Chapter 11

Dear friends, I am so very sorry for this very, very long delay in posting this new chapter. I wasn't expecting this at all! I have been having a hard time finding the time to write as I have been having a busy schedule. It makes me sad, but I know there isn't much that I can do. I am praying that I will get more time to write and draw - two hobbies I enjoy doing most. However, at present, I am on a three-week holiday so I decided that I'd publish the next chapter for you all before my holiday ends. I hope to start working on the next chapter soon after, the Lord willing!

If you're a returning reader, I want to thank you so much for your patience. It means so much to me. I will surely try to post the next chapter without as long a delay as this. Please bear with me! Whereas if you are a new reader, I hope you are enjoying the story so far! Please consider leaving a review afterward so I know what you think :D I am always open to criticism too!

Until next time, take care and stay in touch! 3

- S

For Sonic and Knuckles, the next week was a hive of activity.

The duo frequented Resistance HQ every day, meeting together as they scanned the holographic map of Mobius. They made notes of every place in the large forest they hadn't been to so far, and when they visited the cave Knuckles had run into earlier, it was swept clean as though it had remained untouched for a long time. This made them want to be more vigilant as it was clear the cats knew they were being chased. They wanted to leave no stone unturned.

Knuckles was initially hesitant to leave Angel Island unguarded. Still, because of Rouge, he realized he didn't have much to worry about: the female bat volunteered to keep an eye on the Master Emerald whenever he was away, and whenever she could. Now that the Chaos Emeralds were missing, they agreed that no one would attempt to steal the Master Emerald, too. Plus, from everything Rouge had gathered from the intel, there weren't any other organized rebels on Mobius like those cats. Nevertheless, the red guardian didn't want to take any known risks.

Knuckles recalled how, during the first Resistance, he had hardly thought of his guardian duties. The strong red echidna was constantly at Resistance HQ communicating with the others and shouting orders. Even then, the Emerald had remained intact on the shrine despite his absence. He hoped it would remain unmoved this time as well just as it did back then. For now, he wanted to give his full time and attention to the task at hand which was his priority.

Even though their initial search hardly yielded any results, Sonic and Knuckles were determined to keep going. The two of them didn't want to think of a situation where Amy couldn't get cured - the thought was much too disturbing and painful for them. They were hopeful about helping their female teammate and worked hard to find those Chaos emeralds. Besides, Sonic was determined to not let anything happen to her.

During his runs through the forest, while looking for any signs or clues, the blue hero was careful to keep in touch with Tails. He wanted to know how Amy was doing as they worked hard to heal her. He was delighted one morning when Tails informed him that he was close to completing his study of the fake Chaos emerald.

'I'm almost there, Sonic. There is this one part of the emerald that I'm yet to figure out, but…it's a little too hard to understand.'

Sonic chuckled. 'If you could make it this far, you can tackle that one, too. Keep it up, buddy.'

Tails responded excitedly, 'Okay, Sonic!'

The blue speedster was elated when Tails joined them for a few hours that week as the young prodigy spent most of his time beside Amy at the hospital. Sonic and Knuckles gathered updates about Amy's condition every time he came to visit. There were times when they received news that she was doing well, but on other days, the three were rather saddened by some difficulty that Amy faced. It had been a while since she experienced excruciating pain like the initial week, but they were still on alert as they did their part.

As Tails preferred studying the fake Chaos emerald in Amy's presence, he was able to engage in wonderful conversations with his pink sister-like friend. Amy told him about her activities which involved visiting families and helping them, and even about her job at Cheesy Stakes. Tails listened to her stories with awe, feeling inspired and fascinated. They even shared laughs as they reminisced about the old times, and Tails noticed it made Amy sad each time they talked about their past adventures just as much as they made her happy. But whenever they mentioned Sonic, the young fox noticed how her eyes brightened up just as always, and it made his chest rise with hope. Some things always remain the same no matter how long it has been.

Even though they had their share of fun, it broke Tails' heart to see Amy grow more tired each day, but Tails was grateful that she was still able to walk and eat fairly well. The nurses and doctor were extremely attentive toward her and cared for her in every way they could, and for this, Sonic and Knuckles were thankful, too.

As for Amy, word soon started to spread among their group that she was affected by negative Chaos energy, and so she started getting more visitors other than Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails. These visits touched her heart and often moved her to cry tears of gladness. She now knew that God can use even one's sorrowful moments for His glory, to carry out His plan for the good of those who love Him. And Amy knew that if the good Lord brought forth good tidings through what she was going through, it would be all worth it.

That week, her first visitors were Vanilla, Cream, and Cheese. She was much too delighted when they came to see her. They brought along a few books for her to read while she rested, along with a basket of freshly baked cupcakes and cookies, and a jar of freshly squeezed orange juice - Amy's favorites. After about twenty minutes spent exchanging pleasantries and Amy informing them of what was happening, Cream looked up at her and asked with many worries in her tone:

'Amy, will you be alright soon?'

She was never as familiar with Chaos energy as the others, but the young one could tell there was a dark side to it that was not safe to be around. She worried about Amy as she has always been like a big sister to her, just as how Sonic was like a big brother to Tails. With all the adventures Cream has been in with Amy, the young rabbit wasn't ready to settle with Amy's present condition. She was afraid.

Amy, sensing the concern in Cream's voice, glanced at Vanilla who then gave her a sad smile, but there was warmth behind it and much love. She smiled back with hope and then petted Cream's head.

'Don't worry, Cream. I have faith that I will be!'

'Chao, chao!' Cheese had exclaimed as if in agreement with her, to which everyone laughed.

Another day, she received a bouquet of peonies from her colleagues at Cheesy Stakes with a "Get well soon" card. She smiled with happiness when she received them and asked one of the nurses if she could have the lovely pink flowers in a vase beside her bed, and the nurse happily obliged.

One day to her surprise, the Chaotix came to visit. Only Vector had stayed behind as he was busy studying an urgent top-secret document that had come to their attention, but he promised that he would come to see Amy at least once. Espio and Charmy sat and spoke to her for nearly an hour, gathering all they could from her about her condition and what Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles had done so far. They then promised that they too would be available whenever she needed them. She was more than happy to hear them say that and thanked them. When they were about to leave, Charmy hugged her.

'I know we never really spoke in the past, but I do care about you. I hope you'll get better soon.'

Amy was touched by the embrace and hugged him back with happiness.

Soon the week started approaching its end, and she got more visitors from her workplace who brought along gifts and homemade delicacies. She spent time with Vanilla one evening on the rooftop terrace and the two spoke for nearly an hour until Amy started to feel tired and drowsy. She hadn't been experiencing much pain as of late, but there were times when she felt too exhausted and occasionally, too tired to get up from bed. She felt the pain appear from time to time, but to her relief, it never increased.

When Sunday came, Tails hesitatingly informed her that he wanted to return to his study at home as most of his tools were there. The young fox had thought about this for some time that week, but as he wanted to be next to Amy, he had kept putting it aside, but he now felt that if he wanted to help her the best way he could, he must use the best tools he has got. After consulting with Sonic for a while that day, he made the difficult decision even though it hurt.

Amy quickly agreed when he told her without any hesitation at all. Tails felt he could cry but held back his tears. He didn't want to leave her all by herself, so he brought her her communicator which was left in her apartment so she could use it to send out an alarm if she needed help. But the young fox trusted the nurses who looked after her, and although Sonic had suggested that they shift her to Resistance HQ where they could keep an eye on her, Tails felt it would be best if she remained at the hospital until he was finished with the emerald. Besides, Resistance HQ didn't have much of the healthcare equipment that Memorial Hospital had - equipment that Tails felt would be of great help to Amy at present.

Now that Amy was mostly alone, she looked on the bright side rather than dwell on her loneliness. She was thankful for the nurses and the care they gave her, and for the gifts she received from her friends. She was also thankful for the healthy meals they served at the hospital that kept her well-fed. She was thankful for the love her friends showed towards her too, as without it, she wondered if she would have been as happy. But she knew she would have tried through Christ's strength.

As the pink Rose stood by the window of her ward one day, gazing down at the sprawling city while dressed in her light blue hospital gown, her thoughts drifted to Sonic. She felt bothered. He had been distancing himself from her lately by only dropping by for a brief moment or two that week. Moreover, he never brought up what he was about to tell her that day on the rooftop terrace. As much as she was curious about what it could have been, she didn't want to pry any further. She hoped he would tell her eventually, but every time she got an opportunity to talk to him, he oddly kept it short.

Is it something I did, Lord?

Amy wondered if it was indeed anything at all that she might have said or done, but as she played back their earlier conversations from the moment he set foot on her doorstep last week, she couldn't place her finger on any. It saddened her that he was staying away as it reminded her of those times in the past when he always tried to get away from her. Her heart had fluttered when he was growing closer to her the previous week, but now, it was not the same.

Sighing, she looked up at the bright blue sky as she thought about the handsome blue hedgehog whom she loved. There were actions that he had done ever since he showed up at her apartment on that fateful evening that caused her to blush and grow warm inside. She recalled looking at him and seeing his emerald green eyes brighten up every time he saw her, his brilliant smile that always warmed her heart each time she saw it directed at her, his gentle care and attention whenever he was around her, and his willingness to come close…

Amy shut her eyes tightly just then, thinking about that night when he held her.

She wondered why he did it. Why, after all these years of knowing her, did he feel compelled to hold her like that? She ached to know the answers to those questions as she wanted to know if he meant what he did. She often prayed that it would escape her memory, but it still chose to linger time and again. Whenever it did, she prayed that Sonic would let her know why he did it so she could be at peace about it.

And Amy hoped he would let her know sooner.

-xxx-

Rouge the bat stood inside a large high-security room at G.U.N., waiting expectantly as a senior scientist carefully examined the contents of a box. It had been more than an hour since she arrived, and she hoped she would get what she came for without any further complications.

Earlier, the elegant bat had been discussing the situation Amy faced as comprehensively as she could with a team of scientists and senior agents. They were kind enough to listen and ask questions while some of them even took down notes. After a brief word with the Commander, she was permitted to be taken to the room where she now stood. It was fairly easy to get their approval because of the long history she shared with G.U.N. Moreover, everything she had explained to them piqued their interest.

Chaos energy has always been of deep interest to the Guardian Unit of Nations' scientists. It was a mystical kind of energy that they had never seen before - an energy that originated from the Chaos emeralds and their controller, the Master Emerald. Even with years of study, the elite team of scientists at G.U.N. hasn't been able to scratch even the surface of the energy that can induce super transformations and provide immense power to its wielders. Now, with the situation Amy faced, they found renewed interest in it more than ever, and they were determined to reach somewhere in their study at long last.

As the G.U.N. scientists have been studying and researching Chaos emerald energy since Project Shadow, they were able to collate all of their analyses and practical experiments with the energy into a single source - a source that has remained top-secret and of high intelligence among G.U.N.'s senior leadership. This was the very source that Rouge now sought out with much eagerness coupled with slight impatience as she waited behind the scientist who appeared to be moving slowly. She wanted to tell him to hurry, but she knew that if she did, it would only delay the process even further. Being a former jewel huntress, the elegant bat still couldn't help feeling annoyed if things didn't come within her grasp quickly. A part of her wanted to grab the box and its powerful contents and leave the building, but then another part of her told her to wait. And this she did.

'Do you think it would do the trick?' She asked the scientist who had his back turned to her as he carefully studied the contents of the box.

'It should, but one must proceed with caution.'

'We're pretty trained at that.'

'Perhaps.' He then turned to face her. He was a tall, lean man with graying brown hair that was cropped at the sides. His dark, chiseled features had wrinkles and a tiny scar just above his upper lip. He wore a white lab coat and held a magnifying glass in one hand; and despite his rather intimidating appearance, he had kind blue eyes that held knowledge. He smiled at Rouge. 'Sometimes things can go wrong if one is over-confident.'

She rolled her eyes. 'Spare me the lecture, doc. A friend is in danger. Do you think we would mishandle this like how you mishandled a mere paper knife many years ago that caused that scar?' She asked, pointing at the scar above his lip.

The scientist, who was called Dr. Andrii, chuckled softly. 'You may be well-trained, but you must remember that it is still undergoing immense study, and so when it comes to using it, you must be careful. If not, things might not end well for your friend.'

Rouge sighed and nodded. It was almost like the last part of what the scientist said caused her to wake up to reality. 'We will be careful.'

Dr. Andrii nodded and then turned to resume studying the contents of the box. He wasn't there when Rouge briefed the others about what was happening, and from everything she told him after walking into the room earlier, he knew it was something far more serious than he thought. Sighing, he paused for a moment as he thought about what Rouge had explained regarding the female hedgehog named Amy Rose - an ally he had seen once or twice. He remembered her to be jovial and full of life.

What a pity something like this should happen to that sweet girl…

Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and continued to study the box's contents. They were safe yet dangerous. He had to be careful before handing it over to Rouge. He, just like everyone else, wanted to see Amy healed.

-xxx-

A little away from Emerald City, Sonic sat on the rooftop of Resistance HQ while looking out at the grassy slopes that lay before him in the far distance. A cool, gentle breeze blew by as he stared in silence.

The afternoon sun was setting and the sky was lit up with brilliant shades of red and orange mixed with pale pink hues as the auburn ball slowly started to go down into the horizon. It was breathtaking to see, and deep down, Sonic wished Amy was there with him. But as he has been doing so lately, he shook his head from her thoughts.

The famous blue hero tried to think less of the lovely pink hedgehog on most days that week. Even though he had always seen her as a friend, he felt a certain feeling of warmth each time her face appeared on his mind. He brushed the feeling aside each time it arose and reminded himself that she was, after all, only a friend.

Sighing, Sonic looked up at the sky that was now slowly approaching twilight. He felt sad, and he couldn't help but feel that way. He wanted to understand his newfound feelings toward Amy Rose, but he knew they were nothing short of feelings of affection - a different kind of affection that was new and beautiful for the first time in his life. Although he had been doubtful about his feelings ever since he had held her that night, he knew that deep down, no matter what he did to reason against it, he was genuinely falling for her, and he knew it was true. He sincerely adored her even more now than he did last week. But he wondered if it would be worth having those feelings now.

Although he didn't want to admit it, Sonic felt some of the things the female cat said that day were true. Why would Amy love him now? She has matured and grown, and she was doing just fine without him in the past few months (or so he thought). He remembered the promise he had made to himself for her and was now starting to have second thoughts about it. He even tried hard to forget that night when he held her close, but it wouldn't leave him that easily. Nevertheless, he was adamant.

This isn't my thing…I don't think it'll ever be.

Even though he tried to disregard his feelings toward the lovely Amy, the charming blue hedgehog couldn't help but feel his heart ache at the thought of letting her go. But Sonic felt Amy deserved someone better - someone who would love her and pay attention to her; someone who wouldn't intentionally ignore her as he did and was now doing. Someone who, instead of running away each time she came forward for a hug, would stand still and wrap his arms around her, hugging her back. He still felt upset every time he thought about his actions from the past month, but he wanted to look ahead and not dwell on them. He knew Amy didn't hold it against him, but despite that gesture of kindness from her, he felt uneasy.

The saddening feeling grew at the thought of holding back his feelings from her instead of letting them flow. He knew that he had to go back to being the way he had always been since he first met her to not let his feelings grow any stronger - by keeping his distance. As much as his heart ached at the thought of doing that, he knew that as a friend, he wanted what was best for her; and if that meant he had to move on from her, he would. For now, though, he had to focus on helping her.

He then heard soft footfalls behind him.

'Sonic?'

Sonic shook his head from his thoughts and turned to find Tails standing behind him. He beamed at him. Tails always brightened up his mood during moments such as this.

'Hey, buddy. What's up?' Sonic grinned and beckoned him to come sit next to him.

The young fox took a deep breath before walking over. He held a notepad in one hand and a pencil in the other. He had a troubled and weary look on his face that Sonic took notice of once he was closer.

'I-I don't think we can use the fake Chaos emerald, Sonic.'

He stared, looking surprised. 'What? Why?'

Tails hesitated before responding, 'Remember that one part I told you about? That part that I still have yet to study?'

Sonic nodded and encouraged him to go on.

'Sonic, you see…when I created the fake Chaos emerald, I intended to use it for sabotaging machinery like the Eclipse Canon. I didn't particularly have healing properties in mind. Because of that…' he sighed before continuing, '...I'm not sure if it could work.'

Sonic tapped his chin as he listened with care and attention. 'But if it has the same properties and wavelength of an original Chaos emerald, shouldn't it be enough to do the trick for at least a little while?'

'But Sonic, unlike an original Chaos emerald, the fake emerald can't nullify the negative Chaos energy that is inside Amy. At least…not entirely.'

Sonic watched as Tails then lifted his notepad and pencil to illustrate as he explained:

'The original Chaos emeralds have huge reserves of positive Chaos energy that come from a natural source…' He drew a large circle and seven smaller circles close around it. He then drew another circle further away from the larger one, denoting its separation from it. 'But since this is fake…,' he said, tapping the separate circle with the end of his pencil. '...there could be a situation where when too much of the negative energy is nullified, the emerald will have to gather enough positive Chaos energy from its own reserves to suppress it completely since there is no natural source for it to tap into. But if there is too much for it to handle, it can lose control and even its full function…and possibly even blow up. And if that happens…'

'It could be catastrophic for Amy…and anyone within close range.'

A dreadful silence fell upon the two best friends for a long moment as they processed the situation. Neither of them had anything more to say during that time for there wasn't much to be said. They were much too worried at the thought of something terrible happening to Amy if they didn't act wisely despite knowing the risks involved with using the fake emerald. But they weren't sure how long it would take until they had the original emeralds, and they couldn't risk waiting until they found them to cure Amy if she went through extreme pain again. It was all too worrying. Soon, one of them spoke:

'So what do you have in mind, Tails? We gotta do something, don't we? We can't keep asking Shadow. It's dangerous for him to keep lending his own Chaos energy to help Amy.'

Tails nodded and took a deep breath to compose himself before responding, 'We can try using it, but once it starts getting charged up, we should remove it before it can explode. That's risky, Sonic, and we'll have to have constant access to its energy readings which can be difficult due to the amount that would have to be used for nullification. It…it could have frequent fluctuations.' After a brief silence to let it sink in, he looked up at Sonic and added in a low, sad voice, 'That's the only option we have until we find the original emeralds.'

Sonic sighed. 'We still have no lead. Knuckles and I have searched the entire forest and have found nothing so far. It's almost like they know our plans and are acting against them.'

Tails looked thoughtful. 'They can't have gone too far yet. Have you tried searching the areas around Prison Island?'

'That's next on our list. Knuckles and I will be heading out there tomorrow. Who knows what we'll find?'

The two of them stared at the last rays of the sun below the horizon. There was a somber silence again for a while as they both wondered how things would turn out for their dear friend at the hospital. They were doing everything they could, but it was disheartening to know that they were far from retrieving the emeralds and that the only hope they had for the time being posed dangers. After a while, Tails broke the silence:

'Sonic, do you remember when you were bored at my workshop last week…?'

The blue hero thought for a moment and then nodded. 'You mean that day when you suggested I go see Amy to help her move?'

'Uh-huh.' The young fox responded with a sad tone. 'Back then, all I wanted was to see you being more active. You were always lazing around at my workshop and complaining about there not being any more adventures. I wanted to see you more…alive, I guess, and so I…I remember saying something.'

Sonic turned to look at him as Tails continued in a low, shaky voice:

'I-I remember saying that some adventure would come your way soon, and I even hoped for it.' he stopped, trying to choke back sudden tears that threatened to fall down his muzzle. 'Do-do you think this is what I hoped for…?'

Sonic stared at him, feeling confused for a moment. After realizing what he meant, the concerned hero put an arm around Tails' shoulders, pulling him close while saying softly, 'Hey. None of that, Tails. It wasn't your fault that Amy got sick.'

'B-but, it feels like I wished for it to happen.' Tails said and sobbed.

Sonic shook his head. 'No, buddy. You didn't cause anything to happen. You were only hoping for something good, and that isn't a bad thing.' He chuckled and petted Tails' head. 'I don't exactly know why Amy's sick, Tails, but what I do know is that she has a brave and wise young friend who's ready to do all he can to help her. And this wise young friend has given her hope.' After he said that, Sonic smiled and gave his shoulder a gentle, reassuring rub.

Tails sniffed and wiped away his tears. He wanted to believe those words to be true, and he wondered if there would come a time when he would look back and rejoice that all went well. He hoped a day like that would come. He then gave a small hint of a smile as he looked up at his big brother. 'I hope she'll be okay soon, Sonic.'

'She will be.' Sonic stated with confidence and his eyes shone as he spoke. 'It may seem unclear now, but as long as we keep moving forward and do the next best thing, and as long as we keep at it, I'm sure we can make it; with her.'

'Y-you think so?'

'I believe so.' He said, and after a brief pause, he added: 'And I know Amy would think the same.'

The two then sat silently and watched the first few stars that appeared in the sky. The cool breeze from earlier still blew gently and it helped calm them. Tails then turned to look at Sonic as a thought came to his mind.

'Sonic?'

'Yes, Tails?'

'Amy asked about you today when I went to visit her. She told me she hasn't seen you enough this whole week. I think you should go and see her.'

Sonic didn't respond right away as he felt his heart skip a beat at the mention of seeing her. He then took a deep breath and nodded. 'I-yeah. I'll go see her.'

Tails looked surprised. Something didn't seem right about the way he replied. 'Sonic, is everything alright? You seemed to hesitate back there.'

Sonic rubbed the back of his neck as he looked away. He thought about telling Tails what he felt about Amy but then decided against it. Besides, he was trying to move on from her. He looked at Tails and smiled at him, trying to mask the hurt he felt.

'Of course, Tails. What could be wrong? I think she'll be fine even if I don't go see her.'

Tails gaped at him. 'What? But Sonic, you hardly ever left her side last week. So why are you doing it now? Did-did something happen between you two?'

He shook his head. 'What? No…nothing happened.'

'But why else would you stay away from her, Sonic?' Tails prodded further. He was curious and confused at the same time. 'There's got to be something.'

'I…' Sonic began but hesitated, looking away from him. He was starting to feel uncomfortable. 'I think I need to give her some space. As you said, I was around her a lot last week. I don't want to bore her with my presence, you know?' He said the last part with a lighter tone.

'Sonic, you're the last person on this planet who could ever bore Amy! She has feelings for you, remember?' Tails argued. 'She always has for as long as we've known her. And I think you've given her enough space already. You've been here this whole week and hardly paid her any proper visits!'

Sonic blinked. He didn't listen to the last part of what Tails had just told him. His mind was fixed on what he had said just before.

Could she still have feelings for me?

'But, Tails, do you still think she feels that way? Even after all these years? I mean…she's no longer the same Amy we both knew from years ago, you know? And since that's the case, I don't see why she would feel bothered if I don't go and see her as often as I did.'

Tails thought about what Sonic just said. Amy did change, and Tails was aware of it just like her other friends. Although it was a blessed change that didn't make him exercise restraint around her anymore - he felt that she still liked Sonic just as she always had even though she rarely showed it now. Tails was sure he saw her brighten up whenever he mentioned Sonic in their conversations. Besides, he recalled how she had often asked about Sonic whenever he called her during the previous months, and if she didn't care about him as much anymore, why would she ask for him? Why him and not anyone else?

'I think she still likes you, Sonic.' Tails responded confidently to which Sonic perked up. 'I know it isn't as evident as it once was, but even if she no longer shows her affection toward you openly, that doesn't necessarily mean she has stopped liking you. You helped her. She wouldn't be where she is right now if it weren't for you, Sonic. And all that time you spent with her last week? I have a feeling that could have caused her to like you even more.'

Sonic let out a soft sign and remained silent. He couldn't deny feeling slightly relieved at what Tails had just told him; it felt like a load had just been lifted off his heart. The young fox then asked carefully: 'But, Sonic, I never thought you'd ever be curious about what Amy felt about you. You never seemed to bother about it for as long as I've known you. So why think about it now?'

'Yeah, Blue. What is it?'

Sonic and Tails turned to find Knuckles joining them. The red echidna had walked up to the roof just then and stood behind them while stretching his arms. He had spent a long day at the HQ and was now beginning to call it a night. The day had yielded no results and it tired him. 'You've been acting odd lately, Sonic. And hey, you've been this way since I saved your butt from those cats.'

'Like how, Knux?' Sonic asked, feeling a little annoyed. He was still embarrassed by how Knuckles had found him and Amy together at the hospital last week. He wished they could change the subject now as he didn't want to be teased.

'Like you ignoring our dear girl Amy. What's she ever done to you?'

'Look, Knuckles.' Sonic got up and turned to face them both. 'I'm not ignoring her. It's just that I don't want to get too close. I mean, she's only a friend, and I…' He stopped just as he was about to say "I don't have any feelings for her". He simply couldn't bring himself to say those words as he knew they weren't true; and so just as he did when asked by the female cat some time ago, he felt stunned again.

'I...what?' Knuckles smirked as he crossed his arms as if he was waiting. Sonic hesitated as he suddenly looked away from them, trying to think of something to say.

'You're falling for her. Admit it, blue.' Knuckles grinned.

'Knuckles!' Tails exclaimed, but when he turned to look at Sonic, he stopped in surprise.

The blue hero had turned bright red and averted his eyes rather than denying the remark Knuckles had just made. Tails had never seen his best friend and hero like this before. And so as he stood there wondering at Sonic, he thought about everything that had happened the past week between his big brother and Amy. He had noticed his concern for her, his frequent questions regarding her health, and his constant caring presence by her side. Sonic was never one to settle; he was always on the move. He wasn't the kind to stay constantly by a friend's side if he knew they were being taken care of well, and in this case, it was the hospital staff. Tails felt that something had truly changed indeed, and it explained why Sonic was asking whether Amy still had feelings for him. He was finally starting to return her feelings and he wanted to make sure hers was still the same. To Tails, this development aroused excitement in him as it was something he had always secretly wanted for his big brother, especially since the Death Egg episode when Sonic no longer had major adventures like the old times which resulted in him frequently lazing around and complaining. Tails pictured how wonderful it would be to finally watch Sonic take on this new adventure with someone as dear as Amy who Tails knew would be a beautiful blessing in the famous hero's life. Tails decided that no matter what Sonic felt, he wanted to support him and help him in every way he could. The young fox didn't want to leave his big brother alone with his feelings; not once.

'Sonic...have you...really fallen in love with Amy?' Tails enquired gently.

Sonic felt his heart begin to beat faster. He felt trapped and knew there was no point in hiding it now. How could he hide this from his two best friends any longer?

'Tails, I -' The hero turned red and sighed, trying to calm down his racing heart. He had never felt like this before. The only other time Sonic felt something similar to this was around Princess Elise from Soleanna. Although what he had shared with her was nothing more than mere friendship, there were moments when he had liked her for her sweet innocence. But what the blue speedster was feeling now was something far more real than anything he had ever felt toward any female he had known. He didn't know how or why he was feeling this way about Amy after all these years, but he knew they were true.

'I-I think I am...' he admitted softly, still refusing to look at Knuckles and Tails who in turn both stared at him with amazement. They couldn't help but smile with pride at their blue friend who was finally brave enough to accept his feelings. They had never thought he would ever fall in love, especially with the lovely Amy Rose, and so Tails felt like he could cry with joy while Knuckles walked over and gave him a friendly slap on his back.

'I knew it! I knew it from the time I saw you at the hospital the first time I came to see Amy! You had it written all over your face!'

'Alright, that's enough, Knux.' Sonic retorted, still blushing and looking away from them both. He hadn't expected all of this to happen so soon, but he felt so free now that it was all out in the open.

'But why now, blue?' Knuckles asked with intrigue while rubbing his chin. 'Took you long enough. I always teased you saying you were playing with that girl's heart. And now here we are!'

'Knuckles, he needs our help, not teasing!' Tails remarked before turning to Sonic. 'Sonic?' Tails prodded gently, trying to hide the excitement in his voice. 'It's okay. We're your friends and we can help. Besides, we think you and Amy would look great together. I think she's the best choice for you out of all the girls you've ever met!'

'Well…I don't know.' Sonic said and sighed, much to Tails and Knuckles' surprise. 'She's a friend and that's all she'll ever be. She was doing just fine without me, remember? I don't want to hope for anything that might not happen and end up ruining the friendship we already share.'

'What? But Sonic, you don't know that.'

'I can tell, Tails. Ames…she's a strong girl you know? She's not the same Amy we all once knew. She's more different now.'

Knuckles was studying him during this exchange. He then asked, 'But you still can't deny that you're starting to like her, can you?'

To this, Sonic had no answer for it was true. He felt that warmth sweeping through his heart again, and he felt tempted to go see her right that very moment and spend time with her. He wanted to be next to her and watch as she either smiled or laughed at his jokes, or simply listen to her voice as she spoke. But what if it was all just him…?

The blue speedster felt a strong hand pat his back just then. Knuckles was standing next to him so that they were both facing the beautiful night sky. Tails joined them on Sonic's other side.

'Did that cat woman say something to you that day you got caught the second time? You've been acting this way ever since. And I know how that woman can use words to play with someone's heart.' The red echidna asked gently. Even though he wasn't as great at understanding Sonic as Tails was, he still cared enough for him as a best friend. He, too, wanted to help the blue speedster.

'I...guess she did.' Sonic sighed.

Knuckles brought his hand to his face and shook his head in frustration. 'If I ever see that woman again -'

'Knuckles, it doesn't matter what you say to her. What matters now is what she told Sonic!' Tails argued, casting a concerned glance at his big brother who seemed to be quiet and thoughtful.

'Well…' Sonic sighed. 'I don't know what to say except that I think she was right.' And with that, the hedgehog related all that the cat had said about Amy to Tails and Knuckles who listened carefully. Sonic observed Knuckles flaring up while Tails looked confused and concerned. To calm them both down and to break the silence that followed, he remarked what he hoped sounded confident: 'But hey, I don't need anyone special in my life. I was born to be free. I make my own rules remember? If I get held back by a girlfriend, I don't think I'll be able to be myself.'

'Amy would never hold you back from anything, Sonic.' Tails responded softly after a brief pause. Sonic looked at him as the young fox continued: 'If anything, I think she would only join you in on your adventures, for she knows how much your freedom means to you. She would never stand in your way.'

Sonic hesitated. 'But, Tails - '

'No buts, Sonic.' Knuckles cut in. 'Do you think what that cat lady said to you is worth more than what Amy feels? One look at her and it's clear she still likes you. You'd better not be playing around with her heart now like you used to, blue; not after all that's happened last week.'

The blue hero recalled all the time he spent with Amy the week before. He remembered how she didn't protest when he had held her that night…

Knuckles then added: 'Whatever that nasty cat woman told you - forget it! You gotta let us speak to you, Sonic, not someone whose name you don't even know, and I couldn't care less what her name is anyway.'

Sonic thought about what they said. He trusted his closest friends to help him the best way they could, and so he valued their advice. What he was going through at present was a matter that was unfamiliar to him and so he was keen to get the help of his two friends. Despite this, he still felt hesitant. But then he remembered what he had told the cat:

She doesn't have to love me back for me to keep helping her.

Could he though? Could he keep being around his lovely pink friend while knowing she would never love him back? Would he be able to bear seeing her with someone else? He recalled the pang of jealousy he had felt when Amy wanted to thank Shadow. As much as Sonic was grateful to Shadow for what he did that night, he was still slightly upset that it hadn't been him.

I can't even help save her life…

'Sonic?'

Sonic shook his head and looked up at his two best friends. He was thankful they were there, and he was starting to feel less burdened by his feelings. 'What is it, buddy?'

'We think you should go see Amy.' Tails replied, feeling hopeful and eager.

'That's right, Blue. Tell her how you feel. I'm pretty sure she'll return them.' Knuckles said and winked.

The blue hero looked at them with wide eyes. 'Guys, no. That's too fast. Besides, I'd like to know what she feels about me first before I make any move. I don't want to catch her off guard or anything. I…think I should wait until she gets better. That would give me enough time to know what she feels about me, you know?'

Tails nodded and smiled. 'Okay, Sonic. If you need more time, that's fine by me! Just don't let it be too late.'

Sonic chuckled. 'Late? Tails, you know I'm never late.'

Knuckles laughed and punched his arm playfully. 'Go get her, blue!'

At this, Sonic chuckled and then got up to stretch his arms and legs. He was feeling a lot better now than he did earlier, and he was glad he had the support of two of his closest friends. 'Right. I'd better go pay someone a visit at the hospital!'

-xxx-

It was now night time and the moon shone brilliantly over Emerald City. In Memorial Hospital, Amy lay propped up against the pillow, feeling content after finishing up her dinner of chicken pot pie and a small bowl of roasted veggies along with some apple juice. Her eyes looked tired as she looked at the moon from outside the only window on her left. She had felt a little pain earlier in the day and she contemplated calling Tails on her communicator to let him know. Just as she was about to do it, however, Vanilla had come to visit again - this time with a basket full of delicious muffins and a Bible. Amy's eyes had brightened at the sight of the Bible for she had been longing for one. And as they talked for nearly an hour, the pain had slowly subsided.

As Amy sat there looking outside, she felt like going to sleep. But it was still very early in the evening and so she didn't want to do that. She thought about going up to the terrace instead to get some of the fresh air and have a nice view of the city. The more she thought about it, the more appealing it felt. The delicate rose then turned and looked at the shape of her legs underneath the blanket. They felt slightly weak, and she almost fell the other day while she was making her way to the restroom. If it hadn't been for a kind nurse who had just happened to be there, she would have fallen and hurt herself.

Amy was more careful than usual these days. She took frequent naps and ate healthy meals that the staff provided her with. She even read the books Vanilla brought her daily as she loved the stories in them. She even started keeping a journal - an idea Vanilla suggested last week. In it, she wrote down her prayer requests and thoughts. Sometimes she even wrote letters addressed to God from her heart. There were many mentions of Sonic in those letters and she often prayed she could see him again, and she had faith she would at the right time. God's timings are always best after all.

Despite her attempts to stay well, Amy still felt her health fail each day. She knew she wasn't healed yet, and so she was fighting her battle with faith and hope. She took her medications which helped even if only a little, and presently, she longed for something to take her mind off her weakening frame. It was then that she decided to step outside and get some fresh air.

Amy pulled the blanket aside and tried to move her legs. They were alright, but she felt she had to walk slowly to not strain them. Gently and with much care, she brought her legs down the side of the bed and got off. She held onto the bed as she waited for a few seconds to see if she would fall. When she didn't, she took a step forward and then another. Soon, she was walking across the ward and opening the door that led to the hallway. Once she was outside, she kept close to the wall as she walked toward the stairway. There weren't any staff present at that hour and so the hallway was dimly lit.

Once she reached the foot of the stairs, she slowly climbed up. It took her a while to climb the three flights and get to the top and by the time she did, she was panting. She wasn't surprised because she had been feeling more exhausted than the previous week. She knew she had to rest more, but she felt it wouldn't hurt to step outside more often to feel the air.

At that moment, Amy remembered those days when she was in Sonic's arms while he ran at the speed of sound, always carrying her to safety from all kinds of danger. She had always loved it when he held her like that, and the very feeling of the wind rushing against her face and quills came back to her. She wanted to feel the wind again.

Would I ever get to experience that again, dear Lord? With Sonic?

Sighing sadly, Amy opened the door that led to the rooftop terrace, and at once she was met by a fresh, cool breeze that seemed to caress her face. She cheerfully breathed in the fresh air and as she did so, she felt the throbbing pain from earlier appear again somewhere around her stomach. Amy felt the need to go back to her ward and rest. But since she had already climbed up, she decided to stay for at least a little while. Smiling happily, she walked a little ahead before stopping in surprise.

There, standing near the railing and facing the city, was the silhouette of a tall, lean hedgehog. It was too dark for her to make out who it was, but she had a feeling it was someone she knew well.

Sonic?

The hedgehog turned his head slightly to the side as the breeze ruffled his long quills. He appeared to be thinking, and he didn't seem to have noticed her. She felt her heart race as her hope grew.

Sonic…

Amy rushed forward. How long has it been since she last saw him? Although it wasn't as long as one month, she felt it was almost like it. He had come by twice that week, but both times, he left too quickly without saying much, just like old times. She had wondered why he was staying away when he had started growing closer to her, but now he was finally here so she could ask him, talk to him, and spend time with him. Her handsome friend whom she has always loved was finally here. Oh, how she hoped he wouldn't leave so quickly this time!

Sonic!

She stopped close behind him and touched his arm, beckoning him to look at her.

'Sonic?'

But she was in for both disappointment and surprise. It wasn't Sonic. Ruby eyes turned to look at her as they glimmered in the moonlight. She instantly let go of his arm and let out a short gasp.

'Shadow!'

It was Shadow indeed. His left ear twitched as he gazed at her. The two remained there, standing and staring at one another in silence for a while. Amy felt too bewildered to speak at first but knew she had to say something.

'Shadow, I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was you. I-I thought - '

'That I was Sonic?'

His deep voice sounded surprisingly gentle although she sensed mild restraint. Nevertheless, she was taken aback by it and nodded without saying a word, looking a little embarrassed.

'Hmph. Just like old times.' He remarked and turned to face the city.

Amy thought he was mentioning those days at Station Square when everyone mistook Shadow for Sonic and vice versa. But he wasn't. What Shadow meant was something that took place long ago on Space Colony ARK: Even though he never spoke about it, the ebony hedgehog still remembered that time when she mistook him for Sonic and ran over to hug him from behind. It had taken him by surprise although he didn't show it back then. He had never been embraced like that before, and the feeling had been very new to him.

And now the same feeling came back to him all over again.

For someone like Shadow who has never had feelings of affection toward anyone, he remembered feeling particularly warm when she hugged him back then. It was a strange feeling, a new feeling - a feeling he couldn't define. And he wondered if that was why he hadn't snapped at her or reacted violently back then. He didn't care much about what happened, for that was the kind of hedgehog he was. Yet, even though he didn't know it, that touch back then softened something within him - something very, very small. Plus, she reminded him of someone special from long ago…

'Shadow?'

Amy's voice brought him back to where he was at present and he blinked. 'Yes?'

'I would like to thank you for helping me that day. I was hoping I'd run into you, and I even told Sonic. I'm happy you're here right now.' She smiled sincerely at him. 'Thank you, Shadow.'

Shadow simply stared at her. He wasn't used to being thanked by others, and he hardly ever sought it. He only did what he felt was right at the time even though he didn't care deeply about Amy as the others did. He simply turned and looked away from her.

'Don't waste your breath thanking me, Rose.'

'Oh, Shadow,' Amy said and sighed. She was concerned about him. 'Thanking someone is never a waste. It only shows how much you appreciate what they did. It may seem small or insignificant to you, but it matters to me, Shadow.'

Shadow didn't say anything. A cool breeze blew by and he saw Amy shiver slightly from the corner of his eye. After a while, he said:

'You're welcome.'

Amy looked up at him in surprise, and then she smiled.

They remained silent for some time while looking at the city, and Amy felt she had to engage him in conversation. She had admired him in the past, and what happened a week ago caused her to admire him even more. She was confident that he truly was capable of doing good things, and it made her heart swell. It also made her feel at ease to be around him.

She looked at him and asked, 'So what're you doing here, Shadow? Isn't it quite late?'

He sighed, and then came the short reply: 'I do as I please.'

She chuckled and looked at the city. 'I'm so glad you decided to stop here. It's nice to talk to a friend at this time.'

Shadow looked at her. 'Shouldn't you be resting? It's cold out here.'

Amy noticed his concern and was touched. 'I know I should be, but I felt like coming up here for a while. It gets a little lonely sometimes in the ward now that Tails is no longer here...'

'What about that faker?'

'Sonic? I don't know...' She said and sighed. It saddened her when she thought about him.

He sensed her tone and asked, 'Did something happen?'

She shrugged her shoulders lightly. 'I don't know if it's me, Shadow. What if it is something I said? He has been avoiding me lately…'

He turned away from her. 'He won't stay silent for long.'

Amy felt oddly comforted when he said that, but she didn't know why. After all, Shadow was only telling her what he thought. She was about to say something but stopped. She felt the pain suddenly rise within her and held onto the railing.

Shadow looked at her in surprise and watched as she took in a few deep breaths. He noticed her tighten her grip on the rails. Tiny drops of sweat appeared on her quills. And then, he felt the strong negative Chaos energy again. He instantly knew what was happening. He stepped closer to her.

'Rose!'

'It-it's okay.' She let out a gasp. She was just as startled as he was. The pain hadn't shown up suddenly like this in a while, and this was the first time since early that week. Back then, she had Tails who had quickly used the fake Chaos emerald to help her. But this time, she had Shadow. Yet, she didn't want him to drain himself to help her. She thought about calling Tails via her communicator.

'I'll be fine, Shadow. T-thanks for stopping by tonight.' She said and backed away from him, turning to go back to her ward. Just then, she felt his strong hand take hold of her wrist and pull her back to face him.

'Hold still.'

'Shadow, I can call Tails.' She tried to wrench her arm free, but it was a futile attempt. Soon, she gave up. 'He has the fake Chaos emerald. It worked last time.'

'You don't need that while I'm here.' He looked into her eyes. She could soon feel his positive Chaos energy flowing through her and its warmth. Despite that, she still felt worried.

'Sh-Shadow, please…what if you feel faint again…?'

He didn't respond as he continued to channel his positive Chaos energy into her. He held both her wrists now and seemed to be blocking out any distractions. She shivered and felt her body going limp, but the pain was beginning to subside. Amy's eyes welled up with hot tears. She recalled Tails telling her how tired he had been after he helped her last time, and the last thing the tender-hearted Amy wanted was to see him that way again.

'Shadow…'

'I'll be fine, Rose.'

The words touched her, and she relaxed as the warmth of his energy flooded through her whole body. She felt him loosen his hold on her wrist, and she was feeling so limp and frail that she would have nearly fallen if Shadow hadn't quickly pulled her towards himself to hold her. She was too exhausted by now to even pull away.

Shadow grew stiff as Amy weakly brought her hands up and wrapped them around his back to steady herself. She then closed her eyes and shivered again, but his warmth made her feel comfortable.

The ebony hedgehog stood still for a long time. He wasn't expecting this to happen, but even he couldn't explain the reason why his right arm moved towards her to gently pet her head. He then stroked her quills and watched as her ears lowered at his touch. He was experiencing something he had never experienced before, and he would never forget it.

'Are you alright, Rose?' He asked softly as he looked at her. She looked very frail. He didn't feel very tired this time as her situation wasn't as bad as before. He wanted to tell her that to reassure her, but there was no response from Amy except a slight nod after which she whimpered. He knew he had to get her back to the ward. So he took her up in his arms with care and zoomed down the stairs. He would have nearly missed her room if he hadn't noticed her name on the door. He stepped in and walked over, placing her down on the bed. What he did next was something he could never explain, for he pulled the blanket over her delicate frame and sat by for a while to make sure she fell asleep.

And once Amy started sleeping, Shadow left.

-xxx-