Disclaimer - I do not own sonic or any other characters. They are property of SEGA and anything sonic the hedgehog affiliated with it.
…...6 Years Later...
New Mobotropolis, in the Grasslands of Mobius the city was thriving; some might say it was flourishing. It had been a long time and many things changed as they do in life. It was a grey autumn day, warm out but a cool breeze still warranted for a jacket. The sun had been blocked by the clouds, and the leaves were orange and yellow and red. They swirled through the air as many citizens bustled through the streets getting ready for the sixth festival since there had been no more attacks on the city, people had gotten back in their comfortable zone. It was dark and gloomy almost like a gothic setting; just right for Halloween again just like when Nicole had her first and last Halloween in New Mobotropolis...but it was not Halloween. The Thanksgiving Festival was coming…
Sonic the Hedgehog wandered aimlessly through the city not going anywhere in particular. Today he was just bored out of his mind. The wind blew making him shiver; he wrapped a green scarf tighter around his neck as he continued to walk the streets. The smell of food and laughter filled the air but Sonic did not smile. Sonic's face remained blank as he walked through business district making his way through the crowds until he spotted a coffee shop not far from where he was.
He went through the crowd and made his way inside. He waited in one of the painfully long lines and ordered a bagel then went to one of the many vending machines and got a soda. Luckily, many citizens were just popping in and out of the store, so there were many seats available. Sonic made his way over to a seat by the window. Placing his purchases on the table in front of him; he stared out of the window unwrapping the green scarf given to him by Sally. Placing that on his lap, he got lost in thought staring out the window of the coffee house. Sonic's face remained devoid of any emotion. His quills remained the same, and he was a bit taller now, a little more mature looking in the face.
Eggman had changed, other than the fact that he was now sporting some gray hair Eggman's tactics had changed completely. And that had a lot to do with how New Mobotropolis had changed. The tides of war against Eggman had changed, and the whole of Mobius had even changed. Eggman didn't attack New Mobotropolis anymore...because he couldn't...
And he was on the up and up and knew why New Mobotropolis had changed…how much…power they had gained in the span of just six years…
He was directly involved with what had happened six years ago and even now. He watched as the world change and how New Mobotropolis, his home, had become the technology central of Mobius and transformed the world…
And he didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Sure they had beaten all their enemies, and they kept them under control now. But he felt a little trepidation at the power that had come into their own hands and how fast it had come. Absolute power corrupts absolute. And he always thought of Nicole whenever they created new technology. He sort of felt they shouldn't have this powerful technology they had come into…that's what Nicole used to do…
It was all so strange….this technology they had come into recently…
Nicole was responsible for stopping them from using this type of technology they had created in recent years. And Sonic felt there was already some greed coming from within their own ranks. He sort of felt they shouldn't be using this stuff, that they shouldn't even have it…
But everyone else was convinced that it would help…and it had in some ways…
But them becoming so powerful he was so sure about…
New Mobotropolis, the Republic of Acorn, and all their allies, essentially, they the good guys were now in control of Mobius…
And Sonic guessed after seeing Eggman not try to attack the city anymore; he was starting to see that as well.
But Eggman had not stopped though, he had just scaled down to just stealing things, and that's when the Freedom fighters and other factions of the Freedom Fighters got involved. Also some devastating information about the Eggman Empire was leaked a few years back so that had to also hurt him. Sonic leaned his head on his hand now staring out the window; now that Eggman and even all their other enemies just stopped. It was boring...
Nothing but hobbies to keep him busy and the death of communication between himself and his friends. Sonic drowned out the noises around him when he thought about this subject. Because outside it had just got a little darker as the clouds dimmed the sun's rays again, it was almost as if the sun was setting, and it was only morning.
Some things had not changed for the best. Tails and he did not hang as much anymore. He had become so busy helping run the city had had taken a lot of administrative positions; he was growing up.
He turned his attention to his food and began to eat it. While munching his food he thought of Antoine. He had become even higher ranking in the royal military, and he didn't see much of him anymore; the same applied to Bunnie because they'd been married for so long. He wanted everyone to be close friends again but people…his friends….
As the world got better they all began drifting away to their own things...things were easier now because all the fighting and war had diminished and in turn people retreated into their own lives away from each other only focused and concerned about their own self and nothing else...
Lost in a sea of their own life which was more important than anybody or anything. He began to wonder if he was more sensitive on than he showed outside.
He returned his attention out to the grey dark day outside; the number of citizens looked like it had doubled. On a positive note Amy, Rotor, and himself had become even closer than they ever had. They hung out whenever they could. Amy and Rotor did not have as much in common and did not hang out as much when they hung with him, but they still did sometimes. Rotor had taught him how to use a computer, and he even had one in his house now. He was starting to really like computers; it almost kept him entertained as much as running did.
Amy however...they had gotten closer than they did in the past but there still was no relationship. Though she still liked to tease him about it.
As she did at first but as time went on Amy seemed to slow down not seeking a relationship but just getting to know him. But things had been going great with Amy and Rotor. He was also told by Amy and Rotor. they did not speak much with the others anymore.
"..." Sonic sighed feeling the sting of the past in his mind.
Sally and him did not speak much anymore. After all was said and done after Nicole had left, Sally, and he had severely limited contact. He saw her often when conducting business, but when he ran into her on personal occasions they only spoke briefly; it was awkward. But Sally was something he could not live down because he still thought about her. He wished he could tell her how he felt until her words came back to haunt him when his mind was quiet. And all the other things they led up to their breakup.
He still had a soft spot for Sally but...he was done with that for the time being…
Then he broke away from those thoughts to why today was such a momentous occasion; his face lightening to a smirk.
Sonic finished his snack and leaned back in his chair; Nicole was coming back today….
He hadn't seen her since she left but the guys, and himself had regular contact with her. They had no less concern for her, and they still watched over her as she decided to live away from them in Arch City for the last six years; there were security personal always around her. Sonic himself had probably been the most involved when it came to watching her for a couple of reasons.
One was that Nicole was always open and sometimes eager to converse with him; she still obviously liked him just as much as she did six years ago.
Which made him wonder about the parallels of how this living Nicole was one in the same as when she was a computer. And she had very similar mannerisms and liked the same things since she was a computer…even him…and it was sort of strange…
He thought she might grow out of these things and be a different person because of…what she did…but because she hadn't he could at least say it was the same Nicole…the same Nicole that used to be the A.I of the city…and their friend...
But as she grew he noticed how she matured when she spoke, in each subsequent conversation with her about what she was doing. Her demeanor became more subdued. She had calmed down as she faced the hardships of life, and he thought she had learned from being on her own.
The other reason he was more involved with watching her was he was her guardian six years ago, and he couldn't help but to see if she stayed safe. So again he was more involved than keeping an eye on her then the others; that and the guys were busy with themselves.
Then Sonic frowned as his eyes focused on the lights reflecting off the glass of the coffee house; sweet smells entered his noise. He was sorry to say the guys were upset at Nicole still because of what she did six years ago; but they knew she couldn't give an explanation because even she didn't remember. But that didn't make them any less upset because she had affected everyone's lives and not always in the best way…
They spoke with her phone but not as much as him; it seemed like he was the only one who truly had her back at the moment. Not to say he wasn't upset by what she did; he was because life had become radically different without her. Even though she had even affected his life in a negative way he just couldn't let one of his friends go down; he never would with any of his friends. What she did six years ago, he at least knew for sure that it was not done with malicious intent like everyone had been treating it. Self-centered yes…but as far as he was concerned, she was still their friend, and he picked her up and watched over her like he did six years ago…
Nicole had grown into great individual. And though what she did six years ago was still up for debate, there was no denying that the somewhat peaceful life they were experiencing right now was in whole because of her. There would be no New Mobotropolis without her…
He then grabbed his drink, opened it, and chugged it down as a few people sat down at a table near him.
Then, there was the issue of Nicole and what happened six years ago. It was still sort of a secret as no one really knew what happened than himself and the other Freedom Fighters. The opinion about Nicole ranging from the citizens to the politicians was a jumble one as everyone had many different opinions and rumors about what happened that lead to New Mobotropoli's first citywide crisis. It was a whole other topic for another time.
But because it remained a secret about Nicole becoming a living being and not being the AI of New Mobotropolis anymore and all the complicated topics that came along with it. Nicole was able to slip off into Arch City without anybody noticing because no one really knew what happened. No one knew who she was there unlike in New Mobotropolis where everyone sort of recognized her as she walked around six years ago. There no one recognized her, and she was able to blend in and live own her own for a while like she wanted. Plus Mobius had become much safer because of all the recent technological advances that had been made in the last six years.
Their enemies didn't know what happened either, so they didn't know who the living Nicole was also, so it worked to their advantage. Even more so now that the world had become safer from threats like Eggman and the likes.
She had been trying to distance herself from them, and she had become independent. But she had announced not too long ago she was coming home saying she was ready.
Now Sonic didn't know exactly what to think of it because though they had conversed on the regular. She had been gone so long he was afraid he might not know her anymore...
He was actually hoping she didn't change so much that she wasn't there friend anymore. But it didn't seem like that over the phone he still remained cautiously optimistic. He now wondered what she looked like and how she carried herself now the she had grown more; she sure sounded more mature on the phone.
Sonic then got up from his seat throwing his trash away. He was depressing himself, coupled with boredom he needed to get moving again. Sonic exited the cafe and began to look for a payphone wondering if Amy was free. Sonic moved through the increased crowds of citizens and found a payphone way down the street. As he dialed Amy's number Nicole crept back into his head. His last conversation with her convinced him that he would be dealing with her just as actively as he did when she left six years ago…
At the middle of New Mobotropolis, inside Castle Acorn way down in the basements of the castle two guards guarded a door. Inside the well lit room were hundreds of computer servers lined up on shelves in this fairly large room. They were a big part of why the New OS could stay connected to things like the nanites and control of the force field and security for the city just like Nicole used to...
Tails walked through examining the city's servers with a red metallic toolbox in his hand. He walked down the last line of computers and was about to exit when just on a hunch he decided to open the computer closest to the door. He sat his toolbox on the floor opening it.
Tails had got longer, and he was taller now. Just in the midst of being a teenager he still looked very young.
Then rummaging through his toolbox he found his special Phillips screwdriver and began removing the chassis of the computer; his face neutral. He had been meaning to get down here in the basement when he saw a few computers connectivity go down the last few months. Once the case was off he pulled a small flash light out of his toolbox and looked over the motherboard. He pointed his light over onto the computer's wireless card. He then switched the server off then removed the card. Then he pulled out an electronic measuring device from his tool box and plugged the card into it; the card's output was zero. Tails placed his tools on the ground, shuffled to the back of the room to grab a replacement card then back and began installing the new card.
While doing so he thought of the others; he'd been so busy with Rotor running the city he didn't see the guys as often as he used to. As he and Rotor created new technology things had well…changed…
Not just on the personal level but also in their lives…
He hadn't had much incline to hang out with the guys anymore because things had gotten better. They were no longer in a constant war with Eggman…as strange as it sounded they had changed the world in no less than six years…
And as things got a little easier, he hated to admit it, but everyone had become apathetic…himself included…
The closeness of their friendships had dialed back now that they were no longer fighting for their lives. And in turn everyone had drifted away from one another…they had changed and now on their own paths…
It happens to everyone sooner or later…
But today for the first time in a long time he felt a tad excited; he finished installing the wireless card and began to reassemble the chassis. He thought that the people of Mobius had finally accomplished what they set out to do the day Eggman tried to rule over them. Live a normal life…
To not fear for your life on the daily basis, to make a family, and to just live Eggman and pretty much all of their enemies had stopped by them on their technological advances of the last six years. A big help from the New OS because if not for it, they never would have survived or created the technology they had. The New OS allowed them to send out devastating attacks to all their enemies bringing them to their knees.
The Freedom Fighters all over the world were unstoppable now; with the powerful technology they controlled now, they were sure to never let their enemies attack them again. They had shared the technology but New Mobotropolis was the hub of it.
But these last six years was what everyone had always dreamed of. A normal life and it was amazing, it was peaceful...it was dreadfully boring…
When you've lived you whole life fighting stopping cold turkey was hard but he'd rather have the peace. Tails checked to see if the chase was on right and when he was done he began putting his tools back into his toolbox. Tails was sure everyone like himself was happy about this new peaceful life. Tails didn't mind at all but it was boring, all that had happened was his friends drifting away...it was there faults that it had happened…it was life….
Tails picked up his toolbox and exited the room locking the door behind him. The guards followed him as they made their way back upstairs. Tails memories of Nicole flooded his mind for the third time today as he remembered she was supposed to be coming back today and with her came all the complicated problems of her…
He smiled though as he and the guards saw the stairs to the upstairs; he wondered if she still remembered him. He and the guards walked up the stairs as then and the guards, and he parted ways at the main floor still busy as ever. Tails made his way back upstairs to the control room with a weak smile as he thought of what was going to happen now that Nicole was coming back…
On the west side of town in a house sitting on the corner of a street, the day seemed to only get a bit more gray for a couple. Bunnies face had grown more mature, with stress lines on her forehead and small sags under her eyes. She hadn't got much bigger because of her cybernetics. She also wore a scrunchie in her hair tying her hair behind her head. Antoine other than being slightly more muscular looked the same; with a more mature looking face.
"Well then who was tha?" Bunnie asked with an angry face.
"I've told you, she was zee director of zee aero school!" Antoine responded with an upset face.
"Ya use ta tell me those kind of thangs." Bunnie said with a frown; she still held some anger on her face but she tried to calm down.
"Yes but it was only zi harmless meeting. I am going to be teaching new recruits to fly." Antoine said in a calmer tone; his face lighting as well.
Bunnie walked over to him and hugged him. Antoine embraced her as well until he heard her sniffing him and she pulled away. Antoine looked caught off guard as Bunnie crossed her arms patting her cybernetic foot, her anger back on her face full force. She knew she smelled perfume on his clothes last time she washed their clothes. She stared at him with a hard glare "What's her name?"
Antoine recomposed himself looking surprised "There is no women I am hiding…"
Bunnie kept her upset face "Tha directa. What's her name?" she asked again.
Antoine pulled at his collar looking nervous "Why does zis matter?"
"Cause she didn't look like the same woman I met." Bunnie said looking for any faults in his composure.
Antoine then became angry again "You have been following me!"
"Ya said you wer workin late when I asked ya to come home early last night." Bunnie said with a deep frown.
"She is an associate of the aero school." Antoine said in defense tone and anger in his face.
"Do you not hear yourself! You went somewhere else, with someone else when I asked ya to be next to me! We're married!" Bunnie yelled at him with an upset face.
"Zis is important for me to hold a seat in zis aero school. I will be in charge of teaching many students! I am helping them!" and after Antoine yelled those words out he realized his anger had revealed something else.
Bunnie uncrossed her arms still anger but dumbstruck "Why are ya still so darn competitive? Why are you tryin to gain so much attention?"
"No it is not that at all..." Antoine said looking into her eyes slightly surprised.
"First you were sitting pretty with anotha woman and now yur still lookin for prestiege! Don't ya hav enough?" she said with a worried face.
"No, I have reached the level I had hoped to achieve…I see no harm in adding to that…I've seen you looking to…" Antoine said in a descending voice looking at the floor with an upset face.
"I kno have had a wandering eye…" Bunnie looked quietly at Antoine losing her upset face, looking saddened by their argument as she pulled the scrunchy holding her hair; letting it fall onto the floor.
Then she made her way over to him and lifted his head and looked into his eyes. He looked at her as Bunnie held their faces close "Do you feel it? Do ya feel thaa pull towads me? Like we used to?" Bunnie asked moving closer with a weak smile.
Antoine did the same grabbing a hold of her waist "Yes I do my sweet..." he held a weak smile.
Then they kissed holding on to each other feeling for the intense emotion that brought them together in the first place. Their eyes closed tightly….
They were in love...
Then they pulled away looking into each other's eyes, and they looked and looked then they finally saw it. Their faces dampened as they let go of each other, Bunnie moved away from him turning away and crossing her arms with a sad face.
Antoine frowned as he closed his eyes and stood in his spot. They felt nothing. They both remained motionless as they realized the feeling was not there anymore. It was what is was They knew they were doing things they had not told each other. This argument that they just had and had been having for a long time had been pointless and irrelevant. They wondered why these arguments had rambled on so long but realized how long they had done this dance. Antoine then opened his eyes and looked at the clock on the wall then to Bunnie, their anger slipped away as this wasn't the first in many times they discovered things had become passionless between them.
"I have to be at another meeting soon..." Antoine said looking away from her again.
Bunnie nodded not looking at him; her feelings of being ashamed showing again "Don't forget Nicole is coming back taday. Everyone is going to meet in the break room at the castle..."
Antoine opened the door and walked out not looking at her "I will be there..." his face neutral.
Bunnie briefly glanced behind herself as the door lightly closed and silence filled the air. The darkness and the dark burdening gray tones of the day where exactly how she feeling right now. Bunnie sighed as she made her way over to her couch and plopped down onto to it.
Slowly tears ran from her eyes as she buried her head into her hands. Bunnie felt the breaking of her relationship even more because had started a long time ago. But the fact was she felt no passion with Antoine anymore; that's why she'd been looking at other men. She wasn't even sure how she came feel the strong feelings for Antoine in the first place anymore.
She knew herself, and Antoine's romantics had died down over the years. The anger was because she was married, and she didn't love her husband anymore. Everything felt forced, the marriage between them felt forced.
She couldn't deny it was how she felt; what she wanted to see good had made her blind. In a constant state of illusion…
Soon though she slowly stopping her crying. Antoine would always crave attention no matter how high his rank became in the military.
Antoine's crave for power, and accolades were only a small part of a myriad of problems in their relationship. Bunnie stopped her tears trying to stop the thoughts when she thought of her friends. She had not talked to the guys as much as she used to. Sally hadn't been as talkative after she and Sonic split. Amy her and her used to talk with Sally all the time but she'd been so caught up in her relationship she kind of ignored everyone….
Oh...she just missed everyone and the days when they were much closer…
But as she had told Antoine before he left, Nicole was coming back today. That was sure to be very interesting and a chance to catch up with everyone. So Bunnie dried her tears, waiting for the time when Nicole would return today. Wiping the tears away as she sat in the dark silence of her thoughts wishing things had turned out different for everyone…
Meanwhile on the south side of town, deep in a neighborhood sat a violent colored house. Rotor Walrus sat happily in his living room browsing around the internet while his TV held a low volume in the backdrop. Rotor's tusk had grown significantly larger, and he had sags under his eyes; only because he stayed up late the last few nights. A lamp on next to his couch illuminated the room, and a blanket sat on his lap as he comfortably typed away on his laptop with a big smile on his face. For the techno savvy guy as himself, the New OS setup just couldn't get any better.
He could communicate with the New OS from home just like he used to with Nicole. He didn't like being in the castle all the time; there was no place and no privacy like there was at home. Rotor sighed in pleasure sitting very cozy in a groove on his couch.
The best part about the New OS was, like Nicole, it did not need as much management. At first it was still a bit hard because they had to set it up again but once they had, it did everything they programmed and Rotor could keep an eye on it anytime.
With the compiler Nicole had created to translate her OS coding to coding's they could understand it let them run the city without her. When Nicole left they used it to get the city back on track and over the course of the last six years they had created their own coding without Nicole. Though there were complications as the New OS didn't have all the functionality as Nicole. With some of the problems being that the New OS couldn't act own its own like Nicole and without input so they still had to run the city manually. And it also created major problems not functioning correctly; they still had problems with the nantites till this day and still could not program like Nicole did. It was too complicated and without Nicole's input the nanties continued to malfunction.
The problems were major but they had kept the nanties mostly under control; even so he knew they wouldn't be fixing that problem anytime soon without Nicole's help. But lately all their enemies had slowly backed away from their recent power. The difference was, when Nicole was with them, she did not allow them to use any advanced technology from the future. Now that she wasn't in place Tails, and he had been unfiltered and had unleashed upon the people who constantly threatened their lives. And wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing…
Though he knew it was be a topic that would be broached soon with recent happenings, i.e. Nicole returning to New Mobotropolis. At the same time Rotor didn't care why their enemies had backed down, because he was just happy not to be stressed controlling all the technology in the city mostly by himself anymore.
For the first time since he had been growing up he had free time these last six years. Rotor looked up from his laptop with a neutral expression and switched the channel on his TV and lowered the volume just a tad more before looking back down at his laptop again.
It was cool in his house, and now he wished he hadn't had wood floors in his house because when it got cold his whole house got cold. But he just loved the classic look of wooden floors too much.
The only thing that had truly gone wrong was his friends….but that was just life he guessed…
Oh yeah it was going great with Amy and Sonic but everyone else's contact had dwindled. Sally for one had been a little more reclusive these last six years since she and Sonic broke up. Everyone only spoke to Sally when they were doing business mostly now. And that had a lot to do with Nicole, what she did, and how it affected everyone. Their workload had increased since she left, and they had to take on more burdens in maintaining the city…but again…they would be talking about that very subject very soon…
Tails and he were just about the same because they were the top two administrators; they had always been even since the Knothole. They had always been the tech guys. They still did a lot of work together running the city, and they were actually responsible for all the technology that had been created in the last six years…
But they had also been pressured by other interest…
But it had been business as usual, and he truly missed the days when the guys were closer. Then he finished what he was doing on his laptop and sat next to him on his left; leaving it on.
Today was boring...that had to be the only drawback of peace…
He blankly stared at his TV; he didn't mind his free time but with everybody split so far apart he could not enjoy it. Rotor picked up his remote and flipped through the channels on the TV as he offhandedly glanced at the large pile of DVDs in the far corner of his living room. Then a smile formed on his face…Nicole was coming back today….
He had obeyed Nicole and not watched anymore of the DVDs; he'd even spoke with her about over the phone a few times. He'd confirmed to her that he did not watch them, and she held him to it. And he'd kept his word; he admitted it was hard to control himself. A few times he was tempted but he stopped himself and the DVDs Nicole left behind when she was a computer…had sat in the corner of his living for six years…
But that might change today…
But Rotor frowned as he realized how dangerous and important they were after the last attack on the city. So for a time they were moved to a vault and kept under tight security. But as time went on they were moved out of the vault, and he took them back.
And the Freedom Fighters did not let the Consul of Acorn get their greedy hands on them as they had become bold in the passing years. At the request of Nicole they were denied. The Consul knew it was the same Nicole, so they backed down in respect of Nicole protecting everyone. That and they were Nicole's property as they were her memories and had come from her…
Rotor frowned because he knew there were going to be a lot of legal ramifications over those DVDs despite being Nicole's property; they currently stored the most important powerful information on Mobius. He'd had varying thoughts about it over the years…he knew the information could potentially be dangerous…
He wasn't sure to the extent of how much good or bad was coming from the information, and that was the most troubling aspect of it…
It was obvious that if any of that information got into the wrong hands it would be bad as Nicole had told them six years ago. That their time-line would diverge into a similar fate as her own….
But the thoughts of past Nicole were replaced with the thoughts of the one in the same, now living Nicole. She had to have matured a little by now. He wondered if she would she act like her computer self?
That mixed along with real life experience...he still sort of couldn't believe this was the same Nicole as what happened six years ago was still just as strange…
He was most excited about Nicole coming back because he might be finally granted permission to have a look at the DVDs again. He'd been cut short when the attack on the city had happened, and he was itching to get back to it. He was still just as curious about the future and wanted to know what else was on the DVDs she had left behind; he glanced over at the DVD pile with a smile. He'd only got a small glimpse of the DVDs and Nicole's memories, and it intrigued him to know end. It also might be important information on the DVDs about the future and why Nicole did what she did.
He knew he was a little over eager but he couldn't help himself….
Rotor was then awakened from his thoughts as his cellphone rang. He picked it up from the nook in the couch it was ringing from and answered saying a few yes's and no's He hung up and leaned over to his laptop shutting it off and closing it. Then he got up with a smile, turned off his TV, and walked over to the front door grabbing a light jacket off a wood coat hanger stand and placing his cell phone into one of the jacket's pockets.
He opened his door and turned off the lamp next to his couch also grabbing his keys. Stepping out into the grey day he noticed it was raining on the force field dome of the city. But they could choose when to experience rain to water the foliage inside the city as they controlled the force field. But it was staying up today; that was part of the reason it wasn't freezing cold; being inside the dome of the city.
He locked his door and walked down the path from his house onto the sidewalk thinking of what movie Sonic, Amy, and he might choose to see. Sonic pointing out all the flaws of the movie had to be the best part of the movie watching experience. And Nicole's homecoming would allow him to continue where he left off on the DVDs. His excitement to finally learn more about the future and see what else was on the DVDs had only grown in Nicole's absence…
At Castle Acorn, Sally Acorn sat alone in one of her many offices with a neutral expression her face. This day on a higher floor looking out through a big window upon the city; the lush red curtains had been opened, and grey colors filled her office; the city had expanded and gotten bigger in the passing years; buildings and other structures were bigger. And the New Mobotropolis Thanks Giving Festival was coming upon them…
But she held a glum face…the festival only reminded her of Sonic and their fun times in the past at such events…
Sally looked pretty much the same other than letting her hair grow a little longer and looking more mature in the face; her hair hung free.
She had become busier in politics and running the city with her family because of her breakup with Sonic. Nicole was in part a big reason with they had all become busier too. She still saw Sonic often and sometimes spoke to him briefly their contact had toned back as they went on their ways. Recently in the last year or so shed been speaking to him more personally and not just for business. Suffice it to say she had motives and it was why they had been speaking more as of late; she had been actively speaking to him more.
She rolled her chair closer to the window with a neutral expression. She had not changed much herself; she had just been a little sadder the passing years. She missed him…
She still had strong feelings for him…
Their breakup hurt her and she was looking to make things right. She wanted to try and get him back…that was why she was going to drop by for an unexpected visit today as they had been getting more friendly as of late again…
It just so happened to be the day Nicole was coming back too…they had a lot to deal concerning her return…
Other than that though her relationships with everyone else pretty much stayed the same; excluding Sonic. She was to fickle to make a choice in the past and his eagerness to see her had caused him to overhear her talking behind his back six years ago. Sally then closed her eyes with a clam face; she wanted him back. She meant her feelings this time…as she had said long ago…
Then she opened her eyes, still holding a neutral face. She had been thinking about Sonic a lot because Nicole was coming back today. Nicole was smarter and even more mature than Sally would have expected or anyone else for that matter. But not figuratively…it was literal…
That Nicole was staggeringly informed in such a short period of time or smart as others had told her; it took half a lifetime to accomplish some of the things she had done own her in just six years. She didn't believe at first herself until Rotor had told her some details about the future from the DVDs he had watched in top secret years ago.
She had thought the magnitude they were grading Nicole's intelligence was exaggerated, as Tails and Rotors calms were she was smarter than anyone ever recorded on record. But though she didn't believe her at first, Nicole had demonstrated her intelligence to them in the last few years. They had sent her many of their toughest intelligence test, aptitudes, and achievement tests that had only been scored high on by few around Mobius and she scored the highest on all them…
That's why it was creepy and strange…because it didn't seem real yet it had happened…
What she had done was unreal…
Her level of intelligence…it WAS unremarkable…
Extraordinary unlike anything any of them had any seen in this time…
They kept up with her, and she told them what she had been up to while she was away. Though she had not directly helped them, she had helped Rotor and Tails with some coding over the computer once. A problem even they combined even had trouble figuring out…but Nicole had solved it by herself…
The strangeness of her being so intelligent was fitting though…the computer version herself had similar levels of intelligence…
Her living self was a spitting image of her computer self…
It was no secret, to them, that Nicole's body was not created by normal means. It also wasn't a coincidence that she was so smart. They guessed she was capable of other such feats and had been waiting for a chance to see her again. But that was jut another topic they would discussing she was coming back anyway.
Then a smirk came across her face as she got up from her chair and closed her curtains. She pushed her chair back to her desk and left her office. She walked through a busy hallway of this upper level of the castle where one of her offices was located. The hallway had white marble floors and grey marble walls; lightings hung from golden colored chains. She walked past castle employees, many legal and politician types and made her way to the elevators not far from her office.
She pressed a button and waited and after had having doing so a few diplomats came and stood near her conversing with one another as they waited for the elevator. She smiled as she waited for the elevator arrive. Things were going to change today…
On the East side of New Mobotropolis, a pink house sat in the backside of the city closer to the force field with other homes. There weren't as many houses this far back but Amy didn't mind. Now inside her teal colored bathroom, she stood in front of a mirror pampering herself; a curious look on her face about her appearance in her mirror; she was just about ready to meet up with the guys. She finished washing her face and placed a red washcloth in her hand on a rack next to her mirror. She then reached to a drawer next to her sink, pulling it open and grabbing a brush she began brushing her quills. Then staring back her face in the mirror she smiled; her quills had only got a little longer. She was glad that they had not grown any longer because it would been a mess to manage.
Amy thought of Sonic; no surprise. She had never imagined in her wildest dreams that she would ever get as close as she got to him as she did in these past six years. Well at least more friendly…
Which she was fine as she liked spending time with him. When she heard through the grapevine that Sonic and Sally were officially over she jumped for joy...in private of course...
The first thing she had did once Nicole left was try to get the rebound. Amy put down the brush she was using not satisfied it was doing its job pulled another one from the drawer two times as large. As she began brushing her quills again she frowned; she had originally tried to pursue a relationship with him right away.
But slowly she backed off as the years started to go by. But three or four years after Nicole left she began to see people who had been in relationships for long periods of times, and their relationships had crumbled. There was a lady who worked at the front desk of the castle, and Amy knew her and her husband. And every time she talked to her, she talked more and more distastefully about her husband to the point she and her husband had an argument in the middle of the castle main floor. They were not together anymore.
All of her girlfriends had similar problems as well; most of them were single now. Before she chased Sonic so they might hook up, she stopped, and they remained friends. It was a blast but after another year she was ready to try again, feeling silly for not doing it when she had the chance.
But this time she saw something. After she saw turmoil with Antoine and Bunnie she had canceled all plans to make her and Sonic official. She felt so fortunate that Sonic and she had not gotten together because she realized all the fun they were having was because they weren't tied down to each other.
They didn't have restricting rules on each other that said they couldn't do this or that. They didn't bored of each because they didn't see each other twenty four seven. And even though she didn't mind being close to a person she loved, some people did and that lead into a myriad of reasons why a person got bored of their other half, and she didn't want that to happen to Sonic and her. She didn't want to think of her and Sonic actually becoming bored of each other; that was a nightmare for her.
Things with Sonic and her were going so strong right now was because they had freedom. She realized she would be controlling and constricting Sonic if they got together, and he was all about freedom.
Amy finally felt her quills were nice and neat, and she lost her frown and smiled at herself in the mirror. Then she took out a small bottle of cologne out of the drawer next to her sink and sprayed a bit on her wrist.
She actually didn't want a relationship with Sonic now…
She wanted to stay friends with him because things were going so great between them. They were having a great time, and she didn't want it to stop. So for now they were going to stay great friends! And she wouldn't have it any other way!
She looked at herself one last time and then exited her bathroom switching off the lights. She quickly went into her room grabbing a blue jacket out of her closet and headed downstairs. Going out her backdoor and locking it behind her, she walked past the side of her house and onto sidewalk in direction of the mall district with a happy face.
She felt the spirit of Thanksgiving because there were so many people out today; holidays sure were fun. Amy smiled brightly as she walked along, she didn't live that far from the mall district; it was already in sight.
As she began walking through the thick crowds of people she was reminded of close all the guys used to be, and she missed everyone hanging out. They didn't talk at much anymore. As Amy entered the threshold into the mall district, she bobbed and weaved through the people she thought of why today was more exciting than just seeing Sonic, Nicole was coming back today…
And even though Amy didn't hold too much against her, she knew Nicole coming back would make things change again, and she wasn't sure if it was good or bad. But it was sure to be interesting to see how Nicole had grown…
Amy bumped into a few more people when she finally made it up close to the theaters. Where she saw her friend Rotor and a blinding light of blue waving at her with grins; hearts temporarily floated over her head as she made her way over to them. Hooking her and Sonic's arm together as they all entered the theater.
Meanwhile, far, far away from New Mobotropolis stood the second modernized Mobian city. Central City!
It used to be a human territory, but because of Eggman pretty much every Mobian city had been decimated. Central City was in ruins, that is until Nicole stepped in years ago. Central City had always been under constant threat but with help of New Mobotropolis they had managed to stay afloat. It was the only other urban city of Mobians than New Mobotropolis and Sand Blast City.
There was a thriving economy and buildings far as the eye could see; especially in the last six years. The Mobians of Mobius in the last couple of years had come out from hiding and were trying to find a new homes; word was that Eggman had been brought to his knees. Now many people didn't believe it at first but after their being reports of no causality's in the last few years people began to believe. When they came from hiding they either went to New Mobotropolis or Central City or maybe even Sand Blast City.
At an overlooking view of the city, it used to have buildings that touched the sky. Now it had buildings that were built to Mobian size, at least half the size of human buildings. Nicole had installed the second city force field on Mobius years ago when she was still around to help protect them as many Mobian cities had been destroyed by Eggman. The force field on Central City did operate different from the one in New Mobotropolis. It was not built or operated with nanites, but rather standard technology from this time period. Nicole helped them design it, and it was not as advanced as the force field in New Mobotropolis. Though it did the job, and they needed and had around the clock technicians to manage it and keep it running.
Things were pretty normal now...
On the west side of town, at a fresh food market a female lynx dressed in wrapped purple robes carried her food in paper bags; a woman and a man dressed in nice black suites and black sunglasses were close behind her. Nicole had a neutral expression on her face as she walked out of the busy food market. It was loud and noisy and cool out on this grey dreary day; with car horns honking and just general chatter everywhere. Heading out from the market onto the busy streets full of vehicles and people crowding the sidewalks she walked the distance of seven city blocks, passing by many types of people in suits and people who in more normal clothing, looking like they just came to the city. She stopped at a sidewalk waiting for a light to change as electric cars drove for the green light.
Over several people soon stood near her as they waited for the light; she glanced around herself. A business lion dressed in a nice suit talking on his phone; the woman and man in black. A young male money dressed in tattered clothing with headphones on, a female raccoon and her two children holding her hand and talking with their mother. She also observed above herself they were building elevated train lines above the streets as the light turned red and she and everyone crossed the street. And she smiled a bit; one thing she really liked about living in Central City was that many people paid her no mind.
At the seventh block stood a medium-size building; Nicole used her key, fiddling with her bags and the people in black stood nearby. Soon she entered the building, opening the door and the two people in black walked in after her. She was happy to get out of the hectic streets and onto an elevator; with the man and woman in black joining her on the elevator.
She road it to the fifth floor, keeping her expression neutral; the people in black were always silent unless she asked them something. When she reached the fifth floor they all stepped out of the elevator into a quiet hall. Her apartment was the last door on the right of the hall. And she walked down the hall and went into her apartment; the people in black stood by her door and pulled out a phone to contact someone.
She sighed as she laid her grocery bags on the floor next to her door; glancing around her modest looking apartment. She had a couch and a few red and purple accent carpets on her floor, a TV, a kitchen, medium-sized windows, etc.; all the essentials of a generic living space.
Walking over to her windows, she opened her curtains to let the grey flood into her living room. She glanced out of window with a neutral expression on her face; it was very grey today. Then she turned around and went in her bedroom and grabbed a single suitcase. The same one she came to Central City with and walked back over to her door and placed it next to her groceries. Then she turned back around observing her apartment of the last six years, scanning the room. It was spotless; since she was leaving today she made sure everything was in order.
She had eaten earlier and at the moment there was nothing left to do but to wait to be picked up. Security was going to escort her out of the city and back home. The people in black were special security personnel from New Mobotropolis sent to watch over her; they had all kinds of thing's setup up for her stay in Central City. Sally had told her when she first came to Central City she was just as a high target of interest as when she left, so she was still a very important person despite trying to live normally. There were many of them, and they followed her everywhere she went making sure to keep a safe distance from her so not to look suspicious; they had done a great job as far as she was concerned.
With nothing else to do in her quiet apartment, she walked over to her bathroom and switched on the lights and stood in front of her mirror.
She stared blankly back into the mirror thinking of all the time that had passed. She still wore her purple robes, though they were a bit longer. Her black hair was much longer; her face was more mature as well. The black stripes on her cheeks and nose were a tad bigger. And now that her hair was longer she tied two locks of hair with multi-colored beads hanging down to her back.
She had noticed no matter how much she matured and got older she got; she did not age physically as much as everyone around her. She had gotten many compliments from many males while in Central City about her looks.
She even thought it was a bit odd how it looked like she never aged…
She frowned at her reflection in the mirror recalling so many things that had happened in her time in Central City. She was happy about going back home. Despite her apathy, her adventures alone had allowed her to attain the independence she had been looking for. She was no longer in dependence of her friends…she was a fully functional individual own her own now…
As she tried to catch up and make sense of her life…
She still wasn't sure what was going on…who she was…
What had happened in her past…in New Mobotropolis…
To start off she was clueless when she first came to Central City. The first year in the city was the hardest because she wasn't sure what she was doing obviously. The chaos that ensued from home...she just had to get away from it though….
Sonic mostly, but all of her friends had been the only constant in her life. She grew to have even more interest in Sonic…
She had come to find she liked him…
It made her become aware of her femininity as when she first came here, she was a clueless little girl. And she did not know anything about anything so she took a class in it as Central City grew.
Of course after finding money to do it which she found to be strangely easy. In her inexperience, the first two years she took jobs in solving advanced technical math problems for a small corporation on commission. The people there didn't like her though even after not being there long. Even the men who found her attractive after she put everyone out of job by solving every problem the company had. And on commission she became quite wealthy along with many other jobs she had attained. She went to school and learned even more and her knowledge only expanded as she took more complicated jobs. She learned things without much trouble. She had done exceptional well in school in a short amount of time…
She found it to be a bit strange…so did all the other students and professors…
She had attained a few degrees of interest to her without much hassle…ones that others around her had not gained with such ease…
Nicole kept her frown in the mirror as she began untangling the beads in her hair and starting the process of putting new ones in.
The experience of the femininity class, though she learned important things in the class, it left her with bad memories. She was first in her class, but because her comely appearance, it caused some tension; especially at her age at the time she still looked young. She was told by Rotor she was an adult physically, which she could see very clearly now. But he never finished his statement…
Along with the maturation of her body, the other women didn't like her after the class was over after making the test subject men fall all over her; they thought she was a princess.
She let a small chuckle out at the thought, but her chuckle turned into a sigh. She hadn't made any friends at all...
The women didn't like her because of her looks but also her intellect. Men were sometimes intimidated by her looks and the men who did try to get close to her usually lied about some aspect of themselves, which led to a breakdown of trust. Sometimes they lied about being involved with someone else. If they weren't, she felt nothing…nothing like the high she had for Sonic currently and so long in the past…she had never really felt like that about anyone as far as she could remember…
And she still couldn't remember much…
So she turned them away for that or some other fault between the men that approached her. But in that class she found out what it meant to be a woman. It was the most liberating thing she ever remembered feeling and done in Central City. After leaving the class she knew she found a part of what she had been seeking. Next she gained life experience by living day to day life in the real world. In her time in the city she did her best to interact with people and experienced the many hardships of life.
She did and she did not like them one bit…
The biggest thing she found fault with was people's behaviors. That being lying...
Just last month she had a dispute with the landlord of her apartment building. He had said that she hadn't paid the last few months' rent so she had to dig through all her important papers just to find out she had overpaid, and he owed her money.
She'd had discrepancy's with males, and they always found a way to crowbar something about her looks into their back handed compliments; she began uniting the beads on her other lock of hair.
She did find her looks to attract unwanted attention sometimes. But with confidence and experience now on her side she now felt she was ready to return home. She learned as an inexperienced individual, if she did not stand up for herself people would have tried to take advantage of her.
As she observed happen to many women around her. It was another lesson learned, added to her confidence; standing up and pushing back. In her last few years because of her wealth, she got bored sometimes and took part time jobs, tough she didn't need to work because of her wealth; so she devoted a lot of time to being social.
Nicole then pulled the mirror in front of her open to reveal a cabinet with a small bag of colored beads. She placed the bag on her sink and closed the mirror and picked a few beds and began tying them to her hair; her expression remained blank.
About three years back she had a job at an office. She applied for a job as an accountant but they insisted she take to job of the receptionist. Nicole didn't find out till later but when she took the job she had bumped a woman who had been there for a long time. But at the time, still learning from the femininity classes, she flirted with men whenever she got the chance.
The males that hired her were all too eager because of her looks and she knew but was not bothered by the unwanted behavior of the men. Watching her influence over men grow, she wanted to gain as much confidence she could have before she returned home. She was not shy about her intentions when it came to Sonic any longer…
All the while doing she did her social interactions, she honed her skills with men and just general confidence with herself. At this moment in time she was extremely confident with herself and in her time away after learning what liking someone meant, she understood she liked Sonic she had gained another goal.
She wasn't sure if her new found intent of wanting Sonic was a good or bad idea. Because of the circumstances, would he see her as a child or not in the same light as she saw him? She wondered if he would treat her in those ways also; if to not consider her advances at all. Because of what she had learned from the others about her past, she used to be a close friend to them all though she could not remember.
So as far as she was concerned she was glad to hear so because she thought Sonic was handsome and he made her knees weak…
She didn't want to be dismissed because of a frivolous matter. She had these strong feelings elicited from Sonic and didn't want them denied. So she hoped because of the past, that he would not treat her any different; also in matters regarding her feelings. She hoped he would treat her like a friend and not dismiss her.
Because at one point in time she was naive like a child, and he had watched over her. It made her ponder about her past briefly again; about how she could physically be the same age as her friends but mentally not so much.
Right now they were all adults…
She was not younger than him…she hope he accepted her as she was now…
Not as…whatever…she was in the past…
Her face became neutral as she finished with her hair; grabbing the small bag of beads. She left her bathroom switching off the lights and made her way into her living and sat on her couch; placing her bag of beads on a nearby coffee table and staring out her window.
One thing she had noticed about women nowadays and from the history she studied was that many women were not a feminine as they used to be. As the more independent they became the more they butted heads with men.
Now she felt independence for everyone was important, but men were suckers for a feminine female. She concluded this with all the interactions she had had with men. Every now and then, she would become gentle and empathetic much to males favor. Every time as a matter of fact, males would drool over her.
She stared straight out of her window with a bad feeling in the pit of her gut as other thoughts entered her mind…she used to be a computer...
Over time in Central City, she thought heavily about her past and many memories had resurfaced. Many that she could not fathom, of so many ones and zeros...seeing multiple things at once….
She didn't want to acknowledge whatever was placed in her head was real. She grappled with what she had come to learn about herself, and she still didn't quite believe it. She began to wonder a lot about why her friends refused to tell her of her past and why she couldn't remember anything as she grew in Central City. Her mental problems had never got better; her amnesia persisted to this day. She wanted to know after a time…
After many conversations with Rotor specifically…and by her request he had told her little by little about her past…
About who she used to be…
About what she used to do….
About why she didn't remember anything…
The DVDs…
It was the most the most crushing thing she ever felt….that it was by her own hand….
She knew when Sonic looked her...he might see her computer self….she knew that might affect how he would see her…it was why she felt it was one of the many reasons he might dismiss her….love…..
Dismissal because he saw her to young or immature…because she used to be a machine…..complete dismissal of how she felt…..
Sometimes she felt herself rationalizing her feelings, as there were many fish in the sea. But she had grown enough to know…it was just what she wanted…and she didn't need to justify how she felt about Sonic…
He was the one who made her feel and that's all that mattered…
The horrible feeling in her stomach didn't go away as she blankly stared out her window into the grey skies of the day. She felt she still didn't fully grasp the information she was told because it was so shocking to her. She used to be the AI of New Mobotropolis….and that's why she didn't have parents…
As for why she couldn't remember who she was…Rotor couldn't explain completely…
But he had told her that it was by her hand as well…he didn't tell her how she was born…she didn't want to know that yet…
The DVD's…he said were her memories that she had stored and left behind…
She had seen one of the DVDs in question six years ago so she did believe what she was being told more so…
That was her on that DVD…she just knew…
They hadn't discussed everything but so far what she grasped was that all that was happening was the aftermath of what she had done. What was happening with New Mobotropolis right now, she was tied to it all. She wanted to talk about it when she got back….
Though she wasn't the only one, Rotor did too and there were other people in New Mobotopolis who wanted her to come back so they could discus…her…
She was in a bit of denial at first but she grew to accept the information she was told as she saw the results of what Rotor had said she had done. But she was going back today so she was sure she would talking about all of…it…soon…
It was too much to discuss all at once…
Then she looked down at her hands and twiddled her fingers with a sad expression. She had been trying to fit in since she last remembered anything…
But now to find out she used to be a machine…a computer…she felt even more abnormal…
That was not normal…
She couldn't imagine such a thing out loud because it would sound crazy…because it was crazy…
Straight out of a sci-fi novel…
And with all the strange things already happening with herself…being so intelligent…being of above-average appearance…that wasn't normal…something about it was strange to her…
She was different than normal people…
Since she came to Central City and began to learn, she yearned to be Mobian like everyone else. As she could never find anywhere to fit, despite her prowess which seemed to only push her further away. It was one of her greatest wishes…
As she twiddled with her fingers…she wondered if when she was computer…did she ever want to be Mobian…
Other thoughts and anxiety's about other facets of her life, and past began to haunt her when there was a knock on her door. With a neutral expression, she turned her head to look at her door as she came out of her thoughts and got up from her couch. She grabbed her small bag of beads off her coffee table and went to grab her things near her door. As she got ready to go she remembered through her inexperience grew confidence, and now she was prepared to face what was going on back at home in New Mobotropolis…at least that's what she hoped….
A few hours later in New Mobotropolis, Sonic was heading home after a rousing time at the movies; it was Rotor who made the cynical comments at the movie this time. Pointing out its flaws and Amy and Sonic listened with glee. Sonic was just making a quick stop at home because Nicole would arrive soon. Amy and Rotor went to Amy's house to wait for him.
He dashed all the way home, and he swiftly walked down the sidewalk to his house, but he noticed someone sitting on his stairs as he reached the walkway to his house. Sonic looked confused as he slowed his pace and made his way down the walkway. And Sally noticed him, looking up and standing as he walked down to her; his expression neutral.
Sonic looked lost and they quietly looked at each other when Sally broke the silence "You still wear it..."
Sonic looked down at the green scarf briefly not knowing what to say; her visit was unexpected "Is there something wrong?" he asked her with confusion.
Sally mustered a weak smile and shook her head; she was surprised he was wearing the scarf she had given him "No…I'm not here for business. I wanted to know when you were leaving to go meet Nicole..." Sally swallowed a lump in her throat.
And Sonic opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it; he held a cautious face. And Sally kept her weak smile as this was the first time in a long time, if that was what Sally was suggesting…that they would have interaction outside of business...
A few more hours later inside Castle Acorn the tension was building. The Castle employees knew of rumors of what happened to Nicole, and the castle was a gossip today. The citizens had not been informed of what happened to Nicole, but many rumors had spread over the years. But just like planned everyone met inside the break room near the control room. Knuckles and Julie-Su joined them as they were in the city for business but heard about Nicole's return.
There was a bit of awkwardness a first but once Sonic began talking everyone let their guards down, and they stopped being so coy and began talking like the old days. The whole room had turned into a reunion with everybody chatting with each other about this and that. Julie-Su, Tails, and Antoine were in there own group conversation. Bunnie and Sally were talking. Sonic, Knuckles, Rotor, and Amy talked in their circle. But as everyone had gotten comfortable they all heard someone coming down the hall, being directed by someone, telling the person to head to the break room. Everyone's chatter died and they knew it could be only one person. They all directed their heads to the entrance in silence they listed to the footsteps…
Shuffle*
Everyone looked at each other with smiles then back to the door….
Shuffle*
Shuffle*
The shadow creeped through the door, and everyone was on edge….
Shuffle*
The person steeped through door. He had a technician's suite on, holding on to a clipboard with papers. He looked around the room and made his way over to Tails "Excuse me for interrupting you all but Tails, there is an order you have to sign off on immediately."
Tails nodded losing his smile and signing the papers, and the male cat left. Everyone looked at each other and let out a huge laugh. As the technician left he could be heard in the hallway "Excuse me miss."
Then everyone for a second time stopped dead. In walked Nicole and time seemed to slow. Nicole moved the hair out of her eyes smiling brightly "Hello everyone. It is nice to be home."
Now everyone had expected to move and greet Nicole but they didn't, well at least the males didn't. The females in the room went from awe at Nicole's return to annoyance when they saw the men acting like pigs. Sonic, Tails, Antoine, Knuckles, and Rotor all held slack jaws; their mouths all hanging opening. Nicole was pretty…
In a fit Sally, Amy, Bunnie, and Julie-Su slapped their respective counterparts on the back of their heads.
Sally and Amy smacked Sonic's head. Amy smacked Tails and Rotor. Bunnie smacked Antoine with her organic arm and Julie-Su smacked Knuckles. The men all complained and groaned in a playful manner.
Nicole giggled at the scene holding her hand up to her mouth. But then everyone gave her the proper greeting surrounding her. The women giving Nicole hugs and the guys patting her on the shoulder. It seemed to Nicole as if that in time she was gone some things had healed; everyone around her was smiling. No one seemed upset with her in this moment. It was all so refreshing for her to be around people she knew as she fit in if only just a little…
But Nicole's attention shifted with Sonic in such close proximity. She suddenly felt nervous despite all of the confidence she had built up while she was gone…he was the only one who could do that to her still…
He was even more handsome than she remembered…
Everyone stepped back to give Nicole some room when her eyes landed on him; she held the same curious stare her computer self and Sonic looked confused as everyone watched.
Nicole smiled gently at him "Sonic...you will come with me…" her voice was soft. She said delicately grabbing ahold of Sonic's hand and pulling him away from everyone. Sonic looked embarrassed unsure of what was going on so suddenly.
Nicole looked back at everyone as did Sonic dumfounded "I thank you all for the warm welcome but I will have to talk some other time. I have matters to discuss with Sonic…" she said waving at them and pulling Sonic along behind her. She held a smug smirk and Sonic was in a stupor as she pulled him along.
And just like that it was an abrupt end to Nicole's return, but it was not questioned because some people were still upset.
Julie-Su turned to Knuckles with an irritated face, and Knuckles smiled sheepishly "You never looked at me like that!" she said in a huff she turned away and marched out of the room with Knuckles on her hills in a pleading manner.
"Baby don't be like that! Just wait a sec... BABYYYYY!" Knuckle's voice was heard through the hallways.
"Well tha was a sight wasn't it honey?" Bunnie asked innocently. But Antoine knew this wasn't going to end well he tried to play it cool.
"Ummm it was uhh not zis funny thing I saw...hehe." Antoine looked terribly afraid. Sally, Amy, Tails and Rotor dared not say a word.
"Oh it might hav been if ya had ever looked at me lik that!" Bunnie frowned at him making a beeline for the door with Antoine on her heels "Oh now just was a minute...we were doing ok...sweety? WE HAVE TO TALK!" Antoine's voiced echoed through the hallway.
Amy scratched her head in confusion "Did you guys see that? Nicole has changed…" she said to everyone still staring at the door.
Tails nodded was a surprised face; he looked intrigued "Was that Nicole?" he grinned glancing over at Rotor, Sally and Amy.
Sally crossed her arms with a slight frown "That was abrupt…but I suppose she has changed…"
Rotor nodded with a smile "She's grown…her behavior shows that…just walking out of here like that leaving us hanging…" he chuckled.
Sally kept her frown "…Its fine I suppose…she back now so we'll have plenty of time to talk with her once were settling things…"
And everyone frowned staring at the entrance of the break room. They'd rather not ruin her first day back even though they were not used to her new behavior. There were many intertwined things she had to deal with now that she was back. What she had done would affect any chance of she currently thought she wanted her life to be…
Not long after leaving the castle Nicole and Sonic had made their way to a small diner in the business district. Nicole currently had her gaze on Sonic with a smile on her face looking at him from across the table they sat at; she held the curious smile. Sonic still looked slight confused but he grinned as they conversed happy to see her again.
Though she still had the smile she used to have...and he partially saw this when he looked at her...
Nicole had her legs crossed and her hands on her lap. They were starting to get many stares probably for various reasons too. One being that the citizens were noticing she looked like…Nicole…well herself when she used to be around…as she learned of her past…
She was aware being that back in New Mobotropolis meant people were going to start recognizing her….and it might not be a good thing…
Two males at a nearby table had been staring at them since they entered. At another table two the males and two women had been giving them odd looks as well.
Sonic was feeling a bit strange about the situation and the strange looks they were getting too; though he tried to keep the air jovial with Nicole as he spoke with her.
The people in the cafe while trying not to show their nosiness did anyways. Why just a table behind Sonic were two males who looked pretty upset. When they saw Nicole, Sonic knew instantly they had recognized her and knew the citizens hadn't taken Nicole leaving lightly.
Sonic frowned at bit as the two males at the table behind them looked away from him, and he looked at Nicole with a grin again "You look great Nicole."
Nicole smiled putting her new confidence to work "Thank you Sonic. I could say the same for you…" she giggled.
Sonic chuckled "Hey where'd you learn that?"
Nicole looked down at her menu "I have learned to 'put the moves' as some would say, on someone in my time away. How have you been faring?" she asked still smiling and looking down at her mirror.
Sonic leaned his arms back on his chair "I've actually been kind of busy since you left. Sure it's boring every now and then but there been plenty of work to do." he said with a grin.
Nicole looked up from her menu "You have informed me of how busy you have been. I surmise New Mobotropolis has been as well?" she said with a curious face.
But this time Sonic frowned, and Nicole lost her curious face as she frowned almost knowing what was coming "A lot Nicole…."
Nicole remained quiet placing her menu on the table as Sonic removed his arms from the back of his seat and continued "…I know you don't remember but it has been the safest period of time in Mobius….."
Nicole dawned a serious face "…I'm assuming that has to do with…me…"
Sonic nodded "How much do you know?"
Nicole frowned "…I know…" she stated staring him in the eyes "…What I do not know is what has happened and what has changed…" she said darting her eyes away from him uncomfortably.
Sonic looked at Nicole seeing her comfortableness "…I honestly don't where to start…"
Nicole shifted in her seat a dawned a serious face looking at him again; there were some subjects she did not feel comfortable discussing in public. There were things she wanted to discuss but only in private; her head dipped "…How much do people know of me? What has happened since…I…left…" she avoided contact with people in the diner looking at them again.
Sonic leaned forward and just jumped into it; he frowned "…Well that depends on what you, and Rotor talked about. Everyone knows you…and right now…after what happened…the citizens are…" he paused.
Nicole furrowed her brow with an upset face as she looked up at him "Disgruntled? Please do not sugar coat it."
Sonic sighed; she was blunt...a striking similarity like she used to be "…Yea they are…" he finished.
And Nicole kept her eyes on Sonic as two patrons walked past them to leave the dinner and shoot them strange looks. Sonic frowned "…I can't say for sure what everyone thinks about you anymore Nicole…I will say it has been sort of negative…"
Nicole held an upset face "…." staying silent for a moment then she dipped her head again and closed her eyes "…What have I done?" she asked him.
Sonic then dawned a serious face knowing she felt terrible "You've done a lot Nicole…you've done a lot of good things too…"
But Nicole opened her eyes still with a frown on her face and looked up at him again "…And the not so good things?"
But Sonic didn't falter "You've done both."
Nicole darted her eyes away from him again, and she kept her upset face when Sonic spoke "…We'll talk about it…but today is such a special occasion. Let's drop it for a second." Sonic smirked at her.
Nicole looked back at him wanting to keep her pout, but his grin melted her and her mouth contorted into a smile. She couldn't deny him…and she liked it…and him… "You have my attention Sonic."
Sonic grinned at her again "Yeah not right now, I got a few places we can check out after we eat."
"Wonderful." Nicole began smiling at him again.
As a waitress finally came over to their table to take their orders. But it was no less comfortable as they both felt uncomfortable by people who they suddenly starting getting attention from the minute they left the castle. They could feel the stares as they ate, and even after they left the diner. And they both knew that people were starting to recognize that Nicole, the AI of New Mobotropolis was back, and they didn't believe it…
It was night time now, and the glow of the street lights kept the city illuminated. After they ate Sonic and Nicole had gone window shopping, went to a poetry contest in a coffee house, and walked around sharing things that had happened to them in the last six years. Nicole flirted with Sonic, and he played along as they had so much fun by the end of the day.
They had ended up at Nicole's old home just down the street from his house not long ago. Nicole stepped through the door and flipped the light switch on. She scanned the house expecting it to be dirty but she saw her suitcase next to the door, and things were pretty clean.
Sonic stepped in after her "Yep, we kept it up while you were away." he said with a grin.
"Who exactly?" Nicole asked walking into her kitchen and walking back out with a curious face.
"Mostly Amy and me; a lot of the times Rotor was too busy so Amy and I spent a lot of time keeping it up." Sonic said just cracking the front door as he was getting ready to leave.
Nicole nodded as she made her way upstairs with Sonic following her. Nicole opened her bedroom door and flipped the light switch. She made her way over to her window peeking through the blinds then made her way over to her bed a sat down "I would have expected things to be much dustier. I appreciate you guys keeping my home up…no one else would have done this for me..." Nicole looked a little sad looking over at Sonic standing by her door.
Sonic nodded with a neutral face "It's no problem."
Nicole then smirked at him "What specifically is your relationship with Amy Sonic? You have danced around it all day."
Sonic chuckled "If you must know we are just friends."
Nicole kept her smirk getting up from her bed "I will take your word for it Sonic." she said with a playfully face.
Nicole spoke as she walked past Sonic back downstairs with Sonic following "I have my eye on you then Sonic."
Sonic laughed as they reached the bottom of the stairs "You've gotten bold."
"I didn't think you noticed." Nicole joked glancing over at him with a gently smile.
Nicole followed Sonic as he walked to the front door "It's been a fun day Nicole. Tomorrow we'll get to work on...stuff ok." he said with a smile.
Nicole let the fun die, and she held a weak smile "Goodnight Sonic."
Sonic nodded as he stepped out of her door, and her eyes lingered on him as she closed the door. Sonic walked down the walkway then onto the sidewalk seeing the lights go out in Nicole's house. As he began his walk home he smirked about his time with Nicole…she sure had grown to be interesting…she acted very similar to when she was…around before…
He was a bit uncertain about all of her flirting because of the circumstances of the past and all…but for now he figured it was harmless…
But as Nicole watched him walk away from the crack of her curtains in her living room window, she felt the opposite. She now feared after being in contact with him and learning more about what was going on, that she could just walk into his life and become his. It just wasn't that simple with the more she found out…
With everything else that happened it only made things more complicated. Nicole left her window as soon as Sonic was out of sight. Sighing, she walked upstairs to her room. She was starting to become more afraid of the reality of her feelings. That they were something made up in her head. This love...was it an illusion in her mind…
Reintroduction! Six years have passed Well things have only got more complicated for Nicole and it was just the first day she's been back. Now that Nicole has returned how will everyone react. The citizens? Her friends? Their enemies? What more will we learn of Nicole's past both computer and living? What has happened in the last six years? Will Nicole receive her love? Find out next time! Later.