"Okay, Amy Rose, while you're in that tank, I want you to relive all your obsessive thoughts about Sonic. And the machine will take care of the rest."
"Okay, Tails," Amy Rose hands her gloves and bracelets to her scientist fox friend.
"Remember: you can quit at any time. If you want to interrupt the process, just ask inside and I'll stop."
"Thanks. But now I'm going to the end."
"As you wish."
Completely naked, with only two electrodes installed on her temples, Amy Rose dives into the tank, which is slowly closing.
Once inside, the pink hedgehog lays down on the water, positioning her body in a star position.
A dim pink light illuminates her briefly.
"Are you comfortable?" Tails asks through the small soundbox located on the roof of the tank.
"Yes," Amy replies. "The water is fresh and delicious."
"Excellent. In 3 seconds I will turn off the light and you will be confined for 1 hour with no contact with the outside world. Are you okay with that?"
"Sure."
1.
2.
3.
The lights go out and everything goes completely dark.
Now Amy Rose will spend 1 hour floating in a tank of salt water, rotating clockwise.
No images.
No songs.
No gravity.
She can only hear the sound of her own breathing and any noises she makes with the water.
Besides, of course, the whispers of her own voice.
"Sssooooooniiiiiic... Sssooooooniiiiiic..."
Amy Rose has convinced herself that she can't go on with her unhealthy obsession with Sonic.
Her family and friends were tired of warning her about it.
Yes, she is aware that she can no longer madly chase the blue hedgehog.
Neither he nor she is ready for any serious commitment right now.
And a few sessions with the psychologist made her realize that what she feels for Sonic is not a sincere passion, but just an obsessive admiration for his heroism and his athletic abilities.
In truth, Amy wanted to be just like Sonic.
But she is Amy Rose, a girl with her own nature and inclinations.
Over time, in the psychologist's assessment, her fixation on Sonic will fade and she will soon look for other ways to fill in the gaps in her life.
Perhaps a truly healthy passion will emerge there.
Amy Rose is convinced of all this, but she finds it so difficult to be Sonic's combat partner while at the same time trying to keep an emotional distance from him.
And she just loves fighting alongside him and his friends. It's not something she sees herself letting go of in the short term.
Luckily, Tails The Fox started an innovative experimental project, involving electroshock and neuromodulation.
And she gladly agreed to be his first volunteer.
"SONIC! COME BACK HERE! DON'T RUN AWAY! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU FOREVER!"
While Amy mentally tortures herself for her lover, Tails, outside, observes a brain map on a monitor, full of colored dots. Each dot represents one of Amy's random thoughts or memories.
It's like he can internally visualize her friend's brain.
Suddenly, a red dot flashes wildly somewhere in the brain, indicating a strong mental action.
As Tails just wants to deal with Amy's obsessive thoughts about Sonic, he listens to her screaming for Sonic through the small soundbox to make sure he doesn't damage any erroneous memories.
Then, without hesitation, he clicks the "Change Memory" button.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes."
Suddenly, Amy feels shocks in her head.
"OOOUUCCHH! THAT HURTS! SONIC! COME BACK! I LOVE YOU! I...
Oh...
Okay then...
Just run away...
I won't hold you...
You are free..."
Amy gasps slowly.
"Memory Changed Successfully!"
"Yes!" Tails smiles, making a fist.
But soon Amy pulls another memory.
This will be repeated several times throughout the process.
"SONIC, YOU ARE MINE! YOU WILL GO OUT WITH ME, LIKE IT OR NOT!"
"Change Memory."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes."
"OOOUUCCHH! WHAT A PAIN! BUT WAIT UNTIL...
Huh?
What's happening?
I can't materialize my hammer!
No, Sonic, you don't...
Okay...
I have no right to hurt you...
I would hammer myself if I did that...
You can go...
I won't hurt you..."
"Memory Changed Successfully!"
"IT'S USELESS TO TRY TO AVOID ME, SONIC! DESTINY UNITED US PERMANENTLY! OUR FUTURE IS SEALED! WE WILL HAVE 11 CHILDREN AND I HAVE EVEN CHOSEN THE NAMES!"
"Change Memory."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes."
"OOOUUCCHH! BUT THIS IS MORE PAINFUL THAN I IMAGINED! SONIC, ARE YOU HEARING ME?!
Sonic?
But why are you looking at me like that?
Please, Sonic, you're scaring me.
Okay, I understand. I'm too boring for you.
I don't understand anything about Fortune and Fate.
I'm not fit to take care of children.
I am a child.
I'll leave you alone."
"Memory Changed Successfully!"
"AAHH, SONIC! YOU AND YOUR IDIOT PASSION FOR CHILI DOGS! WHEN WILL YOU LEARN TO LOVE ME THE WAY YOU LOVE YOUR STUPID CHILIS?!"
"Change Memory."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes."
"OOOUUCCHH! YOU CAN, AMY ROSE, YOU CAN! FOCUS! DAMN CHILIS! DAMN...
Chilis?
Did you say chilis?
How can I say I don't like it?
I love chilis!
They are the most delicious thing in the world!
Sonic, I love chili dogs as much as you love them!
What else should we care about?!"
"Memory Changed Successfully!"
Tails gulps:
"Oh no. I hope I know what I'm doing."
1 hour later...
...the pink light is turned on inside the tank.
The process is over.
Amy Rose opens her eyes slowly.
The tank opens.
"You can leave, Amy. We are done."
"Huh? Is it over? I thought it was going to take 1 hour."
"It's been 1 hour."
Tails pulls Amy by her left hand.
She puts her left foot on solid ground, soaking the floor with her wet body.
After putting her right foot on, she gets a blanket to cover herself.
"How do you feel?"
"Just a little…shocked."
"He he... Are you in pain?"
"My head is a little sore, but I can handle it."
"Excellent. What about Sonic?"
"What about him?"
"How do you feel about him?"
"The same as I feel for you. I think."
"Okay. You can go take a bath now."
"Other?"
"A real bath. To get the salt out of your body."
"Oh, great."
The next day...
Sonic completes his morning run in the park.
"Aahhh... Nothing like Freedom! Plus about 10,000 female admirers focused on you!"
"SOONIIC!"
"As much as some fans are more enthusiastic..."
"Sonic, it's good to meet you!"
"Good morning, Amy."
Amy approaches and shakes Sonic's hand:
"How are you?"
"Fine, thanks. But Amy... Are you all right? You look a little... groggy."
"Oh yes, I'm recovering. Tails' new experiment looks very promising."
"New experiment? He did not tell me anything."
"But isn't he your brother?"
"Sometimes he sounds a little gimmicky..." Sonic scratches his head. "But what is it about?"
"He drained my mind so I wouldn't obsess over you anymore."
"HE WHAT?!" Sonic is astounded.
"Sonic, please, this is my choice," Amy retorts, calmly. "I don't want to run wild after you anymore. From now on, let's just be good friends."
"Hmm... Okay," Sonic resigns himself, but soon teases, smiling: "So I'm forbidden to fall in love with you?"
"Not necessarily. But I want to settle down for a while."
"As you wish."
"Can I hug you?."
"Of course."
The two hedgehogs warmly embrace each other.
"Forgive me for being such a selfish and obsessed girl. I don't want you to go through that again."
"I forgive you."
"Are you happy?" Amy smiles, looking straight into Sonic's eyes.
"Yes," he replies. "In a way, that was our choice."
DING!
"The chili dog cart!" Amy points excitedly. "The last to arrive is an EggBot!" She runs away!
"Amy obsessed with chili dogs?" Sonic thinks in disbelief. "Soon I really fall in love with her..."
"LONG LIFE TO CHILI DOGS!" Amy screams effusively, waving her arms in the air.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Sonic goes after her.
Sonic and Amy walk leisurely through the park while nibbling on their chili dogs.
"But Amy: don't you think Tails' new project is a bit dangerous? I mean, do you think it's legitimate to rewire people's brains?"
"Ah Sonic, it's a medicinal treatment, and as such, it involves risks. But I think, if used well, it's really worth it. Also, Tails isn't crazy about changing people arbitrarily."
"Hmmm..." Sonic scratches his chin. "I think I'm still going to miss the old Amy..."
Rouge The Bat is excited to be Tails' next experiment volunteer.
"Wonder!" Rouge comments as she undresses. "With the fox's new machine, I will be able to read anyone's brain waves. And that way, I'll be able to steal more hidden gems and even Knuckles' Master Emerald!"
A little way off, Tails smiles slyly as he has his eyes covered by his Mother Rosemary Prower.
He whispers to his Mother:
"I almost regret deceiving Rouge... Almost..."
"She'll get what she deserves..." Rosemary assures, also smiling.
THE END!
Dedicated to HNMacGregor, from DeviantART.
