WyvernScribe - The reason why I use the M rating, like you surmised, is to give me the leeway to do whatever I want because, believe it or not, this story isn't scripted. I am going through each chapter completely blind, but I figured the M rating could lead to better interactions with Blaze and the gang. I have a start and an end in mind, but as for everything in between, it's completely from scratch.
Guest - Thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate it. Marine is 18 and Tails is 19. To be honest, I haven't thought about a ship between them. I'll put the full age list at the end of the chapter. Thank you for reading.
Her body tossed and turned throughout the night. A layer of cold sweat covered her forehead as she gripped the bed sheets, her eyes squeezed shut.
There was fire everywhere.
The flames rose high into the sky, licking at the clouds and painting the sky red.
She had to run.
The district was deafening with cries for help as other people tried to outrun their fate, but the flames continued to grow, swallowing houses and expanding their wrath into the city.
She could see the fear in their eyes as she ran, the terror as they were engulfed by the flames. A primal growl followed her, chasing her through the dark neighborhood.
She gasped for breath and stumbled, her body aching and her vision blurring.
Safe. Just a little bit further and she'd be safe.
The ground rumbled and she looked back in time to see the monstrous figure racing toward her. She screamed and dove to the side as the force threw her against the wall. The pain was unbearable as she slid to the ground, her body trembling and her mind racing.
Another house went up in flames. Pedestrians fled the vicinity, forced to watch others scream and beg for help, crying and sobbing for salvation.
"Blaze. Blaze! BLAZE!"
The last thing she saw was the monster approaching her. Its tumultuous screech shattered glass before pouncing on its prey.
"BLAZE!"
Blaze woke with a start, clamping her hands over her mouth, and screaming as loud as she could.
She was tangled in her sheets, her body drenched in sweat. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she could feel the blood rushing through her veins. It took her a few moments to realize that it was just a dream, that she was safe.
She slowly untangled herself from the sheets. Her hands were shaking and her body was still trembling, but she forced herself to take deep, even breaths.
It was just a dream. That's all it was.
Blaze got out of bed and made her way to the window. Outside, the moon was up high in the sky, peeking out from behind the clouds and casting a pale light on the streets below.
The city was unchanged. Everything was still standing. But the screams… the cries for help… she could still hear them.
Blaze buried her face in her hands and fell to her knees. She did everything to keep the tears from flowing. It took every ounce of strength to avoid weeping.
"Why?" She whispered. "Why do you keep tormenting me? What did I do to deserve this?"
She cursed the power of her flames. They were no gift, but a curse to make her suffer.
This was why she refused to let anyone know about it. Anyone bold enough to get close was branded as a target. Marine, Cream, Vanilla, Gadget, Zero, and anyone else who knew was bound to suffer her pyrokinetic wrath.
It wasn't fair. It was only a matter of time before the monster broke free and unleashed Armageddon.
'I'm running out of time. I can't stop it.'
Silver, Sonic, Manic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Rouge: Blaze's new group of friends. She hoped they never found out. She couldn't bear to see the looks of horror on their faces, to have them pity her, or to be scared of her. Silver could've been next. He was lucky.
What about next time? If she and Silver touched, would her curse activate and reduce the painter to cinders? It was a frightening thought that made Blaze sick to her stomach.
'They're my friends. My friends.' She had to remind herself what the group was to her. The evening they spent at Emerald Coast was perhaps the greatest day of her life, and in no way, would she jeopardize that newfound friendship.
Blaze stood back up and clenched her chest. She was hurting so much. It was as if her heart was about to burst.
A few tears finally fell, but she quickly wiped them away. She refused to give in to the despair.
'I have to be strong. I have to be strong for them.'
Blaze checked her clock and scowled. It was an abysmal one o'clock in the morning. Her practices wouldn't start for another several hours.
'I need a distraction.'
She calmed herself and crossed the room to her wardrobe. She pulled out her dancing clothes and changed into them. The black leotard fitted snugly against her body.
"Might as well get some practice in."
Blaze switched on the lights and went over to the stereo to put on some music. She selected a classical piece and turned up the volume just loud enough to not be a disturbance. It was a good thing her room was of considerable size and her tidiness allowed for maximum relief. She could practice freely.
Blaze walked over to the center of the room and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and began to move. The music flowed through her, and she let her body follow its lead. She danced with grace and elegance, making the moves look effortless. The years of practice and discipline showed in her performance.
She was in her element. Nothing else mattered except her, the music, and the dance floor. Slowly, Blaze felt her negative aura evaporate. The pain in her heart numbed. She forgot about her problems and just let herself go.
The music came to an end, and Blaze stopped dancing. The practice did its job. Blaze felt much better after letting her body go through the routines. She no longer heard the voices in her head. Instead, she was met with peaceful silence. She greatly preferred the quietness as opposed to the deafening screams.
Blaze walked over to the stereo and turned it off. Her breathing was rapid, and her body was drenched in sweat again.
"Much better," she sighed in relief and went to freshen up with a much-needed shower.
In another rare moment, the feline paused to study herself in the bathroom's mirror. She wasn't smiling this time. Her eyes were drawn to her figure, which was a slender yet muscular build thanks to all the dancing and physical activities she did daily.
Now, Blaze wasn't one for self-indulgence. She knew she looked good, but she never stopped to think about it. The main thing she noticed was her eyes. They were a bright, golden color that almost glowed in the dark. They were one of her best features, and she was thankful for that.
A thought occurred to her.
'I remember his gaze.'
Blaze referred to the sole attention of the white-furred painter that made a spot in her heart, Silver. The way he looked at her while she practiced, it was as if she was the center of his universe, the sole occupant of his artistic viewpoint. All his focus and concentration lingered on her.
It made her feel some type of way. Not love, but with a similar level of happiness. It wasn't a nefarious kind of leering. She didn't feel uncomfortable. It was the opposite. She was glad her expertise sparked inspiration in him. Knowing her abilities were tearing down the mental block he was struggling with made her heart soar.
'I wonder what he thinks about me.'
Blaze sighed and turned on the shower, letting its hot waters cleanse her body and relax her aching muscles. She had a long day ahead and needed all the rest she could get.
After rejuvenating herself, Blaze retreated to her room, where she took a long look at the portrait hanging on her wall.
Blaze cherished the painting, reminding herself that there was another world of art waiting for her. She traced a finger along the frame. It was a simple picture of her in one of her many dance forms, but there was just something about it that made her shine. The butterflies fluttering in her chest were a foreign feeling, a sensation she had not felt in a long time, not since she first started dancing.
The painting made Blaze feel… different. It reminded her that there was more to life. There was still beauty in the world. Surely, Blaze's dull, gray world was being filled with color from Silver's pallet. What she found to be expected of her was a notion she had long forgotten. As a veteran dancer, Blaze was expected to perform well. She was expected to hold herself in high regard.
But, she was also expected to feel.
'Yeah, I'm in big trouble.'
Blaze started to remember. Dancing was… fun. The monotonous story of her life was practice, practice, and more practice. Practice, perform, profit, and repeat, Blaze fell into a never-ending cycle. It was only after she received Silver's ovation did she start to diverge from her prosaic existence.
It was a way to express herself and to feel alive. It was a passion, something she had lost sight of. After years of dedicating herself to her art, Blaze had forgotten why she started dancing in the first place. The painting gave her a new perspective.
Silver gave her a new perspective.
Eventually, Blaze's eyelids started to grow heavy. A small smile touched her lips as she climbed back into bed and let drowsiness consume her.
'I'm going to help you, Silver. I promise.'
Blaze wasn't the only soul having troubles late at night. Her partner in kinetics, Silver, wanted to bang his head against the wall. He wanted to throw his brush across the room and watch it splinter from the collision. He loathed it when he couldn't satisfy the unbearable itch to paint.
He was feeling that way now as the moonlight peered into his room, casting a somewhat eerie glow on his unfinished canvas.
The itch was there, under his skin, aching to be released. But he had nothing.
He had hit a wall, and it was driving him crazy. There was an unfinished piece right in front of him but nothing sparked to life.
After everything that happened, why was he failing now?
It didn't make sense. He had the notes, he had the plan outlined. The idea was in his head, begging to come to life, but he couldn't do it.
The frustration was a physical weight inside him, pressing down and refusing to let go. He was so angry, so lost that he wanted to scream.
Instead, he packed up his cleaning supplies and crashed on his bed, his screams muffled by his pillow.
'What's wrong with me now? I had it all figured out! Why am I failing?'
Silver was confident he would start working on the main focal points of his composition. His hands were itching to get dirty, and Silver wanted to oblige, but the instant he set up his utensils and got into position, his brain stopped working.
He lost the burst of inspiration but could recall his muse's performance clearly, and yet, his mind refused to comprehend it.
Was it just so beautifully choreographed that it failed to register?
'No, that can't be it.'
He just couldn't piece it together.
Why though? Why couldn't he use that visage?
"Because your one-sided crush is getting in the way."
Silver flipped over and stared at the ceiling, face scowling. Of course, he wasn't alone with his thoughts. The self-deprecating voice in his head grew more talkative.
"How long did you think your streak would last?"
Silver ignored the figment of his stress-induced imagination.
"All good things must come to an end. You know that."
'Shut up!'
He wanted to scream, but he knew that was its goal.
"Pretty bold of you to use Blaze as a model when you still know little about her."
'I know enough!'
Blaze was a complex person, and Silver was still getting to know the different facets of her personality. She was beautiful, passionate, determined, and polite.
She had Silver smitten.
"She's taking over your mind."
'That's not true.' Silver refused to believe such false claims. The feline was responsible for his artistic resurgence. 'I'm starting to climb out of my rut because of her.'
"Then why are you struggling?" the voice retorted.
Silver had no answer, and it galled him. It felt like all his progress, all the positivity he had been feeling, was for naught. He was still the same person he was before he met Blaze. Lost and struggling.
"Your friends are expecting results."
The voice was going for the kill.
"I bet they'll be disappointed."
'They won't.'
"You're going to disappoint them. You're going to let them down."
Silver buried his face in his pillow and tried to block out the voice, but it was too deep in his subconsciousness, stuck on repeat.
The next morning, Silver looked haggard as he and his friends stepped through the gates of Julianard for day two. It was bustling again like the previous day, but the heavy air that permeated from the new attendees had slackened.
Silver was not one of those people.
"Bro, you're probably sick of me asking this, but are you sure you're okay?" Sonic asked.
"I'm fine," he forced a smile. "I was up late doing some planning and lost track of time is all. You know how I get when I'm in the zone."
He barely slept at all last night. After his inner monologues against a disembodied voice, he was drained and exhausted, but sleep came too late. All he could think about was his inadequacies.
"Think you can make it through today?" Amy inquired.
"I'll try. Luckily, I don't have to do anything until the last day. I can sit and watch for a while."
'I can't sleep because Mr. Bowser will roast me alive. I just have to tough it out. Blaze might be suspicious though.'
Blaze came up in his thoughts numerous times. The disembodied voice blamed her for Silver's moment of weakness, but he didn't believe his crush on her was the matter in question.
She provided copious amounts of inspiration. Silver couldn't avoid her without rousing suspicion, but he wasn't mentally ready to face her yet either. Sometimes, he wondered if it was a crush or a growing obsession.
Life had other plans, however, and wanted to test his resolve. He spotted his crush waving them over.
'Sweet Mobius.'
Silver felt his cheeks heat up. He greeted Barbara, the disguised Blaze, with a smile. If anyone asked, no, he was not ogling her nor was he staring at the way her blouse hugged her figure in all the right places.
"It's good to see you guys again," she said. "How is everyone feeling? Especially you, Silver. You don't look so good."
"I'm fine. I barely slept but I'm good," Silver responded. "I was working on something, and it kept me up."
"I'm feeling great," Sonic answered, giving his little brother a worried look. "It's been so long since I played my guitar."
"It's still a lot to take in," Tails spoke up. "The staff are nice. Mr. Shinichi is awesome."
"It's… different," Knuckles shrugged.
"I'm enjoying it so far. Vector and Vanilla bring life to their studio," Rouge cooed.
"And Miss Peach is wonderful," Amy gushed. "She's so sweet."
"That's great to hear," the bespectacled feline nodded. She then noticed the drawstring bag on Silver's back. "What do you have there, Silver?"
"I-It's a notebook and sketchbook. I figured it would be a good idea to jot some notes down to help come up with a dancing form, and the sketchbook is in case I think of something. Although, I don't think Mr. Bowser will take too kindly to me drawing during his lecture."
'He might take it and burn it as an example.'
"No, he definitely won't like that, but I'm glad everyone is settling in nicely."
"What classes do you take, Barbara?" Amy inquired. She only saw the feline after her first ballet class.
"I don't have classes, Amy. I work here part-time. I act as an assistant to some of the staff, or I give guided tours and help direct new students where they need to go."
"You have your work cut out for you then, hun," Rouge commented. "I think there are more people than yesterday."
"You have no idea," she sighed. "It's not too bad though. Some of the new applicants do show potential. It's going to be an interesting showcase at least."
"Showcase?" Amy repeated. "I heard my ballet teacher mention that."
"Allow me to explain," Barbara adjusted her glasses. "When it's time to evaluate your progress, the school will host multiple showcases. Your grade is determined through several categories your teachers critique you on, and if you meet the criteria, you'll score higher."
"That's cool. So it's more about the soul of the person rather than how well their feet can move," Sonic summarized.
"Basically," Barbara nodded. "Your teachers will go more in-depth about it, but that's the gist of it."
The group heard the periodical bell chime, signaling every student to start heading to their class.
"Guess this is where we part. I'll see you guys later. Let me know if you have any more questions."
The group bid her farewell.
"Better follow her lead," Amy said. "We can't have a tardy on our second day."
Sonic patted his little brother on the shoulder.
"Hang in there, Silver. We'll see you later."
Everyone went their separate ways, giving the painter their condolences.
Silver wasn't in the right frame of mind as he walked across campus. He was tired, and sleep was becoming more enticing by the minute, but he had to pull through. There was work to be done and progress to be made.
'Breathe, Silver. Breathe. You got this. Don't listen to the bad thoughts, just focus on what you've accomplished so far.'
"Still nervous, I see."
The painter looked up to see his disguised friend waiting for him outside the building.
"Y-Yeah, I still am," he answered, cursing his nerves getting to him now. "I thought you had to work."
"When they call for me," Barbara replied. "I figured I would stick with you until someone does. Do you mind?"
"No, not at all," he said a little too quickly. Blaze didn't make anything of it and walked beside him. "Having a familiar face will make things much easier now."
"Are you alright? How much sleep did you get last night?"
"Not enough. I always lose track of time when I'm hyper-focused. When I finished, it was already four o'clock."
"What were you working on if you don't mind me asking?" Barbara was curious.
"Nuh-uh, can't say just yet," Silver replied with a wag of his finger, much to the feline's dissatisfaction.
'I just hope I don't crash. Roasted hedgehog does not sound appetizing.'
Bowser was a fair Koopa. He believed everyone had a creative side just waiting to be unleashed. All it took was the right push. Of course, some needed stronger encouragement than others.
The large reptilian was curious about his recruits. How many would run with their tails between their legs? He didn't care for the weak-minded. Performing was a battle. A dancer had to be disciplined, passionate, and above all else, fearless.
Bowser wasn't looking for perfection. He was looking for consistency.
Pacing back and forth before his platoon, Bowser couldn't hide the massive grin on his face.
"Well, well, well, I gotta say, I'm impressed. I didn't think everyone would come back."
He gave the group a round of applause. Everyone, minus Barbara, didn't know if that was a good or bad thing.
"I was positive one or two of you would cut your losses, but you all proved me wrong. However!" He barked, startling the students, "If you think for one second that things are going to get easier, you're dead wrong! There's still time to see what you're made of, and I will enjoy crushing whatever puny hopes you desperately cling to!"
'Why does he sound like the final boss of a video game?' Silver pondered. His eyes began to sparkle. 'Ooh, that's a great idea.'
'He still has the intimidation down pact.' Barbara smiled at the various reactions of the students. 'Still, quite the cast of people.'
"Yesterday," Bowser continued his pacing, "I warned everyone that this is not like other classes. Half the fun of my class is discovering your unique style and making it your own. Whether it's formal, casual, or downright provocative, everyone has a style they are comfortable with. It's my mission to help you find it and hone it."
Bowser cleared his throat.
"However, let me give you a little warning. If you do prefer the provocative lifestyle, don't get too crazy. This is still a school and there are rules you must follow."
Everyone nodded.
"Alright then, if you came prepared and ready to show me what you got, get changed. Everyone else, watch and learn while I evaluate. You might learn a thing or two."
Silver, Barbara, and a couple of others stood to the side while everyone else came back in applicable attire. They were more keen on watching, even though the incognito Blaze was always willing to tap her foot.
"And you, what are you doing here? Don't you have work to do?" Bowser asked the purple cat.
"Good morning to you too, Mr. Bowser," she greeted. "I do have work, but you know I'm on call. Until someone needs me, I wanted to stay and support my friend here. You remember Silver, right?"
"The painter, right? I thought you would've already had something planned." Bowser folded his arms, glaring at the ones not participating with the others.
"W-Well, I do have a couple of ideas, but I guess I wanted to see what everyone else had in store first," Silver explained.
Bowser, although understanding the painter's reason, snorted. "I expect something by the final day, from all of you."
Barbara nudged the painter gently. "Care to share your ideas? Maybe I can help."
"Yeah, make yourself useful," Bowser laughed as he went up to each observer.
"Excuse me," Barbara scowled at the teacher.
"Not until your friend is ready to show his stuff," was Bowser's response, eliciting a hiss from the disguised Blaze.
"Smart aleck."
"You were right," Silver chuckled. "He does have a nasty bite."
"Ignore him," Barbara sighed, "What ideas did you have in mind?"
Silver took out his sketchbook and showed off some of his old drawings. His crush could see the evolution of the doodles into sketches. The painter had come a long way, and Barbara couldn't wait to see what was in store.
"When I paint, I have a certain... method I use to make sure it comes out like I imagine," Silver explained. It's hit or miss, but I think I can make it work. Imagine something similar to Tai Chi."
Barbara was silent for a moment. Silver thought she was mulling over the idea, but then he heard a snicker and went red with embarrassment.
"What? What's so funny?"
Barbara erupted into a fit of giggles. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's just… I'm imagining you going up on stage and just flailing around."
Silver scoffed.
"I should be a heavy metal fan and just start banging my head violently."
The feline covered her mouth.
"You are too silly."
"Thank you, but what do you think?"
Barbara calmed down and took a deep breath.
"Okay, I understand your thought process. We might need to adjust something, we can do that when we cross that bridge. However, I will need a demonstration to visualize your methods."
"I-I don't know…" Silver blushed, not sure if he wanted to reveal his hidden gift and embarrass himself in front of his crush. He wasn't positive everyone would react so calmly.
"I promise not to laugh," Barbara assured him.
'That's half the problem, but I can't come up with an excuse without sounding suspicious.'
"Self-conscious?" Barbara could feel the tension weighing on Silver's shoulders.
He nodded and scratched the back of his head, once again showing one of his bad habits.
"I don't mean to sound cowardly, but I hate being the center of attention. It's bad because that's exactly what I'm supposed to do."
'But showing off my psychokinesis… I don't know. Sonic is right. I should rethink it.'
However, before Silver could say anything else, Barbara had placed her hand on his shoulder. Redness flared up on Silver's cheeks as his heart rate accelerated. They were looking into each other's eyes, and Silver was simply mesmerized. Barbara/Blaze's amber yellow eyes were like finely polished gems.
"Relax, Silver," she told him. "I understand. I'm here for you. We're friends, remember? I won't judge you. I promise."
The words echoed in Silver's mind.
'Friends. Right. Do I even have the energy for this?'
"Now what will you do?" the tiny voice in the back of his head spoke up. "Will you comply?"
Silver thought about it for a moment. If he did show off, there would be mixed responses and his artistic endeavors could go up in flames, but if he kept quiet, he wouldn't make improvements. The voice in his head would continue to heckle him until his dying days.
His expression hardened as he made his decision.
"Silver?" Barbara called out, worried about the unbearable silence.
The painter rummaged through his bag and took out two more items: a drawing pencil and a different set of gloves, which were white like the other ones, but these had cyan rings with lines sticking out of the bottom.
"Here we go," Silver said. He turned to a blank page in his sketchbook and placed it and the pencil on the floor. He then put some distance between him, the drawing materials, and Barbara.
The feline was confused but didn't say anything. She watched as Silver swapped his gloves for the white and cyan ones. Strangely, they completed his look better than the previous ones.
Silver walked up to Bowser.
"I'm ready, sir."
Bowser saw the fire in the hedgehog's eyes and gave him the go-ahead.
"The floor is yours."
Silver got into position, closed his eyes, pressed his hands together, and took a deep breath.
'What is he doing?' Barbara contemplated.
Everyone watched as a cyan-blue light flickered around the hedgehog akin to a flame. The colored lines in his bracelets and on his gloves lit up, and the master glowed a bright hue.
An otherworldly sensation enveloped the room.
Silver began his demonstration.
He drew his hands apart and seized the pencil with his power. The utensil became imbued with the same cyan glow and floated without anyone touching it. Then, the drawing book came under Silver's influence next and joined the pencil in levitation.
Silver conducted the pencil with a series of swift but fluid motions. Precise lines appeared on the paper as the tool moved according to Silver's will.
Barbara finally understood.
Every motion flawlessly transitioned from one posture to another. There was no break in focus despite the flux of penetrating stares and whispers.
However, there was something else Barbara noticed. It was the sensation that filled the studio. It was highly familiar, an odd notion that made her chest tight.
'No… it can't be.'
The energy Silver was giving off… was the same phenomenon she felt during open house.
The realization made Barbara's heart skip a beat.
Her eyes opened to the size of platters.
Silver was nearly finished. He was more relaxed thanks to the simplicity of the demonstration. He didn't need to push his psychokinesis or maintain a heavily focused state of mind.
The final flourish had the silver-furred painter draw his arms in, willing the pencil and book to his hands. His drawing came out to be a bouquet of roses arranged in a vase sitting atop a wooden table.
He breathed a calming exhale and deactivated his psychokinesis. When he opened his eyes, he was met with rousing applause from the studio, including Bowser, who was grinning from ear to ear.
"That was awesome!"
"Amazing!"
"Not bad, dude!"
Blaze was stunned into silence. Her mouth lay open as her mind did its best to catch up. It was running at a million miles, connecting the paths that answered one of the many questions she had.
What was the strange sensation she felt during open house? What force was guiding her like a cat bewitched by a laser? There was no doubt in her mind.
Silver was the one luring her towards him.
'He does have a secret ability and an excessively strong one at that.'
Blaze went through a myriad of emotions: astonishment, relief, jubilation, and an iota of hope. At last, she could put an end to the series of inquiries plaguing her mind. Her assumptions of Silver were true.
'So, if I turn my thinking around… Silver becomes a more influential piece to the puzzle.'
Bowser's booming laughter shook the room and startled the students, simultaneously shaking Blaze from her thoughts.
"Well, would you look at that? We got something here, ladies and gents. Explain yourself, painter."
Silver lowered his head. He wanted to hide, but he chose this path and stuck to it.
"It's my psychokinesis," he said. "I can move stuff with my mind."
Bowser chuckled and stroked his chin.
"Hmm, we can work with that. Keep practicing, painter. I'm invested now. Back to it, maggots! Time waits for no man!" He roared. The class fell in line as Silver approached a still stunned Blaze.
"So, umm, w-what did you think?"
"… You never cease to surprise me," she replied. "You can draw, paint, act, and move things with your mind. Are you sure you're not just overthinking this whole painter's block?"
Silver laughed. His anxiousness dissipated thanks to the positive feedback.
"It's starting to get better. It's not as bad as it was last week, but I'm still having problems."
'Mainly mentally.'
"Hmm," Barbara adopted a thinking pose. "Still though. Tai Chi is unexpected. I'll have to think about it. I might come up with an idea to help."
Before Barbara could indulge more, and to her annoyance, her phone rang.
"That's my cue," her ears went flat. "Duty calls. Come and find me when you're finished. We can brainstorm."
"Take care," Silver waved her goodbye. He was sad to see her go but understood she had somewhere to be.
"Be careful with that one," Bowser advised, surprising the painter with his presence. "She's not afraid to scratch."
Silver nodded, unsure of what to say.
"I'll be keeping my eye on you too," Bowser smirked. "A little extra practice and I'm sure you can wow the crowd. Let's see what you come up with by the end of the test run."
The hedgehog's quills stood on end. He gulped, not liking the sound of that.
"Th-Thank you, sir. Umm, actually, can you do me a favor? I'm self-conscious about my powers and don't want everyone to know about my… gift. So, if you could."
"Say no more," Bowser replied. "You hear that, maggots?! I better not catch you leaking information! What happens in this castle, stays in this castle! I don't mind tasting new food."
Bowser walked away with an evil chuckle.
'Someone, please, help me.'
Barbara was called to the director's office. Dr. Julian Ivo Robotnik waved her in, gesturing her to take a seat.
"Good morning, Blaze, how are you today?"
The feline removed her glasses for the time being.
"Good morning to you, too, director. I'm doing great. How may I be of assistance?"
"I noticed you've been surveying some of the new talents. Has anyone caught your attention?"
"A few," she admitted. "One in particular."
The director sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers.
"Oh? Do tell."
"He's a painter hoping to cure his creative block. I first noticed him at Twinkle Park last week. His name is Silver."
Blaze chose to leave out Silver's psychic abilities. An interesting topic, but, ultimately, Blaze believed it was not her place to mention it.
"Hmm," Robotnik mulled over the information. "That's a new one. A professional painter trying to mix his experience with dancing. Fascinating."
"I've seen some of his creations, and they are incredible," she nearly lost her composure. Blaze cleared her throat. "He's very passionate about his work, and Vanilla said good things about him too."
Julian trusted the words of his generals.
"I see, and do you think he will fit in?"
Blaze nodded.
"I do. He needs a little guidance, but I've already offered to do that."
"Really?" Julian's brow raised slightly. "I'm surprised. He must've made a great first impression. Is it also true you plan on taking a partner class?"
Blaze resisted the urge to scoff.
'Vanilla, leave my business alone!'
"Vanilla presented the idea," she answered. "She believes it would do me good to branch out, and while I cannot deny her logic, I do have some qualms about it. In the end, I decided to give it a try, asking Silver to be my partner. His point of view might be the thing I need."
A small smile tugged at the director's lips.
"That's good to hear. I'm glad you're considering other options."
"I suppose it won't hurt to try," Blaze relented. "I'm just not sure if I'm ready."
"I understand," Julian agreed. "World domination can be scary, especially when you have to leave your comfort zone. I trust Miss Vanilla's judgment though. If she believes it'll be good for you, who am I to argue? I hope you and Mr. Silver can pull through."
"We can make something happen. Will that all?"
"Yes, you're free to go. Enjoy your day, Miss Blaze, and let me know if there's anyone else you have high hopes for."
"Same to you, sir," Blaze got up and exited the office. She had much to think about and needed a quiet place to gather all her thoughts.
'I'm so close to figuring this out. Take it from the top. Everything will be revealed.'
Blaze prepared herself.
'Okay, it all started when Silver came into the picture. There was something about him that angered Iblis, and the more I associated with him and his friends, the angrier it became. However, it knew Silver was hiding something.'
"Don't you feel it? He's dangerous!"
Its words echoed in her head.
'It knew about Silver's power long before I did. That means the scope of Silver's abilities is far greater than I can fathom, and that power scares it. It feels threatened.'
Blaze paused. In her head, she could visualize the path to salvation, and Silver was the starter.
'That's why it wants him out of my life. Silver is the light that can overpower its darkness.
The day went by without a hitch. After their classes were done, Silver and his friends met up in the courtyard to discuss their morning.
"How come I'm the one with a fire-breathing dragon for a teacher?" the white-furred hedgehog complained. "You guys have all the nice instructors."
"Luck of the draw, bro," Sonic said, strumming a few notes on his guitar. "But hey, tough love isn't bad love. Are you sure you want other people to know about your powers though?"
"No, but like I said, this was the best idea I could come up with. The instructor said it has potential. I know I'm not the only one in this school with special powers."
"Well, yeah, but still."
"Did you have a hard time after showing it?" Knuckles asked.
Silver smiled but it was a grateful one.
"No, everyone was pretty accepting. I was glad. I told the instructor to keep it under wraps, and everyone is afraid to defy him, so I think it'll be alright. You'd like him, Knuckles. He has muscles on his muscles. He's loud too, but he can get down."
"I said the same thing about Vector," Rouge giggled. "It's hard to tell if the other guys respect or envy him."
"Envy," the group replied. There was no point hiding it. Vanilla was just a different breed of woman.
"Have you met Miss Peach, Silver? She came up to me today and asked if we were siblings."
"Yeah, I met her yesterday when I stayed behind. She let me stay and watch her students practice. It was, um… a bit scary because the girls were glaring at me. I was the only boy in the room," he turned back to Amy. "You told her we were siblings, didn't you?"
"Yep," she said with a big smile. "My brother-in-law to be exact."
"Oh no," Sonic sighed and shook his head. "I know where this is going."
"You don't want to see your wife perform, Sonic?" Rouge cooed.
"Yeah, darling, when are you going to visit the studio?" Amy fluttered her eyelashes.
"When Silver admits he's crushing on a certain pussycat," Sonic's victorious retort forced his little brother into a stuttering frenzy.
Amy gasped.
"Is this true, Silver?"
"Now, wait a minute," the painter went red in the face. "I do not have a crush. I have friendships. Let's not turn this on me when Sonic's been behaving strangely too."
"What? No, I haven't."
"Oh yeah? Then why were you staring so hard at Amy at Emerald Coast?"
This time, both hedgehogs turned several shades of red. Amy blushed and Sonic looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
"Oh? When did I miss this?" Rouge leaned forward for the scoop.
"I-I-I," Sonic started, but he couldn't form a coherent sentence. "I wasn't staring! I was just…"
Amy was silent. She covered her cheeks and swayed left and right, face giddy at the revelation. Sonic was staring at her! Was there still hope? Amy never lost it.
She didn't want to add fuel to the fire, but she had flashbacks of when she pecked the hedgehog on the cheek. Her giddiness lasted for hours.
"I've never seen him like this," Tails commented. "It's incredible."
"Okay, fine!" Sonic turned his head away to hide his embarrassment. "You caught me. Maybe I was staring a little bit, but I wasn't the only one. Silver, your jaw dropped when you saw Blaze, so I don't want to hear anything from you."
"Well, isn't that sweet," Rouge crossed her arms. "You would make the perfect couple."
"W-We're not a-"
"-couple," Amy finished with a dreamy glint in her eyes while Sonic adamantly denied the claim.
The group erupted into laughter. Even Knuckles found it hard to keep a straight face.
"W-What about you and Rouge, Knuckles?" the blue hedgehog bore an evil grin at his echidna friend.
"Don't waste your breath," advised the sultry bat. "The big lug would rather watch everyone else than the beautiful woman next to him."
"I am observing," the red archeologist growled. "It's not as easy as they make it. You know that."
"Yeah, yeah," she waved it off. "But tomorrow is the last trial day and they want us to try dancing together at least once."
"Don't remind me," Knuckles huffed. "I'm just enjoying it while I still can. How about you, Tails? Any troubles?"
"I keep getting distracted by Mr. Shinichi's skills," the yellow fox chuckled. "I didn't know there were so many awesome musicians nearby. I think he's better than Crush 40's guitarist."
"Meh," Sonic shrugged. "Debatable."
"You're just prejudiced," Tails stated.
"Yes, I am, but I won't deny Teach's skills. He and his brothers are fantastic."
"I was doing some research and learned something interesting. Amy, do you recognize Siren's Vanity?"
"Wait, really?" the pinkette and red echidna responded
"You know them too, Knuckles?" Tails wasn't the only one surprised.
"Tikal is a huge fan. They mainly do covers, but I like 'em. Tikal likes tuning in to their vlogs."
"Wow, Crush 40, Infinity, and now this Siren's Vanity. This place knows how to pick 'em," Sonic said.
"I'm sure the director is just a huge fan," Rouge pointed out. "This place is for the artfully inclined."
The group chatted and laughed as the day winded down. They went to lunch but chose to return to the campus to peek at the advanced classes. Sonic and Tails went to the music hall, Knuckles and Rouge went to their building, and Amy tagged along with Silver and an unsuspecting Blaze.
The feline didn't expect any of the others to stay behind, but she welcomed Amy's enthusiasm with open arms, even if it was a strange feeling.
"Silver told me you also take ballet, Blaze."
"That's correct. I've been doing it for seven years."
"Whoa, that's amazing."
"Thank you. If you need extra help, I'll be more than happy to tutor you."
"I would love that. Thank you. Where are we going first?"
"To see the ballroom dancers," Silver answered. He caught Blaze looking at him through the corner of her eye and shook his head. He informed her that he did not mention their arrangement to his friends.
Blaze chose to leave it at that. The deadline was tomorrow, in which Silver will give the feline his answer. She was certain, however, that the painter will agree.
Then, she can finally start healing.
"I like to come here before my class to watch the other students."
"This is going to be fun," Amy skipped ahead. Silver and Blaze chuckled at her ardor.
"Oh, hey, Blaze?" Silver called out.
"Yes?"
"I forgot to mention it, but what you saw me do earlier."
"Your secret is safe with me," she assured him. "Thank you for sharing."
She smiled and lifted Silver's spirits. It was the least she could do for the hedgehog who had been nothing but kind to her.
The main ballroom hall was brimming with dancers. Like yesterday, the returning students were eager to show the audience what they were made of. A fire could be seen in everyone's eyes.
Silver, Blaze, and Amy stood to the side with others who wanted to watch.
The latter was in awe.
"Did I just cross dimensions and enter the medieval era? It's like a royal gala."
Amy imagined herself in a long flowing dress, and her knight in shining armor, Sonic, would come and sweep her off her feet, and as the music played, the two hedgehogs would share a dance that lasted for a lifetime.
This made a lightbulb go off above Amy's head. She leaned over to Silver.
"Psst, hey, Silver, I need a big favor."
"What's up?"
"I know you have other paintings you're working on, but if you ever have time, think you can paint one of me and Sonic?"
Amy gave her brother figure the details and filled his head with waves of ideas.
While the two entertained their imagination, Blaze bided her time by studying some of the duos. It was her professionalism rearing its head, but she felt bothered by the small mistakes some were making. A dancer's footing was crucial and the most fundamental piece of dancing, but despite the small mistakes, everyone was happy. Their faces were lit with euphoric glee.
'Does no one care, or am I too harsh?'
Blaze put herself in their shoes. If it was her and her partner making such mistakes, she would be angry. As professionals, it was their mission to perform perfectly. Anything less meant they weren't improving, they weren't dancing at their maximum skill level.
'But I'm not a professional in this style.'
On a one-on-one presentation, she was a princess, but in a group format, she was back to square one.
Blaze shook her head.
'No, don't think like that. Remember what you learned.'
The dancing feline focused on the dancers. The music changed, and the students cleared space for a team to perform.
They were a unique duo, a team Blaze have known about but never bothered to get acquainted with. Their dynamic, in which the lady towered over her partner, aroused everyone's curiosity. Yet despite the height difference, the two were in perfect sync.
The woman, who was easily the tallest person in the room and a foot taller than her partner, had pale skin and long, platinum-blonde hair that reached the back of her waist. Her piercing blue eyes matched her cyan-blue dress, which hovered slightly above the floor, revealing a pair of silver high heels underneath.
As for her partner, they were a dark-skinned young man who came up to her chest, with rectangular framed glasses and short black hair. He wore a white button-up, long-sleeved shirt, black slacks, and shoes.
The music started slow, a soft melody that built up as the two danced. Their movements were gentle and flowed together perfectly. As the music grew louder, the steps became more complex, but they never lost their gracefulness. It was like watching two ballet dancers perform. The two were so in sync with each other that it was hard to believe they weren't the same person.
Everyone became captivated by the beauty of the dance. No one dared to make a sound, afraid that they would break the spell.
The music reached its climax and the two dancers leaped into the air, spinning around before landing perfectly on their feet. They held each other close, their faces inches apart. It was a moment of pure intimacy that made everyone feel like they were intruding.
The music ended and the two dancers slowly parted. Both thanked one another for the beautiful performance and walked off to the side to take a break, their spell over the studio breaking. Some started to move while others remained in a state of shock, both sides talking about the spectacle they just witnessed.
Silver and Amy were rendered speechless, but Blaze was making plans in her head. She found no use in conversing with her inarticulate friends and left them to catch up with the blonde and her partner.
"Excuse me," she said. "I don't mean to bother, but I was bewitched by your dance. It was beautiful."
The blonde turned to Blaze with a warm smile, bending down so the smaller Mobian didn't have to strain herself.
"Thank you," she said. "You must be Blaze."
Blaze wasn't surprised. She had been dancing long enough for others to know about her.
"I am. It's nice to you…"
"Rosalina," the Amazon answered. "This is my partner, Marquis."
The man nodded in greeting.
"I am surprised to see you here. I didn't know you took ballroom dancing."
"Actually, I was debating on giving it a try," Blaze replied. "I asked a friend to be my partner, and now, we're checking out the scene."
"I see," the blonde Amazon nodded. "Well, if you came for advice, the only thing I can say is to trust your heart. To me, the most fun part is discovering more about your partner. What do you think, Marquis?"
"That you're lucky I mustered up the courage to step outside my comfort zone."
Blaze giggled at the man's response.
"How did you do it?" she inquired of the bespectacled individual. "How did you get used to it, I mean?"
Marquis thought for a second. "For me… it just took time. I'm very self-conscious, so I was more worried about making a fool out of myself."
"But now you're here, having the time of your life."
"That I am," he admitted. "I guess the key is to find that middle line and tread lightly. The rest will come eventually."
"Hmm, that's good advice," Blaze nodded.
"And if I may offer my two rings," Rosalina added. "Try not to be too hard on yourself. Always remember that it's okay to make mistakes. Even veterans slip up every once in a while, that's what my father taught me."
"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind too," Blaze bowed and bid them farewell. She had more to think about it, but her aversions were waning at least.
Her friends walked up to her.
"Made some new friends?" Amy queried.
"Yeah, I would say so. They're very nice. Rosalina is the tall one, and Marquis is her partner."
Amy took another look at the blonde Amazon.
"Is it just me, or does she resemble Miss Peach a lot?"
"You know," Silver put on his thinking cap, "yeah, she does."
"Probably a coincidence," Blaze mused. "Oh well, shall we get going? It's my turn to shine."
Amy and Silver followed Blaze to her ballet class, not seeing the inquisitive stare of the brunette instructor and the blonde Amazon.
Silver rubbed his eyes to get the sleepiness out, but the lack of respite was beginning to catch up to him. It didn't help that using his powers earlier made him more tired, but the painter toughed it out to see Blaze practice again. He yawned and patted his cheeks to stay awake.
"Silver, if you need to leave, I doubt Blaze will be offended," Amy told him.
Peach's studio was the last stop for the evening. It was like stepping into a castle every time.
"I'll be fine," he reassured her. "It would be rude to get up and leave, and you know me."
Amy nodded but still wasn't convinced.
"You know I'm glad you're getting your mojo back, but don't kill yourself."
"Oh, I won't. I'm just making plans. I want to paint you guys."
Amy's ears perked up.
"Really?" She said, both surprised and pleased.
"Yeah, you guys are my best friends. I wouldn't be doing this without your encouragement. It's only fitting I paint you guys in the best light. I'm working on one for Blaze, but I have plans for each one of you."
The pink hedgehog was touched by her brother's words. She was so touched that she remained quiet, prompting Silver to open his eyes and gauge her response. Of course, he wasn't expecting the pinkette's puffy cheeks and teary eyes.
"What?" he was confused and worried. He didn't mean to make her cry.
"You and Sonic are so much alike. It's scary."
"What do you mean?"
"Sweet talking people like it's just second nature. I bet you make Blaze purr, don't you?"
The albino blushed. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"Uh-huh, sure," Amy teased. "The guys were right. You are becoming a player."
"No, I'm not. I just say what's on my mind."
"Mhm, right, and Sonic mentioning your crush on Blaze isn't true too?"
Silver was stammering, trying any way he could escape the hopeless romantic.
"You can't hide it from me, Silver. I can see the signs, the way you look at her, how you're going out of your way to avoid sleep just to cheer her on. I bet you even came up with a backstory for her too like you did Vector and Vanilla."
Silver was beet red. Of course, he had a story going for Blaze, and he loved her character arc. A strong warrior princess putting her life on the line for her kingdom by going up against an ancient fire demon bent on spreading its wicked flames across the realm.
"I-I…" he tried to say something, anything to make the conversation end, but Amy was relentless.
"Aww, look at you, you're all flustered. I knew it. You have it bad for her. You're head over heels for Blaze the Cat."
"It's not like that," he weakly defended himself. "We haven't known each other long. She's a professional, and admitting I have a crush on her could jeopardize our blossoming friendship."
"So you admit it?" Amy clapped her hands. "Oh, Silver, this is great. I think you two are perfect for each other."
"What makes you say that?"
"Think about it. You're both artists, determined to present your creative ideas, and you have a lot of heart. This must be destiny."
"Destiny, huh?" Silver mused. He never believed in destiny, but with Amy, he had a feeling she might be right. As he watched the feline practice her steps, Silver noticed her looking back at him. When she twirled, he caught her glance, and the tiniest smile grew on her face. It was so small that he wasn't sure if he saw it, but it was there and it made his heart beat just a little bit faster.
Silver watched the performance, his eyes never leaving Blaze's form.
XXX
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Age of the Sonic Characters
Silver - 22
Sonic - 23
Manic - 23
Sonia - 23
Amy - 23
Knuckles - 25
Rouge - 25
Blaze - 23
Marine - 18
Tails - 19
Cream - 18