You thought I was done with Sonic? Nah.
This is a short chapter to start things off because I'm currently starting to not have as much free time again.
Hope you enjoy this one!
A blessing!
"Want another one, Sonic?" Asked Amy with a smile.
Sonic nods. "You got it, Ames."
Amy reaches into the basket for Sonic's favorite food and hands one to him carefully. "You know, I never really understood why you like these so much."
Sonic shrugs. "Dunno. Guess it's the spiciness or how simple they are. They still rock, though."
Amy chuckles softly. "Can't disagree with you there, Sonic."
The sun hung lazily in the late afternoon sky, casting a golden glow over the serene hilltop. A gentle breeze rippled through the tall grass, carrying with it the sweet, earthy scent of wildflowers. The hill was quiet, save for the occasional chirp of distant birds and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.
Sonic sat cross-legged on a red-and-white checkered blanket, his trademark grin plastered across his face as he enjoyed his meal for the day. Across from him sat Amy, her bright pink quills catching the sunlight as she looked at her hero with affection and admiration.
"So... You decided to show up on time for once, huh?" Amy teased, a playful pout crossing her lips. She brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes and leaned forward slightly. "I was starting to think I'd be eating all this by myself."
Sonic chuckled, taking another big bite out of his chili dog. "Hey, you know me, Amy. I can't say no to chili dogs. Besides, I can stop every once in a while to hang out with you."
Amy rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "So... You're still not gonna admit that this is a date?"
Sonic shakes his head. "Nope, because this isn't a date."
Amy sighs. "And here I thought you'd be changing your mind. Vanilla said that the only way to get to a man's heart is through their stomach."
Sonic chuckles again. "Did she? Well, Maybe that's not terrible advice. That just means more chili dogs coming my way!"
Amy huffs. "You really don't care about anything other than the food, do you?"
"Relax, Ames, I'm just messing with ya." Sonic said, waving off her words with a flick of his wrist. "You know I wouldn't miss this for the world. But come on, it's not like we don't have a schedule to keep. The world needs saving every once in a while, we need to catch up with our friends, Eggman needs a beating every day or so..."
Sonic takes another bite of his chili dog, some crumbs fall onto the blanket.
Amy's smile faltered for just a moment, a faint flicker of disappointment crossing her face. She quickly masked it, turning her attention to the sandwiches she'd packed. "Yeah, I guess you're right. No big deal..."
The silence that followed wasn't awkward, but it wasn't quite comfortable either.
Sonic was too absorbed in his food to notice, while Amy's gaze drifted to the horizon.
The hill offered a stunning view of the surrounding countryside: rolling fields dotted with trees, the faint shimmer of a distant river, and mountains in the far distance, their peaks kissed by clouds.
Amy's mind wandered. 'It shouldn't be bothering me this much... I know Sonic doesn't mean anything by it. He's just... Sonic. But still... would it kill him to show a little more appreciation? Or... Does he just not like me? Maybe he has some sort of standard I don't know about...?'
Her thoughts were interrupted by a distant BOOM. The ground beneath them trembled faintly, and a thin plume of smoke rose into the sky from somewhere in the distance.
Sonic shot upright, his eyes immediately locking onto the source of the disturbance.
"Well, that's our cue!" He declared, leaping to his feet and brushing crumbs off his gloves. "Can't have a picnic when there's trouble brewing. Let's go, Ames! This'll be over in a flash!"
Amy stood up as well, her heart sinking slightly. "Wait, Sonic! What if-?"
But he was already gone, a streak of blue racing down the hill and leaving a gust of wind in his wake.
Amy sighed, grabbing her hammer from the ground where it rested and sprinting after him.
"It would be amazing if you slowed down and waited for me every once in a while, you know!" She called, though she doubted he could hear her.
As she ran, her earlier thoughts lingered. 'He always does this. Rushing off, doing his thing, leaving me to catch up. Gah, I need to stop thinking about it this way. But still, it would be nice if he could appreciate the things I do for him a little more...'
The sound of another explosion drew her focus back to the present. Sonic was just ahead. Amy gripped her hammer tightly, pushing down her feelings as she caught up to him. For now, there was no time to dwell on her emotions.
As Sonic and Amy reached the source of the sounds, their eyes scanned the scene. Smoke billowed from craters in the earth, and the sound of clanking metal and whirring gears filled the air. A huge swarm of Badniks moved methodically, planting explosives and digging into the ground with clawed appendages.
At their center stood Metal Sonic, his crimson eyes glowing ominously as he supervised the operation.
"Well, well, well." Sonic quipped, cracking his knuckles with a confident smirk. "If it isn't the shiny faker himself. What's the plan this time, Metal? Digging a treasure for Egghead? Or just making a mess for the fun of it?"
Metal Sonic didn't respond, instead raising a metallic hand to point directly at Sonic, as if challenging him.
Without hesitation, Sonic's smirk widened. "Alright, I'll play along. Amy, you keep the rest of these tin cans busy. I'll handle the big guy."
Amy nodded, her usual bright smile plastered on her face. "Got it, Sonic! Don't take too long, I want a crack at him too!"
Sonic gave her a thumbs-up before dashing forward, a blur of blue hurtling straight for Metal Sonic. The two collided in a flash of sparks, their movements so fast they were almost a blur.
Amy watched them for a split second, her hammer resting on her shoulder, before turning her attention to the horde of Badniks now closing in on her.
"Alright, you bucketheads." She said, spinning her hammer in a wide arc. "I don't know why you're making a mess around here, but it ends now. Let's dance!"
The first wave of Badniks rushed her, spindly-legged robots with sharp pincers and buzzing saw blades. Amy leapt into the air, bringing her hammer down with enough force to flatten three of them at once. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, scattering the nearby machines. She followed up with a graceful twirl, her hammer sweeping in a wide arc to send another group flying.
But as she fought, a nagging thought tugged at the back of her mind. 'Sonic didn't even hesitate to put me on cleanup duty. It's like he doesn't think I can handle anything bigger. What does he see me as, some kind of backup dancer?'
She shook her head, trying to focus as another wave of Badniks approached.
These were tougher, heavily armored with drills for arms, and their numbers just kept increasing by the second. Amy narrowed her eyes and gripped her hammer tightly. She charged forward, ducking under a swinging drill and smashing her hammer into the robot's midsection.
The impact sent it flying into another, but the exertion left her slightly winded. 'Oof... If I were stronger, this would be a lot easier... If I had Knuckles's strength, I wouldn't have to try so hard. How does he do it?'
Another group of robots fired lasers, forcing her to dodge and weave through the barrage.
She swung her hammer upward, flipping one of the laser-shooting Badniks into the air before slamming it back down with a satisfying crunch.
The battle raged on, but Amy couldn't shake the growing bitterness in her chest. 'Ugh, this is taking more than it needs to. Why can't I be faster like Sonic or smarter like Tails? I bet Knuckles probably would have destroyed these buckets of bolts already, and Tails would have found a way to beat them all at once or the reason they're digging around here. I'm just... me.'
A loud explosion from Metal Sonic's direction snapped her out of her thoughts. She glanced over to see Sonic trading blows with his rival, the two moving at incredible speeds.
Sonic smirks, dodging as Metal Sonic claws at him from above. "You're too slow, faker!"
For a moment, her heart swelled with admiration. Sonic was fearless, always charging ahead no matter the odds. But that admiration was tinged with envy, and she hated that feeling.
"Focus, Amy." She muttered to herself, sidestepping to dodge an incoming laser. "You don't have time for a pity party."
With a burst of determination, Amy vaulted over a group of Badniks, landing behind them and taking them out with a wide sweep of her hammer. The robots hesitated, regrouping for another charge. She planted her feet firmly, gripping her hammer as she prepared for the next wave.
Even as she fought with everything she had, the thoughts lingered. 'I'll have to work real hard to be like Sonic. Or Tails. Or Knuckles. They all seem so naturally amazing, but... How much do I need to improve myself to stand in the same level as them?'
Then, Metal Sonic's glowing red eyes locked onto Amy. He immediately detected something in her that wasn't present in Sonic.
Hesitation.
Before she could react, Metal Sonic moved, a silver-blue streak slicing through the air. Metal Sonic struck with a precision kick, sending Sonic flying backward into a heap of broken Badnik parts.
Sonic huffs before looking at where Metal Sonic was headed. "Amy, watch out!"
It was too late. Amy barely had time to turn her head before Metal Sonic's clawed hand clamped around her arm. She gasped, trying to swing her hammer, but the robot's strength was overwhelming.
"Let me go!" She yelled, struggling against his grip.
But Metal Sonic was unyielding. With a mechanical whir, he hurled her toward the edge of the cliff beside them.
"AMY!" Sonic's voice was desperate, but she couldn't see him anymore.
The world spun as she tumbled through the air, her scream echoing in the canyon below.
Branches and vines lashed at her, their snapping sounds blending with her cries as they broke her fall in painful bursts. Leaves scratched her face, and thick roots bruised her arms and legs. Just as she thought she'd hit the rocky ground, her body instead crashed onto a patch of soft flowers. The impact knocked the air out of her lungs, and she lay there for a moment, dazed.
The sound of rustling leaves and distant explosions faded into silence.
Slowly, Amy opened her eyes, her vision blurred but steadily sharpening.
Above her, the dim sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees and vines that had grown around the cliffside, obscuring her vision to a certain extent. The vibrant pink and white petals of the flowers she'd landed on surrounded her, their sweet scent doing little to mask the sharp pain radiating through her body.
She groaned, sitting up and wincing at the aches in her limbs. "What... what just happened?"
Her mind raced as she tried to process everything. Then, it hit her like a lightning bolt. 'Sonic… I need to get back to him!'
Amy pushed herself to her feet, clutching her hammer for support.
It was then that she noticed her surroundings. The patch of flowers wasn't just an ordinary meadow, it was nestled in the middle of what seemed to be a forgotten city. Massive stone pillars jutted out from the earth, many of them cracked or toppled over. Intricately carved walls stretched around her, their engravings faded and overgrown with moss and ivy. Ornate arches loomed above, their once-pristine stonework now crumbling and worn.
"Wow... This place is..." Amy whispered, her voice trailing off as she took a few hesitant steps forward.
She ran her fingers along the nearest pillar, tracing the faint patterns etched into its surface. They were unlike anything she'd seen before, not resembling any culture she'd read about or encountered.
Amy ventured deeper in search of a way out, and the ruins revealed themselves as she walked.
Broken statues lined what seemed to be a central plaza, their faces eroded by time but still exuding an air of grandeur. At the center of the plaza was a fountain, its basin dry and cracked. Despite its disrepair, Amy could imagine how it must have looked in its prime, water sparkling under the sunlight, people bustling around, laughter and life filling the air.
"This place was beautiful once..." Amy said softly, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy. She walked around the plaza, noticing fragments of pottery and tools scattered among the rubble. Each piece told a silent story of a civilization that had thrived here long ago.
But as she moved further, the atmosphere changed.
The carvings on the walls grew darker in tone, images of people fighting, of structures collapsing, and of what looked like a menacing figure looming over the city.
Amy stopped in front of one particular engraving that sent a chill down her spine. It depicted the city in chaos, with jagged lines slashing across the sky, as if the heavens themselves had been torn apart.
"A disaster...?" She whispered, stepping back. "Or an important event, maybe...? Something terrible must have happened here..."
Her heart ached for the people who had once called this place home, but she shook her head, forcing herself to focus. "I can't think about this now. I need to get back to Sonic. He could need my help beating that metallic bully."
She began to search for a way out, weaving through the ruins. Vines and roots had overtaken many of the pathways, and loose stones made every step precarious.
Amy pushed forward, determined. Her hammer became her makeshift machete, slicing through overgrown vegetation and clearing her path.
As she climbed a crumbling staircase, she caught sight of the cliffside above her. It was far, but not impossible. If she could find the right vantage point, she might be able to climb back up.
Amy's footsteps echoed through the ancient halls as she ascended the grand staircase. Each step felt heavier than the last, her body aching from the fall and her mind still reeling from the battle above. The staircase spiraled upward, its railings long gone and replaced by overgrown vines.
The air grew cooler, almost reverent, as she climbed higher into what appeared to be the heart of the city, a sprawling palace that loomed like a ghost of its former glory.
The palace was a marvel of architecture, even in its decay. Intricate mosaics adorned the walls, their vibrant colors faded but still hinting at the stories they once told. Golden accents peeked through layers of dirt and grime, glinting faintly in the soft light filtering through shattered windows.
Amy's gaze swept across the ruins as she made her way toward a set of massive double doors, partially ajar. With a gentle push, the doors creaked open, revealing what could only be the throne room. It was vast, the ceiling arching high above her, supported by massive stone columns.
At the center, raised on a platform of carved stone steps, stood a single throne. Unlike the rest of the palace, the throne seemed untouched by time. It was crafted from a dark, polished material that shimmered faintly, almost as if it were alive. Intricate carvings ran along its surface, depicting celestial patterns, stars, moons, and constellations.
But what caught Amy's eye most was the crown resting on the throne's seat.
The crown was simple and delicate, yet commanding and imposing, its structure made of the most beautiful gold Amy had ever seen. A single red gemstone unlike anything she'd ever seen sat at its center, glowing faintly with an inner light that seemed to slowly pulse on its own.
Amy suddenly felt an almost magnetic pull toward it. Her heart quickened as she took the first hesitant step forward. "What… is this?"
She stopped just short of the throne, her hand trembling slightly as she reached out. The air around the crown seemed charged, a faint hum resonating as if the crown itself were alive. Her instincts screamed at her to stop, to turn back, but another part of her, a deeper, more curious part of her, urged her forward, alongside another feeling she couldn't quite place.
Amy hesitated, her fingers hovering over the crown. "It's… beautiful..."
The gemstone's glow reflected in her wide eyes, and for a moment, she thought she could hear whispers.
She shook her head, trying to dispel the unease creeping up her spine.
"This is silly." She muttered, forcing a smile. "It's just a crown."
But even as she said the words, she knew it wasn't.
There was something more to this artifact, something that she couldn't quite place, but her instincts definitely detected.
"Yeah... It's definitely just a crown..." She repeated, trying to convince herself. "No big deal... Probably just some dusty old relic no one will miss, right? And hey, I bet it'd look cute on me!"
The idea of it, Amy Rose, wearing this regal crown, made her smile despite her unease.
Taking a deep breath, Amy lifted the crown from the throne. It was surprisingly light, almost as if it had been made specifically for someone her size. She turned it over in her hands, marveling at the craftsmanship.
The gemstone seemed to glow brighter now, casting a faint red hue over her face.
"Alright..." She said, mustering some courage. "Here goes nothing."
With a single, decisive motion, she placed the crown on her head.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, like a tidal wave, a surge of energy rushed through her.
Amy gasped, her knees buckling slightly as the power coursed through her veins. It was unlike anything she had ever felt, intense yet beautiful, overwhelming yet comforting.
The world around her felt sharper, clearer. The sound of her own breathing was music to her ears, each inhale and exhale filling her with a strange euphoria. Her vision sharpened, colors becoming more vivid and details more intricate. She could see the faint patterns etched into the stone walls, the subtle swaying of vines in the breeze, the tiny particles of dust suspended in the air.
The whispers returned, louder this time, though still unintelligible. But they no longer felt ominous, but rather… welcoming.
Amy straightened, her grip on her hammer tightening as a smile crept onto her lips. She felt strong, capable, and alive in a way she never had before. Her doubts and insecurities seemed to fade, replaced by a radiant confidence that bordered on euphoria.
For a moment, she thought she could feel the air itself bending to her will. Her whole body felt light yet powerful, like she could leap across mountains or crush boulders with ease.
"This… this is incredible!" She said aloud, not caring about the silence that enveloped the ruins anymore. She held her hands out, flexing her fingers as if testing her newfound strength. She no longer felt the ache of her injuries or the pain in her body after the fall.
The world around her felt alive... no, it felt like she was alive in a way she had never been before.
She clenched her fists, marveling at the strength in her grip, and then looked up toward the cliff where she had left Sonic and Metal Sonic locked in battle.
'I can make it back. No...' She thought, a grin tugging at her lips. 'I can do more than that!'
Closing her eyes, Amy focused on the energy surging within her. It felt almost instinctive, as though the crown itself was guiding her. The air around her shimmered faintly, and in an instant, she felt her feet lift off the ground.
Amy opened her eyes in shock to find herself hovering several feet above the ruined steps. A laugh of disbelief escaped her lips. "I'm… flying? Awesome!"
Testing her newfound ability, she soared upward, weaving effortlessly through the canopy of trees and vines that clung to the cliffside. The sensation was incredible, like swimming through air, every movement smooth and fluid. The wind rushed past her, carrying the faint sounds of the battle above. Her senses were sharper than ever, picking up the clang of metal against metal and the hum of Badnik engines long before she reached the top.
Amy crested the cliff in a flash, her arrival marked by a burst of displaced air that sent debris scattering.
Sonic, mid-spin-dash against Metal Sonic, skidded to a halt, his eyes widening as he caught sight of her.
"Amy?!" He called out, his voice a mixture of relief and astonishment. "You're okay! But-wait, are you flying? How did you-?"
Before he could finish, Amy landed gracefully, the ground barely registering her weight.
She didn't answer, her focus shifting to the horde of Badniks that swarmed the area. Her eyes glinted with newfound determination, and she gripped her hammer tightly.
"Step aside, Sonic." She said, her voice steady and calm, but with an edge of authority he wasn't used to hearing. "I'll take care of this."
Sonic blinked, caught off guard by her tone, but before he could argue, Amy was already moving. She shot forward, a pink-and-red blur that rivaled even Sonic's speed.
Surpassed it, perhaps.
The first wave of Badniks barely had time to react before Amy's hammer struck with a thunderous crack, sending them flying in pieces.
"But-? How-? What?!" Sonic started, his jaw dropping as Amy tore through the robots with ease.
Her movements were precise and efficient, each swing of her hammer creating unusually enormous shockwaves that dismantled multiple Badniks at once. The air seemed to vibrate with energy, and Sonic could only watch in stunned silence.
Amy didn't stop there. With a flick of her wrist, she extended her free hand, and several Badniks were yanked off the ground by an invisible force. They hovered helplessly for a moment before imploding in a burst of sparks.
"Is that psychokinesis?" Sonic muttered, his astonishment growing by the second. "Since when could she-?"
Metal Sonic, observing the destruction, shifted his stance, his glowing red eyes narrowing. He shot forward like a missile, aiming to strike Amy from behind, but she anticipated his move, stopping the missile in mid-air with a single flick of her wrist.
Amy raised her hammer and spun, meeting Metal Sonic mid-air with a forceful blow that sent him crashing into the ground.
"That all you've got, you glorified tin can?" Amy asked, her voice carrying a calm confidence that was almost unsettling to Sonic.
Metal Sonic rose unsteadily, his sleek frame dented from the impact. He hesitated for the first time, his sensors whirring as if reevaluating the threat.
Sonic jogged over, still in disbelief. "Amy, this is amazing, but... how?!"
Amy glanced at him briefly, her eyes gleaming with a faint red hue that matched the crown's gemstone. Sonic noticed the red hue in her eyes but didn't comment on it.
"I'll explain later." She said dismissively. "Right now, let me keep going at it with these guys. I'm barely getting started!"
With a final surge of energy, Amy leaped into the air, spinning her hammer overhead. A huge shockwave rippled outward as she slammed it into the ground, obliterating the remaining Badniks in a single, brilliant flash of light.
The battlefield fell silent, save for the crackle of broken machinery.
Metal Sonic, damaged and outmatched, emitted a distorted screech before retreating. He disappeared into the horizon, leaving a trail of smoke in his wake.
Amy watched him go, her expression unreadable. She could have pursued him, but she chose not to. Instead, she lowered her hammer and turned to Sonic, a smile playing on her lips.
"All done, handsome." She said teasingly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
Sonic stared at her, his relief mingling with confusion. "Amy, that was… unbelievable. I mean, I'm glad you're okay, but what happened? How did you do all of that? How did you come back so quickly? Are you okay? And what's with the weird crown thing?"
Amy turned to him, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, you know, I just had a little adventure of my own. Nothing you'd find interesting. Let's just say I had a lucky break."
Sonic blinked, taken aback by her nonchalant attitude. "A lucky break? Amy, you fell off a cliff! I thought-"
Amy raises an eyebrow with a smile. "Oh? What's that? The mighty Sonic the hedgehog cared about my well-being?"
Sonic stopped himself, shaking his head. "Look, I just want to know what's going on. You can tell me."
Amy waved a hand dismissively, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Sonic, you're such a worrywart sometimes. I'm fine, better than fine, actually. There's no need to overthink it."
Her words were casual, but the glint in her eyes carried something unfamiliar, something that made Sonic's stomach twist slightly. There was something different about her, something he wasn't sure he liked.
Sonic tried again, his tone softening. "Alright, fine. How about this: let's head back to our picnic spot and sit down so you can tell me everything over a chili dog. How does that sound?"
Amy paused, her gaze drifting toward the distant hills where they had shared their quiet moment earlier.
For a fleeting second, Sonic thought she might agree.
But then she shook her head, her expression turning distant. "I don't think so. I suddenly feel like I want to explore everything this world has to offer by myself, you know? There's so much out there to see, and I feel like I'd be wasting time with small, pointless stuff like this."
Her words hit Sonic like a gut punch.
He stared at her, struggling to process what he was hearing. "Wait, what? Amy, what did you just say?"
She gave him a small smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Don't worry about me, Sonic. I'll be fine."
Without waiting for a response, she lifted off the ground, the air shimmering faintly around her as she hovered effortlessly.
"Amy, wait up!" Sonic called out, stepping forward, but she was already ascending higher.
She glanced back one last time, her hair swaying in the wind, and gave him a playful wave. "See you around, Sonic!"
With that, she shot off into the sky, her figure becoming a pink blur against the horizon.
Sonic stood frozen, his hand still half-raised as if to reach for her. He watched her disappear, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him, relief that she was safe, confusion at her behavior, and something he couldn't quite name.
There was definitely something off about her. Something he definitely didn't like.
She felt like someone entirely new, someone he didn't quite recognize. And that unsettled him more than he cared to admit.
He turned slowly, his gaze drifting to the spot where they had been sitting earlier, their half-eaten chili dogs still resting on the picnic blanket.
The sight now felt... oddly hollow.
He dashed over and plopped down on the blanket, picking up one of the chili dogs.
He stared at it for a moment before setting it back down, his appetite mysteriously gone.
Sonic leaned back, his hands bracing against the grass as he looked up at the sky. The clouds drifted lazily overhead, completely indifferent to the whirlwind of thoughts racing through his mind. Amy's dismissive attitude had certainly left an impact on him.
He sighed, running a hand through his quills. 'What's gotten into her? She would never have said no to this... But then again... She looked pretty happy just now... Could it be because of that crown? No... That can't be right. It's just a piece of gold with a gem... right? Huh, maybe I should talk about this with Tails just in case.'