As soon as Shadow and Amy entered the village, mumbling began. Shadow's sensitive ears twitched as his red eyes scanned the crowds. People recoiled ever so slightly. Their faces paled. Any children were pulled out of their path. Amy glanced around as she began to feel weary. All she could think of was how people reacted to her ever since she arrived in that world. She pulled her cloak closer in hopes of hiding her face, but it was no use.

Shadow glanced about and became irritated at how timid the crowd was. In response, he seized Amy's hand. His sudden pull nearly threw the pink Hedgehog off balance.

"Come on, let's get moving here," he remarked.

Amy gave the crowd a nervous gaze. She said, "Let me guess. They all think I'm Sandy."

"You heard that Wolf. Telling everyone you're Sandy's sister won't make them leave you alone."

"But if I can just explain..."

At that, Shadow made a sharp turn to look at her emerald green eyes and interrupted, "No one in this world listens. You got lucky once. This is a mob."

It quieted Amy. She nodded. "Yeah...I guess you're right."

"Now let's see. The castle should be right over there."

Shadow noticed a couple guards patrolling the area. He approached them. As soon as he came close, they aimed their spears at him.

One guard yelled, "Halt! Who goes there?"

The other one said, "Fool, do you not see our Queen next to him? Let them pass. My apologizes, Queen Sandy. We'll ensure that won't happen again."

As he spoke, the guard, who had his weapon pointed at Shadow, shook. Amy's eyes softened.

She said, "Think nothing of it. You must have had a long day." With that, she gave him a sweet smile. "Don't you worry about it. You were just doing your job."

While the guards heaved sighs of relief, Shadow glanced at her in alarm.

As soon as they were out of earshot, he pulled her faster and whispered, "You're going to give yourself away, Amy."

"How so?"

"Do you honestly think this Sandy person is nice and understanding? She may be your sister, but something is telling me she's nothing like you."

"You think I'm nice?"

Amy blinked as she looked up at him. Her cheeks were tinted rose. Her deep emerald eyes gazed into his crimson ones. The look she gave caught Shadow off guard. He stared back. His cheeks began to redden at the realization of how he sounded.

"This isn't really the time," he muttered as he rubbed the side of his head in a slight awkward stance.

"Right!"

They turned to the castle entrance and approached the gate. Without question, the guards permitted them entry.

A couple hours earlier before Shadow and Amy arrived at the village, Sonic had a bit of difficulty. The guards refused to permitt him and Tails to enter the castle.

He showed them the picture and one said, "That is a picture of our queen, foolish Hedgehog. Now will you two just leave?"

Sonic was persistent though. He zipped around between the guards, causing some of them to fall or crash into each other in their attempts to grab him and Tails. However, no matter who he asked, the response was the same. The image was of their powerful Queen Sandy. No one mentioned an Amy Rose.

"What's all the ruckus, General? Is everyone here too incompetent to chase off intruders?"

The guard who was arguing with Sonic turned pale and glanced over his shoulder. Sonic peeked over to see.

Behind them stood a female hedgehog with golden yellow fur and long curls that ran down her back. Rich colours adorned her clothing that were embroidered in heavily detailed patterns in golden thread. Aside from the difference in colour and taste in clothing, the facial features were recogizable.

Sonic asked, "Ames? That you? Quite the disguise you've got going there."

"Ames?" the royal figure said as she turned her attention to the blue Hedgehog in the back. "As in Amy? You friends with her?"

"Aaaahhhh, you're not her are you? But you know her right? She kinda looks like you minus the yellow hair and royal get-up."

"I see...But, you are friends with her?"

Sonic was about to reply but glanced around. Something in the air told him he walked into a trap. Not to mention that smile the female Hedgehog gave was anything but kind. He immediately spun which forced the guards to back off.

He said, "Sorry, gotta jet." Tails jumped, but the richly dressed Hedgehog snatched his foot and pulled him down into her hands. The little fox squirmed as she tightened her hold on him. "Tails!" Sonic yelled. He screeched to a halt.

The yellow Hedgehog smirked and chuckled as she said, "The name is Queen Sandy. It seems that you are somehow friends with my traitorous twin sister Amy Rose." With a flick of her wrist a collar appeared around Sonic and Tails. Energy suddenly drained from the blue Hedgehog, and he sank to his knees. "Revenge will be mine."

Amy...Sonic thought before he fell unconscious. I don't know where you are, but you've gotta keep away from here.