Chapter 9
Hello, friends! I know I take too long to publish a chapter. It's often when I get reviews that I'm reminded to write. Please don't think that I take this lightly. I do really want to complete this story for all of you. I know how it feels when an author stops an interesting story midway. I have come across many such stories here on FanFiction itself, and it was always disappointing. And so I decided that if I ever write a story here, I would work towards completing it!
A lot of things have been happening since last May. One of the reasons why I took so long to publish Chapter 8 (or was it 7?) was because honestly, I had been in doubt about finishing this story. I had even decided to stop writing this story and type out a letter of apology to you guys (sorry!). But thanks be to God that I am still here writing this fanfiction. You see, 2020 was a beautiful year for me because it was the year I got saved! I met God and he made me new! ^^ When I found out the truth of what Jesus Christ did on the cross for my sins and the sins of this world, I was overwhelmed. Christ died for you and me so that we can be with God in heaven for all of eternity, and by putting our faith in Jesus, all our sins are forgiven. Eternal life is possible through faith in Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus died for our sins on the cross and then rose on the third day and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Amen! How wonderful is that?
What I want to admit to you guys is the reason why I thought about discontinuing this fanfiction: it was mainly because I couldn't see how this work could glorify God. I was always asking, seeking, and knocking. Every time I was close to stopping, I kept getting reminded by God of the promise I made to all of you. And then finally, one day, I felt God ask me, 'Why don't you make the story about me?' That woke me up, and honestly, I was afraid. Firstly, I didn't start this fiction with God at the center, so how would I add him in? It was hard, but through prayer, I was able to bring him in. Now, I know I can glorify him through this work and make you guys happy, too. :D
Walking with God in Christ is not always easy, and there have been days when I felt discouraged about this fiction. You guys lift me up. Seeing that this story is read by you all touches me, and I know God is using you to help me continue. Don't be surprised if you see more and more of God and Biblical themes in the next chapters. It's all straight from Jesus and His word. Scripture references are all taken from the Bible's ESV translation. :)
I know you guys must have been taken aback by surprise in the previous chapter, but I pray this story blesses you. I want to keep writing this for all of you, and if I take too long to update next time, don't hesitate to send me a PM asking me where I'm at! It would definitely wake me up. Love you all, and take care! ^^
p.s Don't forget to review! I love reading your comments 3
When Sonic and Knuckles walked out of the ward, the blue hero remembered the countless times in the past when things had gone wrong. The two decided to talk outside since Tails insisted on remaining beside Amy. Sonic could tell what took place even before Knuckles had started explaining. He simply didn't want to dash Amy and Tails' hope. The pink rose had looked at Sonic before he left the room. It was a look full of assurance and hope, and it broke his heart now when he thought of it.
Outside, he listened to Knuckles explain everything. He rested his hands under his chin and didn't look him in the eye the whole time, and once Knuckles was done, he closed his eyes and sighed. There was hope and joy at times, and then things would take an unexpected turn for the worse. There was that one time during his surprise birthday celebration - a time when he was with his friends laughing and having fun when all of a sudden, Time Eater had appeared...taking his friends away from him.
Taking them all away...
Sonic knew Knuckles had fallen quite often, but he didn't want to judge him. The blue hero of Mobius was always loyal to his friends. He never liked letting any of them down no matter what, and so he never kept a record of their wrongs that they may have done in the past to determine his thoughts towards them in the present. He wanted to show them that he trusted them. He wanted to love them with all his heart and not let their shortcomings stand in his way. He was always quick to instruct his friends when they made mistakes. He wanted to do what he knew was right since he was never one to hold a grudge over what had transpired in the past.
And so, for all those reasons, Sonic knew he was doing the right thing by trusting Knuckles - his friendly nemesis turned best friend. He didn't regret doing so. Not even now. He wanted to chide him, but he didn't yield to that temptation. Besides, who was he to cast stones? Hadn't he let down a friend, too? If he had been more caring, more vigilant, and more compassionate, Amy wouldn't have been at the hospital that very moment. She would have been at her new apartment resting and being her usual cheerful self. He knew he didn't deserve her kindness or her love. What had he ever done to deserve it? Was it because he took her to the hospital and stayed by her side? Or was it because of her gentle and forgiving heart?
Forgiveness...
Even though the handsome blue hero had done so many heroic deeds, he couldn't deny having been rude to some of his friends. There were times when he had been angry and overconfident to the point where he had put others in danger. He had even been boastful. He knew they weren't honorable traits. He even knew they were the reasons why he chose not to visit Amy over the past month. He had chosen ignorance instead of love, pride instead of humility and compassion, and had run after assumptions instead of stopping and searching for what was true. If Amy knew those were the actual reasons...would she still forgive him?
She might. She's so...
Kind?
Yeah. Patient and kind.
Sighing heavily and rubbing his eyes, the blue hero felt thankful that things didn't end up being worse than they have. He was grateful that Amy was still well, and that even though things seemed a little bleak now, there was at least the hope of a cure; and most importantly, she wasn't alone this time. He felt grateful that Tails had suggested the idea of him going over to help her move, and even though he had hesitated back then, he knew he wanted to see her. He wanted to check on her. He wanted to know how Amy Rose was doing.
Amy Rose...
The blue hero thought of Amy who was in the room, seated on the hospital bed ever since she arrived there. He shuddered when he recalled her cries and tears of pain. He wondered why this had to happen. But wasn't this something that gave him a reason to fight for what was right again after so many months? Wasn't this what he had been talking to Tails about just yesterday? A change from the ordinary?
But this is not what I had in mind...
You failed her. This is what you deserve.
I didn't fail her!
'Sonic?'
He suddenly looked up at Knuckles, startled. He instantly became conscious of his presence and felt embarrassed. He met Knuckles' gaze which was one of confusion mixed with concern. 'Are you alright, Blue?'
He hesitated. 'Yeah, I am.' He was starting to feel drowsy. He hadn't slept since the previous evening and so he could feel the fatigue kicking in.
'Sonic.'
He looked up, a little annoyed this time. 'What?'
Knuckles studied him for a brief second and then chose his words carefully while sounding calm. 'You have every right to be angry at me, Blue.'
Hearing him say that woke Sonic up a little, making him stare at Knuckles with surprise. 'Angry?' He was puzzled at first, but when he realized what he was apologizing about, he sighed. 'Knuckles, you couldn't have known what was about to happen.'
Knuckles shook his head. 'But I could have stopped them if I had been on the island.' He clenched his large fists in disappointment and hung his head low.
Sonic chuckled gently and looked at his best friend with a twinkle in his eye. 'And then let those cats restrain me like that? No, Knuckles. I couldn't have made it through without you. It was all meant to happen.'
Knuckles thought about what he just said.
Meant to happen...?
He looked at him incredulously. Since when was Sonic becoming soft? 'You're saying that the emeralds were meant to get stolen?'
Sonic looked away from his confused gaze and appeared to be thoughtful. 'I don't know for sure, but I know we're all right here for a reason.' He sighed. 'I know that sounds cliche, but it might not make sense now. A time would come when we'll truly understand. And then when we look back, we might smile. At least...' he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, turning back to meet his eyes. '...that's what I believe.'
Knuckles stared at him. Was it all truly meant to happen? He recalled Tikal telling him about the danger and how he had wanted to tell Sonic and Tails about what he had seen and heard. He had wanted to do what he thought was right at the time. But now...
'I...I just don't know what to do right now.'
Sonic smiled. 'We do what we always do, Knux. We go after them. We can't let anything happen to Ames, remember?'
Knuckles lifted his head and looked at him hopelessly. 'We don't know where they're hiding, Sonic. They could be anywhere.'
'Then we'll keep looking until we find them.' Sonic told him with confidence. 'Just like we always have with Egghead.'
The echidna guardian stared at him. Something about Sonic's approach to issues always stirred up Knuckles. He took a deep breath and nodded. He didn't want to sound dejected when his best friend was full of hope.
'In the meantime, I think there is a way to cure Amy at least a little bit until we find those cats and get back the emeralds.'
Sonic searched his eyes as hope rose within him. He wanted to cling desperately to any hope at the moment. 'How?'
'What do you think about using that fake Chaos emerald? You know, the one that Tails made long ago?'
Sonic frowned.
The fake Chaos emerald? Sonic doubted it would be effective. He still remembered that time many years ago when Tails had first created it after researching the original Chaos emerald. Tails had planned to use that emerald to stop the Eclipse Cannon on Space Colony ARK. The young fox had convinced Sonic that the emerald was capable of performing the same functions as an actual Chaos emerald. Sonic, as always, trusted his best friend and had gone along with the plan back then, and sure enough, it was powerful. The blue speedster was even able to perform Chaos Control with it and eventually inserted the fake emerald into the Eclipse Cannon.
But they had never used it since then.
'I'm not so sure, Knuckles.' He said and rubbed his eyes again, stifling a yawn. He was starting to get tired now. Outside, dawn was breaking and the hospital was slowly getting filled with early morning staff. He felt his shoulders slump. The handsome teenage hedgehog always made sure to get eight hours of sleep every day since he felt it helped strengthen his leg muscles for improved agility. He hadn't been able to get any sleep since the previous evening.
Knuckles sighed. He could see Sonic tire, but unlike the blue hero, the brave echidna guardian was used to staying awake at night since he often spent his time sleeping during the day on top of the Master Emerald, so he wasn't tired yet. Knuckles placed a hand on Sonic's shoulder.
'We'll have to try, Sonic. I'll talk about it with Tails.' he then added, 'Get some sleep. I'll go look for them.'
'No, Knuckles. We're doing this together just like old times.' Sonic told him as a matter-of-fact, trying to keep his eyes open.
Knuckles chuckled and shook his head. 'You need to rest, Blue. Also, I'm still so sorry.' he said and sighed. '...about everything.'
'Don't be, Knuckles.' Sonic smiled at him, looking so tired, and yet there was that smile. It was such a kind, friendly smile that soothed Knuckles when he saw it - a smile silently telling him that everything was going to be alright. Where had he seen that smile before?
'We'll get them back. I know it.' Sonic added with confidence.
Knuckles gazed at him in awe and then nodded. This was what he admired about Sonic the Hedgehog - his optimistic outlook even during the most desperate of times. Knuckles silently decided that he would go look for the emeralds while Sonic and Tails tried their best to cure Amy Rose with the fake emerald, and also because, although Sonic denied it, the blue speedster had to get his rest. So he decided he would take care of this independently. He wouldn't give up just yet. He wanted to fix this.
He watched as Sonic stood up, giving him the same confident smile and a thumbs-up.
'I'll go check on Amy and Tails. You get some sleep, too, Knuckles. You'll need it before the journey.'
Sonic then sped back into the ward before Knuckles could respond.
He wanted to see Amy before going off with Knuckles.
He wanted to see his Rose.
- xxx -
Amy leaned back against the propped-up pillow as she gently stroked Tails' head. It had been twenty minutes since Sonic and Knuckles left the ward to talk. She wondered what they were talking about.
How many times had the four of them worked out missions together in the past? How many times had they discussed plans together, fought bad guys together, and saved lives together? Here she was now with Tails, sitting apart from them. This time, they weren't planning on how to stop any attack. They weren't planning on stopping any bad guy. They were planning to save her life.
Amy sighed and looked down at Tails who was asleep again. The young fox had wanted to stay by her side. He could have gone with the boys to discuss, but he chose to stay.
Poor, Tails...she thought. It broke her heart that the eleven-year-old left his comfortable bed back in his own room at Station Square just to be there for her in the slightly cold ward. She felt so touched as small tears welled up in her eyes. He was still so young, and yet here he was.
I'm not alone, am I...?
You have never been, beloved. I am with you always.
She blinked her tears away and felt comforted by that soft gentle voice which was almost like a whisper in her heart.
Lord?
Amy turned to look out of the open window at the night sky, recalling all His promises from the beginning.
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
She felt her heart swell up. Lord, please help me to stay strong.
Strong...
Amy had always wanted to stay strong, but no matter how much she had tried over the last few months, she couldn't. She knew she needed His help, and sure enough, God always helped her by telling her to focus on Him and not on what was going on around her, but yet, there had been days when she felt all alone and left out.
She knew she had the Lord, and she often told Him all of her desires - how she wanted her friends back, how she wanted to feel the joy of spending time with them again, and also how much she missed Sonic. Even though she knew she needed to trust His timing, the wait was always so discouraging, and she had wondered if her prayers were being heard at all.
It was on days like that when it was difficult for her to focus on the Lord and stay hopeful. But when Sonic finally showed up after a month the previous evening, she had felt her heart rise with hope, and she knew then that her prayers were heard after all. She was happy to see him, yet, she couldn't help but feel sad and slightly upset at the same time.
What if this is only for a little while...? She had wondered.
Although she didn't want to, she couldn't help but think of his lack of attention over the previous month, and it caused her to keep her distance from him. She should have been thankful, but instead, she was bitter. She didn't want to let her emotions prevent her from forgiving him, but it had been hard then. She felt guilty now as she felt convicted. He had come and yet...she wasn't grateful. It was only after she woke up and found Sonic to be still there at the hospital that touched her and softened her feelings toward him. She hadn't expected to see him by her bedside. She thought he would leave like he always did, but he was there waiting...
O Father, I admit, I was cold toward him. I shouldn't have been that way. Please forgive me...
The door opened just then and there was a quick gust of wind. 'Amy?'
The delicate pink rose now looked up at her handsome blue hero who now stood in front of her, looking at her with concern. He was always showing up unexpectedly since he brought her to the hospital, and it made her heart tug. 'Are you crying?'
She gasped ever so lightly and blushed. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. 'I-I'm not.'
'Are you sure?' He asked gently, tilting his head a little. 'You seem to have wiped away a tear just now.'
She blushed and looked up at him. She knew she had to apologize. She didn't want to keep it in her for longer. She looked down at Tails who still happened to be fast asleep and bit her lip.
'What's wrong, Ames?' His gentle voice caused her to look up at him. He was standing closer now, keeping his sparkling green eyes fixed on her with concern etched in them.
Better to say it now. 'Sonic, I-I'm sorry for treating you that way earlier.'
He cocked his head slightly to the side. 'What way?'
'Well...' she turned her face away from his intent gaze. 'For not being so friendly back at my apartment. You came to help me, and -'
'Amy.'
She looked at him again, her heart picking up a pace. 'I'm so sorry, Sonic.'
He simply gazed at her, not saying a word. He felt his affection toward her grow. She was so different...
'You only did what you felt, Ames. Besides, I guess I deserved it a little.' He said and sighed. There was no more response from the blue hero. He wasn't upset that Amy treated him that way at all. Although he had felt it a little back then, in the end, he knew. He knew he deserved it. He knew that if she had been kind and friendly, he would have felt even more guilty for not visiting her.
'It's okay, Amy.' He said and smiled. Amy looked up at him and choked back tears. As Sonic looked at her, he could tell she was still in some kind of emotional pain, and although he wasn't so sure what it was, he felt proud that she decided to stay strong nevertheless. He liked it when his friends were brave. It helped lift him up, but there was something a little different about Amy this time. He had never known her to be this way before. He wondered where she got her hope from.
Not wanting to prod further, Sonic sat down on the edge of the bed. He looked over at his best friend Tails who was asleep. He smiled gently.
'Looks like he's so tired, huh?'
Amy took a deep breath to calm down and nodded as she stroked his head. 'He hasn't gotten any proper sleep, Sonic.'
Sonic sighed. A part of him felt guilty for bringing Tails to the hospital, but then again, he knew that he probably wouldn't have been able to get through the ordeal without his little brother. The tension would gave been too much for him, but still, Tails was very young. He deserved to be asleep comfortably in his own home. Unlike him, Tails was always immersed in productive activities. The blue hero knew how much Tails looked forward to his morning classes, and once he was back, the smart young prodigy would be in his workshop, mending a few machines or toys. Sonic wondered if Tails would attend his classes which would begin in four hours' time.
The blue hero shook his head and looked away, feeling upset. He had been feeling guilty since the previous evening, and he wasn't close to getting over it. He wanted to go back and make things right. He wanted to be there for Amy and make sure she was safe. He wanted to make sure Tails slept early at night like he always did. His little brother was always keen on staying up for long hours at night to study, but every time Sonic was around, he would chide him and tell him to sleep early.
'You can wake up early to study, Tails. I don't want you losing your sleep.'
Sonic looked over at Tails now as he slept and knew he had to make sure it happened this time as well. If there was one thing he could still make right, he wanted to take it before it was gone. Besides, the little one had done enough for the night already.
'I'll take him back home.' He stood up and walked over to the other side of the bed where he lay and picked up the young fox in his arms. Amy looked up at him, feeling so happy and thankful.
'Be careful, Sonic.'
Sonic gave her a quick nod. 'I'll be back, Ames.' And with that, he sped out of the ward with a sleeping Tails in his arms.
- xxx -
Knuckles didn't leave immediately after Sonic had gone back into the ward. He had sat there, thinking about their conversation.
Seeing Sonic tire made him feel tired too; and as much as he wanted to rest, he forced himself to stay awake. He didn't want to sleep yet. How could he after what he had done? Although it wasn't entirely his fault, he still chided himself for his carelessness. He could have done better, but what would that have been? Like Sonic said, how was he to know that those cats were going to steal the emeralds? The island had never experienced any attacks from any rival groups during the night because that was when he was most awake...and present.
I thought...if I could leave just for an hour...
Knuckles had a strong feeling that they were being watched for a very long time. He was still stunned that they knew where the emeralds were kept. He wondered if Sonic and Tails had ever been aware of it.
Were they watching us since then?
He shook his head since it was starting to hurt. It has been a while since he experienced anxiety. To stay awake, he picked up some coffee from the hospital's vending machine and left the hospital. He wanted to get started with finding the cats right away, but he had no clue as to their whereabouts. He decided he would go back to Angel Island when it was brighter to look for any clue. He hoped he could find at least one.
Outside, it was slowly starting to get brighter. He walked past a small fountain that let out gentle streams of water. He stopped for a brief moment, sipping the warm coffee. The gentle trickle of water comforted him and helped calm his nerves. It was at that moment that he thought about Rouge.
Where is she? He wanted to call her, but he felt hesitant for some reason. He wasn't sure what it was.
Leaving the can on a bench nearby, he started to make his way back to Angel Island, figuring that in the slowly appearing daylight, he might be able to look for some clues. He decided he would call Rouge once he was there. But when Knuckles finally approached the large floating island after a while, he almost felt his heart drop when he saw her sitting there, waiting for him.
How long...?
Rouge looked up when he approached and welcomed him with a pleasant smile - a smile so beautiful and still so charming even after all these years since he first met her. He loved her deeply, and he wondered if that same smile would remain just for him for all the years to come.
When he landed, she came forward and embraced him. 'Knuckles!'
'Rouge.' he hugged her tightly. He wanted her company, he wanted to stay; but he had to refrain. He had to focus.
Once she pulled back, she searched his eyes. 'Knuckles, I heard that you and Sonic encountered a few rival cats. Is everything alright? Are you hurt?'
Knuckles sighed and gestured for her to sit down with him. After he told her all that happened and watched as her expression shifted from one of a shock to worry, he wondered if she would judge him, but instead, she looked at him with concern and took his hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. He noted her eyes glisten as she smiled warmly.
'No matter what you do, I will always love you just the same, Knuckles.'
The words were able to soothe his soul. He recalled how calm Sonic had looked before he left to see Amy and Tails; he had looked so determined, so patient. Knuckles wondered if he deserved all the kindness after what he did, but he knew this wasn't the time to mope over it. Knowing that he didn't have much time to lose, he quickly told Rouge that he had to search the island for clues.
She readily agreed and so they began.
-xxx-
After Sonic left, Amy relaxed a little. She was alone now, and she closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting out a tired sigh before opening them up again. She turned to look out the open window and saw the early rays of the sun on the horizon.
How she loved the sunrise. It was always the dawn of a new day - a day to start anew with renewed hope and joy, a day to make things right. It was another blessed day to spread love in this dark, broken world.
The pink rose then wondered what the next few weeks would be like. She knew that she wouldn't be able to work at Cheesy Stakes for some time due to the pain. She made a mental note to call her boss and inform him later that day.
Her thoughts then went to the families she often visited. Would they be fine?
Amy loved visiting the families and children so much that it broke her heart now that she couldn't visit them. How long would it take until she could go see them again? She sighed sadly and closed her eyes, saying a silent prayer for them. She wanted them to have hope and be strengthened. Once she opened her eyes, she looked around the room she was in. It felt lonely, but she didn't want to let it get over her head. Not this time. Not again.
Amy sighed. Somewhere deep inside, she could feel a small throb, but it wasn't as painful as what she had felt back at the apartment. She placed a hand over her stomach gently and closed her eyes for a long moment, listening to the throb. She didn't know for how long she sat there. The quietness around her helped calm her soul, and she didn't want to know what time it was.
God, are you here right now?
There was a reassuring silence and warmth that comforted her. She smiled.
Amy Rose had encountered the Lord while she was visiting a small family during one of her visits two months ago. Unlike any family she had seen, this particular family was radiating warmth and love. She had wondered what it was that gave them such hope amidst the tragedy. They had lost their eldest son to the war, and Amy was thankful that they still had their youngest son - a young adorable kitten of four named Kyle. She had seen them smile, laugh, and push forward despite what had happened. When most families around them were hurting, there was this one joyful family who was willing to go around and help lift up their neighbors.
When the delicate Rose grew closer with the family over the weeks, she got the courage to ask the mother:
'Ma'am, you're so different from the other families I've seen around here.'
The mother had looked at her with surprise and silent curiosity. 'Why do you say that, dear?'
'Well...' Amy hesitated as she searched for the right words. 'Your family seems so complete and happy amidst all...this.' she said, gesturing with her arms at what the war had caused - loss, ruin, and grief.
The mother smiled gently. There was sweet tenderness in her eyes. 'Well, dear, we have a Living Hope who holds my family together.'
Amy was confused and curious. 'A living hope?'
'Yes, dear, Amy.' The mother had taken her hands in hers, looking at her with such warmth of affection and gentleness that it touched her heart. 'He is the Lord our God, and He told me that everything is going to be alright. When Keenan left us...' she had said, mentioning her eldest son who was ten. '...we all went through such pain and sorrow...that it was so difficult...'
The mother broke off and Amy had given her hand a gentle squeeze, trying to reassure her. A mother would always hold her children close to her heart, even long after they have passed on. When she finally looked up at Amy again, her eyes were brimmed with tears, but her face held a gentle smile. '...but then we knew, and we know still, that he is at a better place...he is with his Lord where he'll always be safe. And one day, we'll get to see them both.'
Amy knew right then that the mother was talking about God and heaven. All her life, she had never known God to be real, or even if He was real, why was there so much suffering and hate in this world? She always felt there was no need to believe in Him since she was able to do fine on her own.
She had rebelled. Even if You are real and not doing anything to stop all of this, I will do it with Sonic and the others!
And so she had done, but even still, she knew there was only so much she could do. How could she wipe away every tear from every eye, or take every sadness away? She never had that kind of power, and so she always wondered if there was a better way to cling to hope.
Amy had seen the pain and tears of many over the years up until then, and she couldn't help but shed some herself. The fact that she was all alone during the time added to her sorrow even more. She had hoped for a change, a difference; an everlasting comfort, a kind of love that would never fade away no matter how many times she stumbled or fell, but no matter where she looked, she never found it...
But here was a wonderful young mother, her face shining with hope and joy, speaking so fondly of God even after losing her eldest son. Amy had never seen anything of this kind before. She saw the family's hope, warmth, strength, and love - so precious even during the troubling times they were going through. Amy had never lost anyone so dear to her, but she always wondered if she would be able to pull through if she did; and so that was why she was drawn to them - drawn to their hope, confidence, and strength. She wanted it so much since it amazed her. She wanted to know the source of it all.
Is this all because of God...? She had wondered.
'Who is this...God, ma'am?' She had asked in a low, soft voice, her eyes holding curiosity and longing.
The mother had broken into a sob just then and smiled so widely at her, much to Amy's surprise. 'He is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Saviour and the King.'
And that was how Amy Rose's faith journey began.
I want to keep trusting You. I know You will heal me, Lord.
She smiled happily and relaxed. She had her Hope. She was safe.
The door opened just them. It was Sonic.
'Amy?'
She looked up and kept her hand back to her side. She didn't want him to worry again. 'Sonic, you're back.'
The blue hero closed the door and walked over to her. He sat down on the edge of the bed, as usual, facing her.
'How do you feel?'
Amy couldn't feel any pain ever since what Shadow did earlier, and so she smiled happily. 'I'm alright, Sonic.'
Relief washed over him as he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. He could tell that she was saying the truth. He had worried while on his way to Tails' that something would happen while he was away. He didn't have to worry now, and he smiled back at her. 'I'm so glad, Ames.'
She smiled warmly at him. 'Did you put Tails to bed?'
He nodded. 'Uh-huh. He woke up for a brief moment though, not completely, and so I had to sit by until he was asleep again.' He rubbed the back of his head before adding sheepishly. 'And...I couldn't help but make a quick sandwich while I was there.'
Amy giggled, and then quickly looked concerned. 'What about you, Sonic?'
He looked at her. 'What about me?'
'Have you gotten any sleep since you brought me here?'
Sonic didn't respond immediately as he hesitated. 'No.' He said after a moment, averting his eyes.
'Sonic, I'm fine now.' She suggested kindly. 'You should sleep. It's good for you.'
'I know, it's just...' He sighed. What if something went wrong again while he slept? He didn't want Amy to be in pain again, not while he was not there; but his eyes were starting to feel heavy that very moment. He thought the quick run to Tails' home and back would wake him up, but it didn't work.
He then felt a gentle hand over his. It was a soft touch. He looked over at Amy who searched his eyes with much concern. If it had been a month ago, he would have pulled his hand away, but this time, he kept it there.
'I'll be fine, Sonic.' She told him again.
Her voice...it was so gentle, so kind.
Sonic stared at her, and the two locked eyes for a moment before they quickly looked away, both shy and embarrassed.
Sonic saw her take her hand from his, and he did the same by keeping his hand at his side. He felt his heart tug a little, but he didn't want to focus too much on it. He just wasn't ready to fall in love yet.
Or was he?
The blue hero looked over at her again who then lifted her eyes to look back. His gaze softened.
Sonic knew Amy wanted him to make his own choices. The pink hedgehog never stood in the way of his plans. Except for a few times in the past like that one incident in Grand Metropolis, Sonic couldn't recall any others even if they had happened; but he wasn't so surprised. After all, she had grown.
Someone who would never stop him from being free, someone who would respect his choices...
Sonic recalled that moment many years ago when he was protecting Elise from Eggman. Midway, he had gotten stopped by then-rival Silver, but then Amy had come along, telling the ivory hedgehog that Sonic would never destroy the world.
Someone who would trust him...
Sonic gazed at Amy's green, sparkling jade eyes and he knew then that he was slowly starting to adore her.
Why had he taken so long? Why after all these years? Why feel this warmth of affection toward his childhood best friend whom he used to run away from?
Why here? Why now?
He was afraid of the feeling, not knowing what it would bring. He had never fallen in love before. What was the experience like? He didn't know, and as much as he was hesitant, he was curious to know what it meant. He wanted to know what it meant to be in love. He wanted to take on this new adventure. Plus, he didn't have anyone to fear now. If Eggman had still been there, he would have thought twice, but now, he was free, and Amy Rose made him feel so different now than she had ever done.
As these thoughts went through his mind, he slowly got up and moved to sit down next to her, much to the delicate pink hedgehog's surprise. He brought his legs up on the bed and, without hesitating, he placed his arms around her waist and lifted her gently towards the center with his legs placed on either side of her. He was glad he was alone with her this time.
'S-Sonic?' Amy asked, and she couldn't hide the faint blush that appeared on her muzzle. What was happening?
'Let me, Amy.' He whispered.
He moved to wrap his arms delicately around her stomach and gently pulled her closer toward him against his chest.
Her heart started to race and she blushed pink now. She closed her eyes to calm down.
Never had Amy thought her hero would embrace her like this; and even though she had always hoped he would express his feelings for her, over time, she had given up on that hope, but now...
What's happening, Lord?
She could feel the warmth of his embrace, and as much as she felt embarrassed, she also felt comforted. It was a kind of comfort that she had longed for over the past one month, and now she was getting it from the one whom she still loved.
Sonic rested his chin on her shoulder and he felt his eyes begin to droop. He was getting very tired now, and Amy gave him comfort. He let a small smile form on his lips as he closed his eyes. He had been worried and running all day yesterday, and he needed rest. He wanted to relax. He liked how Amy didn't protest. She trusted him, and so he wasn't going to betray that trust.
The two hedgehogs stayed together that way until Sonic finally fell asleep on her shoulder. Amy saw that he did, and it touched her heart. She smiled and closed her eyes as well, thanking God for the beautiful morning surprise. Even though she didn't know what was going through Sonic's mind and heart, she knew he would never hurt her.
The first full rays of the morning sun started appearing over the horizon. A new day was finally here, and so was the start of what would turn out to be a beautiful relationship.
- xxx -
Tails woke up when the clock chimed seven. He yawned and whined as he stretched. He then turned to his side and hugged his blanket as he closed his eyes to sleep again.
Wait, his blanket?
The young fox shot his eyes open and sat up on his elbows.
How did I get here?!
He looked around him and sat still as he listened for any sound of a snore. When he didn't hear any, he knew Sonic wasn't there with him at the house.
Did he drop me here and leave?
Tails shook his head and got up in haste. He quickly washed, and as he was about to leave, he heard his stomach growl. It was then that he realized that he did not have anything to eat since yesterday noon. He glanced at the wall clock and calculated that he would have to make a sandwich within ten minutes and then leave for the hospital while munching it on his way there.
I can't believe he just left me here!
He quickly rushed into the kitchen to make the sandwich and surprisingly, the ingredients were left scattered carelessly on the counter. On one side, he saw a plate of sandwiches made just for him. It was covered safely with a glass cloche with greasy stains all over it.
Tails sighed as he quickly walked over to them. I don't know what to say to you, Sonic.
Just then, there was a knock at the door to the kitchen.
'Come in!' he called out in haste as he lifted the cloche with care and placed it aside.
'Relax, kiddo.' It was Knuckles. 'You can slow down a little.'
The young fox turned to look at him, and as much as he was in a hurry, seeing Knuckles helped calm him down.
'Knuckles, what happened last night?'
Knuckles sighed heavily and knew he had to recount the whole incident to Tails.
He had left Angel Island almost an hour ago when he didn't get an answer from Sonic after having tried to call him twice. Concerned that something must have gone wrong again, Knuckles told Rouge that he was going to see Sonic. She had wanted to come along, but being the firm yet considerate echidna that he is, he told her to stay on the island and get some sleep. He didn't want her to lose her sleep for his mistakes, and he could even see how tired she looked although she tried to hide it.
'Knuckles, please - '
'Rouge.' He had held her hand in his and looked at her. 'I need you to stay here. I can't risk leaving the island unguarded again.'
She had nodded with much hesitation, and he felt like comforting her, but he didn't have much time to lose. Before he could change his mind, he had turned away from her. He knew that if he stayed for a minute longer, he wouldn't want to leave at all. He would come back for her; yes, he would, and once everything was over, he would spend time with her. And so he left without looking back, leaving the lovely lone bat behind who watched him glide away back to Emerald City.
As Knuckles presently sat down at the dinner table, he knew Tails deserved to know what happened as much as anyone did. The echidna guardian then began telling him everything from the beginning up to the part about Sonic being optimistic as always. He watched again as Tails' expression grew from one of worry, sadness, and anxiety to finally hope. When Knuckles mentioned using the fake Chaos emerald, Tails let out a sudden gasp and nearly dropped the sandwich he held.
'Of course! Why didn't I think of that?'
Knuckles stared at him as hope grew in his heart. 'Do you...think that could work?'
Tails didn't respond immediately and stood contemplative. He had created the fake chaos emerald many years ago for Sonic, and ever since that incident at Space Colony ARK, the young fox had managed to retrieve it with care. It was now placed somewhere on his shelf in the workshop. He had to spend some time looking for it. With a sigh, he looked up at Knuckles.
'We won't know unless we try; but Knuckles, you must know that although that emerald possesses the same amount of power, it will never be able to function as an actual Chaos emerald. Which means,' he added with a heavy sigh, 'In the long run, to cure Amy, we will require the original emeralds.'
Knuckles knew, and so he nodded. 'Alright, so I'll go look for the original emeralds while you try to work things out a little with this one.'
Tails nodded. 'I'll try my best, Knuckles.' He then asked when the thought occurred to him just then, 'Will you be alright by yourself?'
Knuckles scoffed. 'Of course, I will, Tails!' He held out his fists. 'Those cats won't stand a chance against these.'
Tails tapped his chin, looking a little confused. 'But what about Sonic?'
Tails was surprised when Knuckles told him that he would go by himself. Sonic and Knuckles almost always worked together. They were unstoppable with Sonic's speed and Knuckles' strength. Besides, the blue hero was always quick to do anything to save his friends. What was so different now?
Knuckles sighed and put down his hands. 'Well...'
The red echidna couldn't help but smirk. Once Knuckles had arrived back at the hospital to look for Sonic, he was visibly surprised by what he had seen.
There they were - blue and pink, huddled close together in a warm embrace, sleeping peacefully. It was such a heartwarming sight that Knuckles had stood there, simply staring at them in awe. He wondered what triggered the blue speedster to take such an intimate step, and that too, toward Amy - the pink female he had never shown any feelings for over the years, but deep inside, he, too, knew this would be good for Sonic.
The blue teenager was always lazying around since the war, not doing anything productive. Knuckles had grown weary of seeing him that way since he wasn't used to it. He had wanted to help but didn't know how to. Seeing him with Amy brought a smile to Knuckles' face, knowing that this would at least help keep his best friend engaged. Besides, it was high time he got himself a girlfriend anyway, and Knuckles knew he would be more than glad if Amy was the one for Sonic.
About time, Blue. Heh.
With a smile, he closed the door gently and left. He easily guessed that Sonic must have taken Tails back home since he didn't spot the young fox there. He couldn't help but chuckle, knowing that he now had something to tease Sonic with.
'Let's just say that Sonic is...comfortable.' Knuckles said and looked at Tails. He couldn't hide the twinkle in his eyes.
'Comfortable?' Tails looked incredulous.
Knuckles chuckled and got up to leave. He held out his hand for a wave. 'You'll find him at the hospital. Tell Sonic that I'm going on without him.'
Before Tails could ask anything further, the echidna guardian was already out of the kitchen. The young two-tail was still confused and stupefied as he stood there.
Comfortable?
Shaking his head, he quickly ran out of the kitchen just as Knuckles was about to leave. 'Knuckles, wait!'
He stopped and turned to look at the hasty young prodigy coming after him and stopping a few feet away.
'Take care of yourself, Knuckles. It could be dangerous.'
Knuckles scoffed again. 'Tails, I'll be alright. You have nothing to worry about. Do you really think a guardian like me who has gone through years of fighting advanced Eggman bots can't put off a few Mobian cats?'
As much as Knuckles and Tails had grown close over the years, he softened every time the young fox expressed his concerns openly. He wasn't like the others he knew, especially Sonic, whom he now called his best friend from a former rival. Even though he didn't want to admit it, Knuckles did view Tails as a kid brother, perhaps even more so than Sonic did; but Knuckles knew he could never compare his connection with Tails to that of the one shared by the speedy blue hero which was one of brotherly affection and trust, coupled with years of adventure and friendship that spanned from the time Sonic first started his journey which led him to eventually becoming a much-loved hero of Mobius. Sonic and Tails had been together since then, and they were still together even now. It was something worth admiring.
Tails sighed. 'Yeah, I know, Knuckles...but do call if you need help, okay?'
Knuckles nodded and smiled. 'I will.'
- xxx -
Somewhere in a hidden cave in the forests close to Mystic Ruins, there stood a group of five cats guarding the entrance, fully armed and vigilant. They had a sharp look in their eyes and stood poised and alert, ready to strike anyone whom they predicted would be a threat. Their sharp, keen eyes scanned the trees, the land, and the sky every few minutes for anything out of the ordinary. They were hired for this, trained for this, and they did well since it was their thing.
Behind them stood three other cats. These, however, weren't as armed as the ones standing at the entrance. They seemed a little timid and afraid as they watched their leader, the female cat with striking ruby orbs, get frustrated with a box that supposedly contained the most powerful emeralds on Mobius.
'I was told that this would be easy!' she complained as she kicked the box. One of the cats winced when he saw that.
'P-perhaps we may have to ask someone, boss?'
She turned and glared at him, causing the cat to recoil. 'Ask whom? Those Freedom Fighters? They are the only ones apart from Doctor Eggman who know how to use these emeralds and they are also the ones who are after us. I am not asking anyone!'
With that, she turned and felt a growing impulse to shove the box of emeralds aside. She didn't really care much about them. The only reason she stole them from that island was that she knew how powerful they were. She knew that if she could somehow use their power, she could use them to fend off those heroes while trying to free Doctor Eggman, and perhaps even the guards who stood at the prison.
She was growing tired and frustrated. She had been carefully following the heroes around in various disguises, and if it wasn't for Eggman, she would have given it all up. She had taken incredible pains to be present on the island almost every day, especially on that fateful day when Sonic and that young friend of his had come to hand over the emeralds to that difficult guardian. She had seen their exchanges even though she couldn't listen in on their conversation. She had seen where they kept it, and so she was able to formulate a plan - a plan to somehow grab those emeralds without being caught.
And then the opportunity came. She was doing this not just for herself, but also for the Doctor.
The slender cat had always looked up to the Doctor ever since she was a child and was deeply fascinated by his inventions and intellect. Although she didn't find his plans to destroy the world so glorious, she still wanted to work under him. She wanted to learn how he designed his machines and hoped that she, too, would one day get to make her own. She had been hurt by many since she was a child and the pain had caused her to grow hostile towards everyone. She didn't know what love really meant, and she found it hard to forgive since she couldn't erase the wrong they had done. She kept a record of all their wrongs in her mind.
That was why she wanted to work under the Doctor. At least then she would be away from the others, she would be away at some far-off island in the middle of the ocean working in a large, spacious lab. She wouldn't have had to be concerned about anyone but herself. But now...it all seemed so far away, so distant and unreachable.
With a heavy sigh, she turned and walked out of the cave, leaving her surprised guards behind.
She wanted to be alone.
- xxx-