the South Islanders by causing a few explosions and taking hostages. Then he attacked again to distract G. U. N. while sending a group of robots to retrieve this."

As Miles spoke, he pulled the giant yellow gemstone out of his hoodie pocket.

Sonny was mesmerized by the gemstone. "Are you sure its safe to carry that thing around with you? Someone might take it."

"And risk the robots attacking my house again?" Miles replied sharply.

"Ahem!"

Sonny and Miles looked up and saw a girl standing in front of them. She had short pink hair that was cut in a bob-shape, green eyes, and wore a dark pink dress with white trimming and matching knee-length boots. Miles quickly put away the gemstone, while Sonny gave the girl an odd look.

"How did you get up here?" Sonny asked.

"The door was left open," the girl replied. Then she turned to Miles. "What was that thing you were holding?"

"Um, just a rock I found on the way to school," Miles lied.

"That's shaped like a gem?" The girl said as she folded her arms.

Before Miles could answer, Sonny interrupted. "Why are you so interested?"

The girl sighed. "Because I have a gemstone that's looks exactly like it, only silver in color."

"You do?" Miles and Sonny said at the same time.

"But the reason I came up here is because I found these pictures on my phone that show you guys doing some weird things, and I don't know how they got there." The girl reached into a pocket of her dress, but her eyes widened when she came up with nothing. "Oh, I guess I left my phone at home by accident."

"Well, can you describe the pictures?" Miles asked.

"Its kind of embarrassing, but in them—

The bell rang.

"Why don't you come over to my house after school?" the girl said, taking out a pen from her other pocket. "I'll show you the pictures and the gemstone if you like."

Before Sonny could say anything, the girl picked up his hand and wrote something in it. Then she ran off, leaving Sonny and Miles puzzled. While Miles picked up his lunchbox and backpack, Sonny looked down at his palm and saw an address written in cursive handwriting.

"Who was that?" Sonny asked out loud.

"That was Amelia Rosen," Miles said as he walked past Sonny towards the rooftop entrance. "She's in Room 1993 and is known for being super demanding and extremely lady-like, hence everyone around school calls her 'The Princess.'"

"I can see why."

###

Later that day, Sonny was about to meet up with Miles when Mr. Chaplain appeared around the corner Sonny was about to walk towards. He asked Sonny to come to his office, and Sonny did after some hesitation. They walked through the school's gymnasium, past the locker-rooms, and into a small office space with pictures of tropical islands and old-fashioned ships on the walls.

"Am I in trouble?" Sonny asked immediately.

"No, Sonny, I just wanted to talk," Mr. Chaplain said assuredly. "You haven't responded to my email in over a month, and I would like to know why."

"Well, sir, it's just that I don't know if I'm cut out for the track-team," Sonny replied looking down at his buckled shoes. "That record-breaking run I did on the first day…I've never run that fast before in my life, and I can't explain how I did it."

"You don't have to explain it. I know what it is."

Sonny looked up in surprise.

"I know talent when I see it, and I think you've got what it takes to bring our track-team to the big leagues," Mr. Chaplain said twiddling a plastic martini sword in his hands. "But whether you want to unlock this potential or not is up to you."

At first, Sonny was relieved that Mr. Chaplain hadn't caught onto his secret power, but then he weighed the options in his mind. If I join the track-team I'll satisfy Mr. Chaplain's expectations, but it will only be a matter of time before he finds out about the Sonic Phase. But if I don't he'll be displeased but then I won't have to reveal the Sonic Phase.

A cellphone ring interrupted Sonny's thoughts, until he realized it was his. He pulled it out of his pocket, and saw that the caller was Miles. Immediately, Sonny flipped the phone open and answered. "Hello?"

"Hey, Sonny, where are you? We're supposed to be heading to Amelia's house right now," Miles said on the other hand.

"I'm in Mr. Chaplain's office. I'll meet you outside the school building when I'm done."

"Well, you'd better hurry because I hear that Amelia hates people who are tardy."

"All right, I will," Sonny said irritably, and hung up. "Sorry, Mr. Chaplain. It was an important phone-call."

"No offense taken," Mr. Chaplain said. "So what is your decision?"

"I…I'll need a little more time to think about it, then let you know."

"I understand, but the track-team's first meeting is tomorrow and I would like to know before then."

"Will do."

Then Sonny left the office, and walked as fast as he could to the front of the school building. He felt the Sonic Phase coming over him, but Sonny mentally suppressed it. Once he got outside, Miles was waiting for him and the two walked over to a nearby bus-stop.

"So what did Mr. Chaplain have to say?" Miles asked as they waited.

"He asked if I wanted to join the school track-team or not," Sonny replied.

"I think you should. Those laps you ran on the first day were so cool."

"Did someone tell you about them?"

"No, I was watching from the school bleachers. My class ended early that day, and so I went there to watch the gym class."

"I see." Sonny scratched the back of his head, and said, "What if I told you that I don't know how I ran that fast?"

"What do you mean?"

A distant explosion caught the boys' attention and they saw several shapes surrounding a distinguished house near the downtown area.

"It's Dr. Robotnik's robots," Sonny said clenching his fists. "And they're attacking that house."

"Yeah, and I think I know whose house that is," Miles said, and grabbed one of Sonny's hands.

"What are you doing?" Sonny said in surprise.

"Hold on," Miles said and examined Sonny's palm with the address still written on it though the ink had faded. Then he looked back at the house in the distance and sighed. "Just as I thought. The robots are attacking Amelia's house."

"We've got to help her," Sonny said as he was about to run.

"But what can we do?" Miles asked.

"I don't know, but I can't stand here and watch."

"Then I'm coming with you."

"All right, but I'll need you to get on my back."

"What?"

"Just do it, and hold on."

Confused, Miles climbed onto Sonny's back and gripped him tightly around the shoulders. Then Sonny took off running, and picked up speed as the Sonic Phase took over. While Miles was screaming at the top of his lungs, Sonny was sprinting across streets and through alleyways to get ahead of the G. U. N. tanks who were pointing their guns at the house.

"Hand over the Chaos Emerald, and you will not be harmed," one of the robots said, pointing its laser gun at a girl with short pink hair, slanted turquoise-green pupils, and matching pink hedgehog ears and tail.

A large gaping hole stood where a bedroom window used to be behind the robot. Meanwhile, the girl was backed against the wall opposite the window. To her left was a writing desk with a small pink laptop on it while to her right was an open bedroom door leading into an empty hallway.

In response, the girl put the silver-colored gemstone she held in one hand into her dress-pocket and raised the pink and yellow hammer she wielded in the other. "No way! I'm not giving this gemstone to anybody, least of all you!"

Before the robot had the chance to fire, the girl leaped forward and slammed the hammer right into the robot which sent it flying out the window. After it exploded, a small boy fell out of the wreckage, but Tails managed to catch him. Meanwhile, Sonic was busy dealing with the other robots who immediately fired their lasers at him. But he dodged every single one and bopped the robots on their heads, causing them to fall apart and children to fall out. He managed to catch them before they hit the ground, then Sonic felt someone hugging him from behind, and turned around to see the girl with the pink hedgehog ears.

"Amy?" Sonic said in a baffled tone. "What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you the same thing, but I'm happy enough just to see you again," the girl Amy said, still hugging Sonic. Then she let go and twirled around. "How do you like my new look?"

Tails flew over from the small boy and got between Amy and Sonic. "Um, Amy, this really isn't something to joke about."

"But it's the only way I can cope without freaking out," Amy said irritably. "Unless you can explain how we got into this situation."

"Unfortunately, not at the moment," Tails replied. "My memories are kind of hazy."

"Same here," Sonic responded. Then just as he was about to speak again, Sonic passed out.

"Sonic!" Amy shouted, kneeling down, but then she fell over on her side and went unconscious.

"Oh, no, this always happens after we battle the robots," Tails exclaimed, feeling himself grow weaker. "I wonder if there's some way to make these moments…last…longer…"

After that, Tails passed out as well.

To be continued…