Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog or any of the characters in this story. I only own Scarlet, Iris, and Cecelia Rose, OC's I made to serve as parents for the Rouge, Shadow and Amy respectively. Other made up parents are not named and will only be mentioned in passing.

Title is inspired by lyrics from Paramore's song Misguided Ghosts.

***Trigger warning: Mentions of childhood trauma, such as child neglect and child abuse. Mentions of sexual harassment.***

1 | The Ones We Trusted the Most

'But Project S would never see the light of day, because G.U.N. authorities infiltrated Space Colony ARK at the height of Gerald Robotnik's breakthrough. The scientists that spearheaded all other research were arrested and brought back to Earth for questioning. And then, at the commander's request, the ARK was blown to smithereens, all traces of the unethical practices erased from existence.'

Amy sat at her desk at the front of the classroom, leaning forward with every clip that lit the dim room. Half a page in her notebook was filled with elegant script, her pen falling from her relaxed palm and lightly clattering against the tabletop. She turned her palms to cradle her face instead as she furrowed her brow in concentration. With jade eyes transfixed on the small television screen propped up on a beaten rolling cart, Amy felt her mind swim in an endless sea of questions, all thoughts laced with a hint of fear that made her heart race ever so slightly.

'To this day, no one knows what became of Project S.'

The classroom lights flashed on in unison. The pink hedgehog jerked upright and blinked furiously to clear the haze from her eyes. She sat back in her seat as she tried to remember where she was. The bleary sight of her Mobian history class greeted her and she sighed. A small smile cleared the disappointment from her face as a thought crossed her.

That's the last class for the day. Just one more day of classes and then the weekend is mine. And I've already got what I need to bake those cookies.

This weekend wasn't particularly special on its own, but the pinkette planned to make it so. She planned to spend it with her friend's to reward herself for being diligent with her studies this week. And wherever her favorite band of misfits collected for their ritualistic shenanigans, Sonic was sure to be at the forefront. She wished for a moment that she didn't have to train after school, for she'd rather watch Sonic race around the track while she scribbled both of their names on the back of her journal, hearts and all. Then maybe he would finish his track meet and offer to walk her home…

"Okay, nap time is over, people."

As students shuffled and groaned around her, she quickly read through her notes and berated herself internally for not filling the page. She ripped out the note and folded it neatly, sliding it in her textbook where a slew of other loose papers waited to consume the sheet. The boy in the desk to the right of her kicked her red side bag as he stood to get a head start to the door. Amy dusted off the bag, checked the contents for damage, and ignored the offender. Instead, she focussed on her last objective before she left for the day. She squeezed her textbook to her chest as she adjusted her bag to her right shoulder.

"Okay people. I know you all are ready to run, but don't forget your rough draft for your research papers are due next Tuesday, ya hear? Not a half-baked outline or a handful of paragraphs you had your mom write up the night before. I want all ten pages written on your own. Capisce?" Mr. Chalker emphasized.

As a collective murmur of understanding hummed through the class, the bell rang and the class began to empty. Amy sifted through the mass of heady perfume and squeaking sneakers, pulling away from the stream of students to approach her teacher. She regarded him with a beaming smile as she shifted the weight of her history textbook to rummage in her bag. Mr. Chalker turned in his seat with a nod to her.

"Ah, Ms. Rosy-Rose. You have questions about the paper, I presume?" he asked, looking at her over his readers.

"Actually, I wanted to update you on my progress. I know you were hesitant to approve my topic because there is very little information on the tragedy in Mercia, but I think I may have made a connection in the documentary we watched today," she explained hastily.

As she pulled out her little flip phone from her bag and toggled to a photo in her gallery. She zoomed in, letting the red phone rest on a stack of papers on his desk so she could tug on a tab from her textbook. Turning the book for him to see the worn page, Amy pointed to a black and white photo of a circular ship careening to the side of what looked like an explosion. As fire licked the fields below the ship, an indiscriminate figure shrouded in gray emerged from the chaos. The only discernible feature was an outstretched hand, palm opened to the ground.

"I took a picture of the scrap of paper that survived the raid on the ARK from the documentary because it looked familiar. If you squint just a touch, the logo on the top left next to 'Project S' and the symbol on the ship in the textbook look identical," Amy began, pointing first at the photo on her phone and then the photo in her textbook.

Mr. Chalker's brow merely twitched as he overlooked her evidence, but Amy continued before he could speak.

"Now I know that the Great Burning of Mercia happened several years after the ARK was destroyed and this photo is all that survived the tragedy in Mercia, but I think the figure in this photo might be Project S, or what he was supposed to be. I know it sounds crazy, but if G.U.N. was involved in the tragedy, that could explain why there was no trace of the culprit except for this photo. I mean, an organization like G.U.N. would want to cover their tracks to avoid being held responsible for the death of thousands, right?"

Mr. Chalker crossed his arms, simply watching her babble.

"And G.U.N. confiscated all of the projects on the ARK, right? So maybe they wanted to give Project S a test run before destroying it, and they chose our planet to do so, possibly believing it was uninhabited or something? They let him loose, but inadvertently caused a tragedy as a result," Amy explained, trailing as her narrative struck her.

"You think this thing was a 'he,' Ms. Rose?"

She shuffled and flushed a bit.

"Right. Well, the documentary explained that Maria Robotnik's diary entries indicated that she was fond of Project S. There was even a short letter she addressed to Project S in the event she passed before they could cure her illness. That alone made me think that maybe the Project was more than just some creepy organism, and maybe took the form of a boy," Amy explained, closing her textbook.

"Ah, letters filled with professions of love. I'm guessing you saw a bit of yourself in Maria then?"

Amy's cheeks deepened a shade as she thought of the few instances when her teacher may have caught her 'writing' in her textbook during a lesson. With her diary resting between the pages of her history book, she was usually too invested in completing her entry to notice her teacher's glances as he walked up and down the aisle. He never called her out or asked her to answer a question thankfully, so she figured she had gotten away with it each time. But with the way her teacher was looking at her now, she knew he was well aware of her little habit that pulled her from his lessons now and again.

"I-I mean, aside from that theory, I think that G.U.N. may at least know who may have been responsible for the Great Burning, given they're a massive intergalactic power and all. A-and I know someone who used to work for the G.U.N facility here in Station Square. I can interview her this weekend and see if -"

"I'll have to stop you there, Ms. Rose, before your research paper turns into a star-crossed lover's tragedy between an innocent girl and a monster."

Amy's brows furrowed as she swallowed the snarky response that nearly slipped.

"Honestly, Ms. Rose, I only put on that documentary from Earth to keep things interesting for you kids. Chaos knows regular Mobian history seems like folklore and fairytales, especially with all of the tech that seems to be taking over your minds. The mysticism of our rich Mobian history is bogus to you youngsters," Mr. Chalker explained.

Amy shrank a bit, turning her eyes to a stack of ungraded papers instead of her teacher's unenthused stare. She finally trusted herself to respond respectfully.

"Oh, I see."

"And I wouldn't read into it too much. From what information we have, Project S never made it off of the ground. And most of Earth's history is unrelated to the history of Mobius up until G.U.N paid us a visit and offered up their services some odd years ago. We have a few bases here, even the one in this city that you mentioned, but nothing more to connect Mobius and Earth during the burning of Mercia. Even the documentary I played today is full of theatrics and half-truths," Mr. Chalker said.

Amy rubbed an arm and started to back away from his desk after collecting her phone.

"Right," the rose hedgehog tried with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

He patted her shoulder and gave her a stern look.

"You're a bright student, Ms. Rose. Don't get caught up in crazy conspiracy theories, m'kay?" he said, adjusting his glasses, his attention returning to his cluttered desk.

"Thank you, Mr. Chalker. I'll try to remember that."

Turning on her heel, Amy found herself walking mindlessly to her locker, unfazed as her shoulders connected with the arms and bags of the other restless students.

So much for that letter of recommendation. I can't bear to ask Mr. Chalker after making a complete fool of myself.

She was so lost in thought that she tried her combination on the wrong locker twice before the real owner flicked her shoulder and she took two steps to her left to get out of the way. She waited for the girl to get her things from her locker before Amy tried opening her own, the hallways too clogged for her to do anything else. As she leaned against the cool metal and let the hum of anxious students numb her, she thought about Maria and Gerald Robotnik and resigned to keep the history of Earth a mystery… for now.

I can't help but be curious. Those symbols just look so similar. That can't be a coincidence. And based on Maria's diary entries, Project S had to be more than just a creature. He had to be like a brother to her or a friend. Something more than just a monster.

Amy sighed, realizing that her statement may have been a bit of a stretch. With a shake of her head, Amy spun around to run the code on her padlock. The congestion in the hallway was clear enough to give her room to trade out a few books, but not enough for her to notice the white bat wading through the students, headed her way. She clicked the latch, prying open the locker as a loose folded paper slipped from the door, fluttering to her sneakers.

"You won't believe whose desktop I just raided!"

With a hand on her hip, Rouge flipped a flash drive between her manicured fingers in her free hand, waiting for the pink hedgehog to acknowledge her. Amy bent to pick up the loose sheet of paper, assuming it was one of her many notes. She gave the bat a small smile before tucking the folded sheet in the pocket of her cardigan.

"I'm guessing everything finally fell into place for you to enact your revenge on Mr. Williams?" Amy asked.

Rouge tossed the flash drive into the air once and snatched it as it came down, brandishing a dazzling smile.

"If only you were there to witness it! I gave sweet little Mina a twenty to run his ear off at the end of class while I slid by his desk and swiped all of the panty shots off of his computer."

"Are you going to give your evidence to the school board?" Amy asked as she swapped out a few books.

"How else am I going to get that sicko fired for dress-coding me every other day? And based on these files, I bet I'm not the only underaged girl he's harrassed."

"I guess I won't be taking computer science next semester," Amy said, closing her locker and hoisting her bag onto her shoulder.

"Small price to pay, rosy-girl. It's okay, you can learn C# at whatever Ivy League decides to throw you a scholarship. Chaos knows it's inevitable at this point with that sparkling report card of yours."

Rouge mistook Amy's flush as a show of modesty and chuckled, shoving the girl's shoulder playfully before pocketing her flash drive and starting down the hallway. Really, Amy was trying to swallow her embarrassment that resurfaced at the mention of her grades. The word 'conspiracy' kept echoing in her head as she ran a hand through her bangs. Amy simply tried not to replay the embarrassing moment with Mr. Chalker in her head, opting to rummage through her pocket for her phone instead after she closed her locker and caught up with the bat.

"I'll call Cream and let her know we're on our way to get her," Amy said, her hand crushing the forgotten paper in her pocket rather than skimming her phone.

"Let her know that creepy teacher I was telling her about is about to lose his job. We can celebrate with ice cream. That'll get her excited," Rouge said, flipping her hair behind her back.

Amy shook her head at the bat's comment with a small laugh, uncrumpling the loose note and checking the contents nonchalantly as she dug into her other pocket with her other hand. She stopped abruptly in the middle of the hallway as she read the few lines on the paper, her eyes frozen on the name signed at the bottom. Her lungs burned as she held her breath, her mind racing as she tried to piece things together. Rouge looked over her shoulder once she realized Amy wasn't keeping pace with her. She eyed the shell-shocked girl with a hand on her hip.

"Amy?" Rouge called.

"This can't be real."

Rouge caught the note as it slipped out of the hedgehog's hands. She read it quickly, stopping to register the chicken scratch sentences with several blinks of her eyes before slowly reading it out loud.

"Meet me at Azure Lake Park at 8pm. I'll be waiting in our favorite spot. I have something important to tell you. Sonic."

Unable to suppress a squeal, the pink hedgehog released her excitement to the student body, her delight echoing through the halls.

~aAa~

The late afternoon sun warmed the trio of excited girls as they huddled close together on the crowded sidewalks of Station Square. As the bustling citizens swarmed them, Rouge kept close to Cream, protecting the young rabbit from the dangers of the street. Amy peeled an orange as she took the other end of the rabbit, multi-tasking as she protected the young rabbit from bystanders and rogue pedestrians too attached to their phones to notice them. Cream was currently sucked into Rouge's story, her little hands gripping her oversized backpack straps as she regarded the bat with admiration.

"You took those pictures right off of his computer, Ms. Rouge?" Cream asked, shock coloring her cute face.

"Oh, you bet I did. Teachers aren't supposed to keep photos of young girls on their computers, Cream. It's inappropriate and disgusting, but you already know that. So I decided to do something about it," Rouge said, shrugging to the young girl.

"Won't you get into trouble for being on his computer and stealing his files?"

"Not in as much trouble as that bastard is going to be in when I turn over this flash drive to the school board. I might get a day of detention, but that pervert will be on the news in cuffs by the time I get home. So worth it."

Amy tapped Cream's shoulder, handing the small girl a peeled mandarin orange and a pack of crackers. Cream thanked her quickly before returning to the bat.

"Wow, Ms. Rouge. You're like a secret hero!" Cream announced, a mandarin wedge tucked in her cheek.

"Oh, I wouldn't call myself a hero, Cream. I'm just wiping the school clean of predators before I graduate. How am I supposed to sleep at night knowing I did nothing to protect you from creeps like him?" Rouge said, pointing at the rabbit.

"I feel safer knowing you're looking out for me."

"Of course, Cream. Puberty is about to come knocking for you and I gotta make sure you're prepared. Now, remember, we never let strange men touch us, take pictures of us, or give them our personal information. And what do we do if a strange man tries to grab us?"

"Spit in his eyes, hit him where it hurts, and run?" Cream said.

"Atta girl! And don't forget, you have me, Amy, Blaze, Sonia, Vector, and your mom on speed dial. You call all numbers until one of us picks up, you got it?"

"Yes ma'am!"

Amy listened to Rouge prattle on, trying to keep her knowing smirk to herself. She didn't have it in her to tell Cream that Rouge was really just trying to get back at the teacher for sending her to the office every other day. Rouge claimed her moody computer science teacher didn't like her because she constantly made remarks about his lack of actual teaching, which caused other students who needed more guidance to suffer. He got fed up with her one day and sent her to the office for a tube top she had on under a jean jacket. Now he falsely dress-codes her at his discretion and Rouge has done nothing but vow to destroy his career since that day.

"Great! Glad we had this conversation," Rouge said.

"But we always have this conversation, Ms. Rouge," Cream responded.

Rouge sighed and put a hand behind the small rabbit's back.

"I know, I know. I just want to make sure it's drilled in that cute little head of yours, okay? Amy and I don't want to see you get hurt, or worse, see you on the news. You gotta promise us that you'll try not to go anywhere alone and be weary of ALL men, no matter who they are, you got that?"

Cream nodded with a small salute.

"Yes, Ms. Rouge."

"Wonderful. Now, if only all the men in the world were like Knuckles or Tails or, dare I say it, like Sonic. Then I wouldn't have to worry so much."

Amy zoned out for a moment as her blue hero came to mind. She reached into her pocket to graze the note. When she felt the sheet fold under the weight of her fingers, her heart skipped a beat, letting the heat rush to her cheeks and all of her tangled emotions surge to her chest. Pulling out the note slowly, she flipped it open and read the simple sentences over and over in her head. What he wanted to tell her could have been anything, but she knew in her heart there was only one thing that was so important that he needed to ask in the park, under the light of the Mobian moon.

What a dream. To get Sonic the hedgehog as a boyfriend right before he heads off to college. I'll get invited to all of his track meets, go to his parties, and have study dates with him. I might even get a scholarship from the same school! We could be the ultimate power couple!

The pink hedgehog took a moment to bask in the spring sun, lifting her head to trace the outline of the crisp white clouds. She drew energy from its rays, closing her eyes as the warmth traveled across her cheeks. When she opened her eyes, she hyper focused on the blue of the sky, the color lovely and inviting. She wouldn't forget this day.

Things are looking up, Amelia. No more nightmares and no more shame. Once I'm Sonic's girl, I won't have to deal with any of that.

She returned to the note, rereading it in earnest, the possibilities filling her mind again.

"You still drooling over that note over there?" Rouge called to the lovestruck girl.

Amy huffed and pulled herself from the paper she cradled in her palms. Her scrutinizing eyes softened as she found genuine concern in Rouge's eyes, floating haphazardly under her usual sarcastic facade. Cream eyed Amy curiously as well, her glittering chocolate gaze so innocent that Amy almost wished she were older so she didn't have to be so careful with her words. Amy sighed and folded the note over twice, pressing it to her chest.

"Just thinking about what I'm going to wear tonight. I don't have time to run home, but I think I have a spare shirt in my locker."

"You're actually going to show up?" Rouge asked.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Amy huffed.

"You already know how I feel about ol' blue boy, and that note right there looks like a trap. "

"Rouge," Amy warned.

"Hey, that note could easily be some sick joke some asshole is playing on you. Don't you think it's a little odd that the note isn't actually addressed to you?"

Cream covered her ears at Rouge's expletive, the bat raising her voice a bit as she and Amy went at it.

"It's not addressed to anyone, Rouge, and this is Sonic's signature, for sure. You don't think I know what his signature looks like? Who would go so far as to forge his exact signature to play a joke on me?" Amy said, a hand on her hip.

"You and I both know several jerks in school who'd jump at the opportunity to play a cruel joke on us, you especially."

Amy opened her mouth to retort, but shut it as Rouge lifted a brow. The pinkette fummed, trying to direct her frustration elsewhere as she decided to read the names of the shops they passed instead. The whole school knew she was obsessed with Sonic, but how could she not be? They were childhood friends and her crush seemed everlasting. But the tendency for school bullies to harass her for a quick laugh seemed everlasting as well.

"Amy, do you really think Mr. Sonic is going to ask you to be his girlfriend?" Cream asked, uncovering her ears.

Amy tried to relax as she turned to the two girls. The skepticism in both of their eyes made something snap inside her, but she kept her rage to a minimum. She could let loose on Rouge without her taking it personally, but Cream didn't deserve her wrath. She cracked a phony smile and focussed on the young rabbit, ignoring Rouge's muffled giggles as the bat watched her reign in her temper.

"Of course, Cream. What else would be so important that he'd ask to meet me at the park at night? That has to be it."

Amy's smile faltered as their glances weighed on her, both girls clearly unwilling to believe her. Amy frowned at her shoes instead as the two girls watched her silently. Car horns blared and various conversations floated around them, going in and out as the Station Square hubbub buzzed in their ears. Cream's dress shoes clicked abruptly as she tripped and Amy jolted to catch her. As they all stopped together, Cream's snack pelting the sidewalk, Amy steadied the girl and asked if she was okay. Cream nodded and the silence prevailed as they awkwardly stood near one another.

"What if the note was for someone else?" Rouge asked, breaking the silence.

"It was in my locker. My locker isn't close to anyone else's. Who else could the note have been for that has a locker anywhere near mine?"

"I'm just saying —"

"And I'm just reminding you of the facts. Sonic left the note in my locker, and I don't know anyone else that shares a special place in the park with him. This note has to be for me, Rouge," Amy said, eyes sharp with a warning.

Rouge lifted her hands in surrender.

"Hey, don't go trying to shoot me, Amy. I know you've still got that little bow and arrow in storage somewhere. I wouldn't put it past you to pull it out for Sonic's sake."

A sharp pain shot through Amy's heart as her neck went cold for a moment. She rubbed the back of her neck and took in a deep breath to calm herself. The glare she leveled at the bat was brief, but it was quickly overtaken by a look of grief before she tried to hide it behind a stern look instead as she crossed her arms.

"Rouge, I only took a few archery lessons and it wasn't for me. But that's beside the point. I'm going to meet Sonic in the park tonight, no matter what you have to say about it," Amy said.

Rouge held Amy's gaze for a few heartbeats, before shrugging off their tense conversation, the bat unwilling to stoke her temper any further.

"Do what you want, rosy girl. Just don't forget about the rest of us this weekend. I was promised cookies," Rouge said, prompting the group to continue walking.

The rest of us.

The rest of them were a ragtag band of misfits that had connected over various levels of neglect from their immediate family members. Amy always thought of each member of their group as a lost piece from different puzzles that were repurposed to form an abstract image of sorts. Some of them were unwanted, others abused or misunderstood. Some a mixture of everything.

Sonic, Manic and Sonia. Amy had known them since she was in diapers; for the longest time they were neighbors that shared a cul-de-sac on top of a hill. Their mother, Aleena, quickly connected with Cecelia, Amy's stay-at-home mother. Amy's mother, Cecelia, was still a stay-at-home mom in those days and connected with Aleena quickly, the mother of the hedgehog triplets. After a few months of play dates, Aleena started dropping the triplets off while she worked long hours at her job, with no husband to help. Amy remembered spending every evening with the three troublemakers from then on.

Tails. At first, the four hedgehogs thought the young fox abandoned and hungry in their childhood, but after an incident, they learned he lived several miles away in an upper class neighborhood, born to a pilot father and a politician mother. Though wealthy, Tails parents paid him no mind, often leaving the boy to his own devices while they let their rigorous careers consume them. The four heagehogs took him in and gave him all the attention he deserved.

Cream. The small rabbit was the product of a teen pregnancy, her mother Vanilla coming to Cecelia for help by way of Aleena. Vanilla and Aleena worked together and bonded over shared pain as single mothers. Aleena introduced Vanilla to Cecelia and Amy's mother offered to look after Cream while Vanilla worked her long hours. Vanilla humbly accepted and the three mother's became a tight unit. Cream became Amy's shadow from that day on and a welcome member of their growing group of neglected children.

Knuckles. Sonic managed to make a rival out of Knuckles, a hotheaded echidna that had been held back a year. Knuckles had an abusive father, his mother long out of the picture. Though the echidna said he wanted nothing more than to pulverize Sonic anytime they crossed paths, it only took Sonic a small show of sympathy to get Knuckles to join them once he noticed the bruises under the boy's jersey and the subtle limp he walked with.

Rouge. Sonia attracted the bat to their group, her need for an older girl to relate to apparent when she started distancing herself from Amy. The pinkette grew a bit of jealously, but when she confronted Rouge directly, the bat ended up befriending her as well. Though Rouge and Amy would clash at times, Amy never turned Rouge away and eventually nurtured a sisterly bond with the older girl.

The Chaotix. Manic's knack for pickpocketing led him to attract a small group of delinquents that called themselves the Chaotix. Mighty, a strong armadillo, Espio, a quiet chameleon, and Charmy, an enthusiastic young bee, were adopted by a crocodile named Vector, a former foster kid that was like an older brother to them. Vector aged out of the system before his companions and immediately started working and saving his funds to open his own detective agency. His success in the field gave him the income to adopt Mighty, Espio, and Charmy and create a loving home for the misguided boys.

Silver and Blaze. And after welcoming the Chaotix, Amy met her own set of foster kids in her own grade. Silver, a quirky white hedgehog, stood out to her for his pristine fur color, and Blaze, a purple cat that charmed Amy with her fierce demeanor. The duo felt there was no hope for adoption, but Amy's optimism helped them along. When they were finally adopted, Blaze was sent of to private school, straining the connection between the trio. But Amy kept them tether to her group of friends through the years, never wanting to let her dear friends go.

Shadow. As all the older kids headed to high school, Amy not far behind them, the pinkette learned that the older kids started to branch out, their group catching the eye of a few other eclectic teens. Out of nowhere, Rouge introduced everyone to Shadow, a dark and introverted hedgehog that Rouge claimed was a family friend, raised by his lonely aunt. He was standoffish and didn't have much to say at first, and Amy got the impression Rouge forced him to come over. But it only took Amy a couple of friendly smiles and some brownies before Shadow opened up to them, particularly Rouge, Espio, Mighty, and Manic. Amy always made it a point to include him in activities she thought he might enjoy and she quickly became fond of his presence.

Sally. Amy was less fond of Sally, the red-headed chipmunk that Sonia met in cheerleading. Sally was popular and easy-going, but Amy felt her competitive side flare when Sonia made it a point to introduce Sally to Sonic. Sonic's demeanor changed when Sally was around, and Amy couldn't help but notice the flirtatious undercurrent among their banter. Sally also brought along her fellow cheerleaders when she came around, Bunnie, Mina, and Julie-Su. Amy came to enjoy their out-going nature, but feared that they would take Sonic or Sonia away from their group entirely. Thankfully, the chipmunk only intruded on special occasions, her school obligations and familial responsibilities keeping her away for the most part. And to Amy's knowledge, Sonic and Sally's relationship was purely platonic.

During her transition to high school, Amy's own issues with her father blossomed into something unbearable before ending in a terrible accident that took her father from them. Amy's mother was forced to sell their home and take whatever job she could, a difficult task for the stay-at-home mom. Cecelia and Amy moved to the far end of the city and made a small apartment their home. Amy didn't let the distance keep her from her friends though. With her mother's permission, she stayed enrolled in the same school, commuting on foot and by bus to do so. She kept up with the older teens and nurtured the younger ones, all the while keeping the adults in the loop. She had to. They were family, and they needed each other.

"The snickerdoodles are technically for Tails," Amy reminded the bat.

"I know, I know. He's bummed about the C he got on his calculus test and you want to cheer him up. Look, it's not like he's going to get chewed out by his parents or something. Those idiots don't even sit at the dinner table with the kid, let alone take a moment to check his grades. He's gonna retake the test next week and do fine. No need to drown his sorrow in sugar."

"Hey, I'm just warning you now, because I know you'll try to smuggle half of those cookies on your way out. I'm making enough for everyone, but I want Tails to get his fill before you guys demolish them. Sickerdoodles are also Sonic's second favorite treat, so I want to make sure there is enough for him as well," Amy explained, lowering her voice on the last part with a small flush to her cheeks.

"Of course they're Sonic's second favorite," Rouge muttered under her breath.

Amy gave her a pleading look, her jade eyes tired and desperate. Rouge gave in with an exaggerated sigh.

"Fine, fine. I'll only take a few. I'm not planning to stay long this weekend anyway. I've gotta try and sneak Blaze out of her daddies mansion. Gotta take the kitty girl to the mall and get her some less conservative clothing," Rouge said.

"Blaze's dad still hasn't caught you?" Amy asked.

"I'm good at what I do, hun. Plus, Blaze pays me mad rings to get her out of that stuffy place. Blame my momma. She taught me everything I know."

Amy's breath hitched and her heart raced as her research paper floated to the forefront of her mind.

"Speaking of your mom, is she available some time this weekend?"

The trio stopped in front of a long building, the unlit sign above it reading Station Square Gymnastics. Cream shuffled anxiously between the older girls, wondering where the conversation was going. Rouge's demeanor changed at the mention of her mom and she side eyed the pink hedgehog before turning to watch the cars on the street.

"Why? She owe you money or something?"

"I want to ask her if she knows anything about Project S. I watched a G.U.N. documentary today about it and I think it may be connected to my research on the tragedy in Mercia."

Rouge and Amy faced each other, the small rabbit waiting between the girls with mild confusion on her face. Cream alternated looking at each of their faces as Rouge squinted at the rose hedgehog. Amy stood still, looking directly into Rouge's eyes without wavering. Rouge's face tightened a bit as if to check Amy for ulterior motives. When she found none, she crossed her arms and looked away thoughtfully.

"I'll run the project name by her and see how she reacts. If she's willing to share, I'll have her give you a call. No promises though."

Amy smiled gratefully, shrugging off her side bag and opening the door to their destination. She held it open for her companions, motioning them to step through.

"Thanks, Rouge. I really appreciate it."

Rouge waved her off before guiding Cream into the gymnasium.

"Oh, don't thank me. Rather, pray to Chaos that she's sober when I ask."

The door closed behind them, Amy giving one more deliberate glance at the bright afternoon sky.

The three girls trained as usual, though the pink hedgehog kept her eyes on the clock anytime she could see it. Amy got permission to assist Cream with her stretches before alternating stretches with Rouge, the irritating bat teasing her all the while. Amy watched Cream demonstrate her knowledge of her fundamentals, later cartwheeling to her heart's content. Rouge practiced her routine on the uneven bars, twisting and turning with grace Amy could never quite comprehend. Amy took her turn on the tumbling mat, ending the night with a focus on her own routine, one that would make even Sonic stop and stare.

~aAa~

Pulling up to the curb in a beaten sedan, Vanilla opened her door promptly as she locked eyes with her daughter nestled between Amy and Rouge on the sidewalk underneath a streetlight. Delight brightened the worn look on the older rabbit's face as she stepped out, opening her arms for her daughter. Cream dropped her brown gym bag and her backpack and leapt into her mother's arms. Rouge picked up the abandoned bags and approached the car with a warm regard for the rabbits. Amy followed suit, her eyes drawn to the hood of Vanilla's car.

"Hi, momma! How was work?" Cream asked into her mother's blouse.

"Oh, just fine dear. Let's get you home and warm up some leftover pot pie and watch some TV, okay?" Vanilla said.

"Yes ma'am."

Rouge opened the back seat to let the young rabbit slide in. As Cream clicked on her seatbelt, Rouge placed the young rabbit's bag under her feet and ruffled her bangs. While Rouge said her goodbye, Amy greeted Vanilla politely, her concern directed to the rabbit's vehicle the moment a high pitched squeal pierced their ears.

"That doesn't sound good. Didn't Vector take a look at your car last week?" Amy asked.

Vanilla waved off the issue, her hair starting to fall out from the messy bun on the back of her neck.

"Vector has been exhausted as of late, dear. His agency is being swarmed with cases and he's had to pull some extremely late nights. I couldn't burden him with this old thing, not when he can barely keep his eyes open," Vanilla explained.

Amy hummed, eying the hood wearily.

"My mom knows a good mechanic. He gives her some pretty good discounts and he guarantees his work. He may even run a diagnostic for free," Amy advised.

"Oh? Well, I'll have to give Cecelia a call this weekend and get his number. Vector might not approve since he'll want to do the repairs himself, but I think I can get him to sit this one out. And it would be nice to catch up with your mother. I can never seem to catch her when she's free."

Amy gave the rabbit a tight smile and nodded.

"Yeah, work keeps her pretty busy."

Rouge closed the door behind Cream and joined Amy and Vanilla on the curb.

"Do either of you girls need a ride home today?" Vanilla asked.

Rouge shook her head, putting an elbow on Amy's shoulder to the lean on the pinkette casually.

"I've got to run an errand for my mom and Amy has a prior engagement this evening, so we'll be heading off on foot today. But thank you Vanilla," Rouge said.

"Okay, then. Well, as usual, thank you girls for taking care of my Cream. Get home safely, okay?"

Vanilla gave the two girls brief hugs before pulling off into the evening traffic. Amy stared after Vanilla's car, unease settling in the pit of her stomach as the car grew smaller. She felt a bit dizzy as she watched the car diminish until it was just a set of brake lights on the horizon, so transfixed that she didn't even react when Rouge spoke.

"I know I say this all the time, but it really makes me feel something watching Cream get raised properly, even with an absent father," Rouge said.

"Me too. I've always wanted Cream to have the best childhood since I met her. I think that will help her find happiness when she gets older."

"Well, she's already having a better childhood than we had. It just has to stay that way."

They basked in a companionable silence a moment before Amy shifted her weight and adjusted her school bag, turning a bit to face the bat. Rouge's eyes were glassy, but as they returned to reality, humor floated to the surface.

"Aren't you gonna be late?" Rouge asked with a smirk.

Amy straightened, her quills frazzling.

"Oh, I have to go! What time is it?"

Amy dropped her school bag in the process of patting her jeans in search of her phone. As the pinkette lost her wits, Rouge slid her phone out to check the time and found a message.

"Oh, so Shadow will be joining us this weekend."

Amy stopped panicking as she clicked open her phone, seeing that it was just after seven. She looked up from the screen at the mention of Shadow, pocketing her phone and raising a brow.

"Shadow is coming? Doesn't he have a school event this weekend?" Amy asked.

"He does, but it looks like he wants to make some time to come by. Sounds like he's bummed about something and wants my opinion. He's running Espio's ear off right now," Rouge explained.

"Oh, well then maybe I should make something extra to cheer him up, too. I know he likes brownies. Or maybe I can recreate those s'mores we had when we went camping last year? He seemed to love those."

Rouge eyed the thoughtful girl as she rubbed her chin and mumbled to herself. Rouge scoffed to herself and shook her head, patting the hedgehog's shoulder.

"Hey don't worry too much. Your snickerdoodles will cheer him up plenty. Just give him a cute smile and a wink when you're passing the tray around and he'll feel all better," Rouge said.

"Really? Wait, I thought —"

"Oh, I've said too much. I better shut my mouth before I wake up in the hospital. And you should get going. You better get to the park early in case the blue boy gets cold feet," Rouge said, hands up in mock surrender.

"Ah, you're right! See you tomorrow!"

Amy lifted her school and gym bag onto each shoulder and twisted around to read the street signs on either side of her.

"Call me later! And if you see any school boys hiding in the bushes, remember what Knuckles taught you. Uppercut to the chin, a kick to the nuts, and elbow to the neck. Then run and don't look back okay?"

The pinkette waved Rouge off, tripping a bit as she hurriedly gathered herself for a sprint. As the bat lifted into the air in the opposite direction, Amy took off as fast as she could, starlight reflecting in her jade eyes as she let them bless her path.

~aAa~

Author's note: I really, REALLY wanted to keep going and end this chapter with the good stuff, but I made a promise that I wouldn't write 20k+ chapters anymore. So, I am breaking this chapter in half. This one is just around 9k, but I am looking to make my chapters 7k-8k on average so they are easy to digest in one go. But, no worries, the next chapter will be posted soon since I've already written it (just needs some editing). From there, things start rolling. Let me know how you guys feel about shorter/longer chapter lengths.

Anyhoo, welcome to my very one and only zombie-inspired fanfiction. Yes, I do occasionally enjoy zombie and apocalyptic media. It's thrilling and gruesome, and I like that it gets my blood pumping and my emotions raging, especially when you fear who is going to die next. I know this seems like an odd deviation from the previous story I've written, but the details of this story have been floating around in my mind for years, so I couldn't help but write it next. I think some of you will like this one, even if you don't like zombies much. Zombies are not the focus of the story; they are just a means to send the characters through the various challenges that come with being thrust into an apocalyptic setting. But I won't spoil anything here. Leave comments about your predictions!

If you are curious, I took some inspiration from some Shadamy stories I read when I was younger, notably You Need to Grow Up by MozieBear and Zombies: A Shadamy Story by Chocoholic Princess on . I vaguely remembered Zombies: A Shadamy Story when I started piecing together scenes for this story and I went back and read it. I didn't enjoy rereading it nearly as much as I enjoyed my reread of You Need to Grow Up, but I recommend reading both stories nonetheless.

Last note: APOLOGIES for the info dump in the middle of that dialogue. I was having a hard time keeping the backstory brief. I wrote very detailed backstories for all of the characters in my notebook just to get a feel for the group dynamic and potential conflicts for the surviving characters, so I couldn't help but splurge a bit when I started to explain how they all met. I wanted to describe just how tight-nit these teens/young adults are and explain how neglect led them to be the way that they are. I got carried away and I won't be doing that as much going forward. I love found family, what can I say? (If you want to hear little snippets about their adolescent years, I'm down to do a small book with some one shots. Let me know if you guys are interested. Also, let me know if you skipped the info dump. I may go back and edit it down so it's not so disruptive.) / UPDATE 9/2/2024 I have fixed the info dump as of this date. It's more concise and easy to read, giving you just enough to feel for the teens, but keeps you wondering about the details. More to come for their backstories throughout the story and in the one-shots I decided I will write for them later. :)

And I know you guys can guess their approximate ages based on context, but I included their ages below just in case you want finite numbers. I tried to keep the age gaps kinda close to how the ages actually are in the games, but I did adjust a few to my liking. Like, Amy usually has a three year age gap between her and Sonic and a six year gap between her and Cream, but, as you can see, I aged her up a bit and I did the same for Cream. Same with Rouge and Vector; Rouge is a year or so older than most of them and so is Vector, at least by a few years according to the Sonic Heroes manual, but Rouge is the same age as most of them (to keep her in high school) and Vector is quite a bit older than the rest of the chaotix here. Again, I did this in an effort to map out a reasonable dynamic for their group so it would work for the story I am trying to tell. Also, I am mixing video game lore, archie comic lore, and Sonic Underground lore all together here, so sorry if things seem a bit confusing.

*In private school

Our Cast

Amy 16 (Junior)

*Shadow 18 (Senior)

Sonic 18 (Senior)

Sonia 18 (Senior)

Manic 18 (Senior)

Sally 18 (Senior)

Rouge 18 (Senior)

Knuckles 19 (Senior/held back a year)

Cream 11 (Sixth grade)

Tails 13 (Freshman/skipped two grades)

Silver 17 (Junior)

*Blaze 17 (Junior)

*Mighty 18 (Senior)

*Espio 18 (Senior)

*Charmy 11 (Sixth grade)

Vector (Mighty, Espio, and Charmy's adoptive dad/more like a brother) 26

Vanilla (Cream's mother) 30

Aleena (Sonic, Sonia, and Manic's mother) 40

Iris (Shadow's aunt/OC) 40

Cecelia Rose (Amy's mother/OC) 35

Scarlet (Rouge's mother/OC) 35

Elias (Sally's brother) 23

Bunnie 20 (Graduated/Sally's close friend)

Mina 18 (Senior)

Julie-Su 17 (Junior)

(The ages for all other parents and side characters can be inferred and their names are not important for the most part. If more characters become relevant as the story goes on, I will add them to the roster and update their ages.)

R and R!