Chapter Seven: The Prince and The Princess Merhog's Day Out
Back with Sonic and Amy, they both were exploring the town for over an hour. They've visited museums, pet shops, aquariums, they even bought some ice cream. This was the very first time Amy has ever tried ice cream.
Hers was vanilla ice cream on a cone, sprinkled with chocolate flake, and strawberry syrup. Amy then slowly but surely licked the ice cream, and Sonic looks on in concern.
"So, what do you think of the ice cream?" Sonic asked.
"Wow, this is really good!" Amy exclaimed happily. Sonic chuckles.
"Go figure. Everybody loves ice cream. And turns out, even Merhogs do." Sonic stated.
"Definitely need to buy more of this!" Amy giggles.
"They come in many different flavours, and they're all delicious. Just don't eat it too fast, otherwise you'll get something we call brain freeze." Sonic warned.
"Brain freeze?" Amy wondered.
"Not that I mean it freezes your brain or anything, it means if you eat ice cream, or drink milkshake really fast, you get this really strong headache, that's brain freeze." Sonic explained.
"Oh, alright. Also, what's milkshake?" Amy asked again.
"It's basically the same as ice cream, only except it's a drink. Here, I'll show you." Sonic mentioned.
He grabs Amy's hand gently, and guides her towards the same place they bought their ice cream from, and Sonic placed a few rings on the counter.
"Good fellow, two milkshakes, please? One chocolate, and, what flavour would you like, Amy?" Sonic wondered.
"Well, if they do strawberry, may I have that, please? The strawberry syrup tastes amazing on this ice cream." Amy replied.
"OK, and one strawberry, please?" Sonic asked the guy at the till.
And just after a few minutes, both their milkshakes were finished. The guy at the till handed Sonic the milkshakes.
"Thank you, good Sir. Chocolate for me, and Amy, here is your strawberry." Sonic told her.
"Thank you." Amy responded.
Amy had just finished her ice cream. Now she was very curious about the milkshake. She saw what Sonic was doing, who was drinking his milkshake through a straw. Amy then placed her lips on the straw, and began drinking her milkshake.
"Oh wow! This is just AS good as ice cream!" Amy exclaimed happily again.
"I thought you would. Amazing, isn't it?" Sonic smiled.
"It really is. I really enjoyed this day out. This beats any food that us Merhogs eat." Amy stated.
"What do Merhogs usually eat?" Sonic wondered.
"Usually things like seaweed, or kelp." Amy replied.
"Oh, that's interesting. May I also ask, what does your palace look like? Just curious, as I don't really know palaces underwater." Sonic asked.
"It's beautiful. It's a tall, silver palace. It's so shiny, that if the moon shines on it just right, you could see it in the dark, and even from above the surface." Amy explained.
"That sounds amazing." Sonic stated in surprise.
"It really is. Anyway, Sonic? Is this our day done?" Amy asked.
"There's one more place I want to show you. I haven't even shown Sally this." Sonic replied.
"You've never shown Sally?" Amy wondered.
"Nope. So you should feel privileged that you're the first girl I brought here." Sonic chuckles.
"Well, in that case, show me." Amy giggled.
After that, they both left the town to their next destination. Another five minutes of traveling in the carriage, Sonic and Amy stop in front of a much smaller palace. Amy looked at the palace in amusement.
"It's beautiful." Amy stated.
"Yep. This palace belonged to my grandparents, after my Mom gave birth to me. They moved into their own palace, after I was born." Sonic mentioned.
"Really?" Amy thought.
Sonic opened the front door, and allowed Amy to enter first, which Amy appreciated the gentleman behaviour of Sonic. When they went inside, they explored the palace.
"Yeah. I think they were happy to move into a smaller palace. After they passed away, this place turned into a museum, a family history." Sonic started.
Sonic then approached a knights armor.
"This here was the very first armor my grandfather wore when he was competing in jousting." Sonic mentioned.
"It's incredible that you still have it. Do you still have their wedding uniforms that they wore?" Amy wondered.
"We do, but it's not here. My parents kept it, because my Dad wore my Grandfather's suit when he married my Mom. And my Father kept my Grandmother's dress too. Hoping that whoever I marry will wear that one. But as you know, I'm still unsure if Sally is the one." Sonic sighed.
"I know the feeling. And speaking of which, what's that statue over there? That looks like a Merhog." Amy asked in concern.
As she took a closer look at it, she gasped in surprise. The statue was made of clay, and the statue looked exactly like Amy.
"This statue looks just like me!" Amy exclaimed in surprise.
"Small world, huh? Yeah, my Grandmother was heavily into clay modelling. Every time she wakes up from a dream, she would make a clay model of what she sees. This was one of them, and when I asked her what this was, she told me this was the legendary, mythological creature, known as Merhogs. If only she were here now. She'd be amazed to see you, and find out her dream is real." Sonic smiled.
"Your Grandmother meant that much to you?" Amy wondered.
"She did, and still does. She had a perfect love story, because she was so lost when my Grandfather passed away. She later on developed a disease known as alzheimer's. It's a disease in your brain that changes you through time. Makes you slowly but surely forgot everyone around you. But every time I mentioned Grandpa, it's like a light switched on, and she remembers everone, and everything, including me." Sonic mentioned, smiling, yet trying to hold back tears.
Amy noticed this, and sighed sadly. Sonic was in a daydream, remembering the days with his grandparents.
.
(Sonic singing)
Grandma's burnt the biscuits
Nearly burned the whole house with it
Now she's in assisted living
We all knew this day would come
.
We knew she was so gone to drive
The day she parked at I-65
Found her on Mom's shoulder, crying
She did not know where she was
.
It's if her her mind just quit
Oh, but mention Grandpa
It's like we just flipped a switch
.
Her front porch lights and a blue Desota
And a few straws in a Coca-Cola
You could see this all going down
A handsome man in army green
A tear on his face, down on one knee
Shaky voice, a diamond ring
She puts you in the town
Tomorrow, she won't remember what she's done today
But just ask her about Ellsworth, Mobius, 1948
.
She brings out his medals
A golden box of letters
Sits and scatters pictures
Black and whites of days going by
We've started losing her while she lost him
But I hear her carry on, you'd think she's seventeen again
.
The sport games and leaves are crackling
Walking her home in his lether jacket
You could see this all going down
This perfect night on her front porch glider
Saying goodnight in the next three hours
Her tired eyes grew wide and bright
When she talked about the town
Tomorrow, she won't remember what she's done today
But just ask her about Ellsworth, Mobius, 1948
.
Ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh,
Ooh ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh
.
While her world is fading all around her
Sharing a sundae at the counter
We go on and on about her
Bet she's right there right now
Tomorrow, she won't remember what she's done today
But just ask her about Ellsworth, Mobius, 1948
.
Sonic snaps back into reality, and stands in front of a portrait of his grandparents. Sonic placed his hand on the portrait, still trying to hold back tears in his eyes, but they were flowing out.
"I miss you." Sonic whimpered.
"You alright, Sonic? You're upset, but what are those streaks of water coming from your eyes?" Amy wondered.
"Oh. Sorry. Memories got to me, fond memories. As for the water streaks, these are tears. It's what usually happens to our eyes when we start crying. It can be crying for happiness, sadness, and anger." Sonic explained, as he wiped his eyes.
"I'm sorry that you're sad. When I cry, we don't have tears, which I think it's because we're naturally hydrated." Amy thought.
"That makes sense." Sonic responded.
Amy took a hold of Sonic's hand, and Sonic just looked at Amy in surprise.
"But know this, Sonic. I'm here for you, no matter how long I remain in your world." Amy told him.
"Thank you." Sonic smiled.
"You're welcome." Amy replied, smiling.
They stared at one another for about ten seconds, until Sonic snapped into reality.
"Uh, anyway, Amy, we should probably get back to the palace. We've been out for four hours. And my friends are coming round later for a gathering." Sonic mentioned.
"Alright. We shall go back." Amy responded.
After that, Sonic and Amy made their way out of the palace, locked it, and made it back to the carriage, on their way back to Sonic's palace.