Batman, Green Lantern and Superman are all copyright to DC Comics. Amy Rose, Sonic and Tails are copyright to the Sega Sonic Team. Mari-Ann and Rob O' Hedge are copyright to Archie Sonic. The title is a take on the popular phrase and song "Every Rose has its Thorn".
* * *
Jane’s heart pounded, sweat covered her brow and had long since dampened her hair. She steadied her hands as she took aim for her target and fired. The steel arrow flew from her crossbow, soaring through the hot air before impacting with the target twenty-five meters away, hitting only a few centimetres shy of the bulls-eye.
Bloody hell!
She huffed and lowered the bow to her right side before picking up a towel from a nearby table to wipe her brow. The spectators cheered and clapped behind and around her as she looked up at the digital scoreboard. She’d done well in that round but was still behind the first and second place competitors.
Focus Jane; don’t let your distractions get to you. You can do this!
She sat back down beside her brother Cosmo, who was acting as a coach for her during the competition. He petted her on the back and offered her a bottle of Gatorade. Jane put her bow down beside her and took the drink.
"Great shot there ‘sis. How do you do it?"
He’s only trying to help; don’t get upset with him.
"Thanks bro but I know I can do better. I’ve been a little … distracted lately," Jane said, leaning forward, with her hands under her chin.
"Forget him ‘sis, he already rejected you once and now he’s up and vanished. Why waste your time with him?"
"You don’t know Benjamin as I do. He may have said he only liked me as a friend but he really meant he loved me, I just know it! There must be a reason he’s vanished and somehow, I’m going to find out!" Jane replied.
"I thought he liked Terra?"
"No, she’s not right for him, he’s just in denial!"
"Come on Jane, you have to let him go. I know rejection hurts but aren’t you just setting yourself up for more pain in the future by pursing him like this?"
"Perhaps, but what if I’m right? Then by not pursing him … I may be setting both of us up for more heartbreak!" Jane replied.
"Maybe so," Cosmo giggled. "Anyway, why not just ask his parents?"
Jane took a sip of the Gatorade as much to Jane’s annoyance, her fellow competitor managed to score a bulls-eye.
"They’re not around. I think they’re hiding because they don’t want reporters harassing them. Then there’s Kyle, he vanished too," Jane said, rubbing her chin in thought. "He was kinda cute, no where near as cute as my Ben but still cute!"
"Yeah, I saw that article in the tabloids as well," Cosmo answered.
Jane had seen the articles; they claimed Kyle had been magically (or though some other means) transformed into a character from a video game, preposterous! She’d read all sorts of absurd tales in the tabloids but that one took the proverbial cake. Jane didn’t care how authentic the pictures looked. Sure the various websites out there had said the images showed no evidence of photo manipulation but people just didn’t become fictitious characters. No, this was probably a scheme to sell the latest of those games.
"What if it’s true?" Cosmo asked, rousing Jane from her thoughts.
"Hun?" Jane replied.
Another cheer from the crowd, the next competitor had scored in a spot just shy of Jane’s. She was still in third place but now second was within her grasp.
"What if Kyle really did become Tails?"
Yes, that was the character name. Jane had never taken much of an interest in those games though. She’d read a few of the Fleetway comics, the character of Amy Rose having intrigued her. The character was cute and Jane did find the parallels between her and Amy amusing.
"I assure you Cosmo, it’s all just a ploy to sell more games or comics. Imagine if we started hearing rumours of a real life Superman or Green Lantern; imagine the field day the tabloids would have with that."
"But what if it’s really true?" Cosmo asked.
"Why would someone or some thing turn a person into a video game character? It doesn’t make any sense. Something else happened to Ben, I’m sure of it," Jane said.
"Maybe secretly eloped and didn’t want to tell you," Cosmo jibbed, winking to show her he was only joking with her.
Jane had a witty remark on her tongue when the results from this latest round came in. The contest had started out with 64 people and by this round there were only 12 left. The final round would consist of the top 6 of those twelve, the top three earning trophies. Jane smiled when she saw her name in the number three spot.
"Way to go sis!" Cosmo said.
It’s just not the same though. I should be overjoyed yet … I’m still happy but the joy of it isn’t there. If only Ben was here, then it would mean something.
The competitors that didn’t qualify left the field and the friends and family members of the ones that did came down to congratulate them. These included Jane’s parents. Jane stood up to greet them.
"Congratulations honey, you’re doing excellent so far," her mother said.
"You’re doing great sweetie," her father said.
"I just wish Ben were here. It’d be a lot more enjoyable with him watching," Jane sighed.
Her mother put her hands on Jane’s shoulders.
"I’m sure he would be here if he could," she said.
"Yeah, I wish I could see him and know if he’s alright. He means more to me then a tournament."
"The final round will be held tomorrow at eight p.m.," the loudspeaker said.
Jane picked up her duffel bag and crossbow and followed her parents and brother out of the stadium and to the car. Jane lived in an apartment twenty minutes from her parent’s house with a roommate. Her brother was staying home while he continued his education. Her parents dropped her off at her apartment before congratulating her again and heading off.
Sighing, Jane headed up to her 5th floor apartment. Her roommate Sandra was watching TV as Jane walked in and dumped her duffel bag on the floor along with her coat. She carried her crossbow to her closet before heading into the living room.
"Hey, how’d it go?" Sandra asked, muting the TV.
"Pretty good, I came in third place, the final round is tomorrow," Jane answered.
"Pretty good?" Sandra said, bolting up, "that’s awesome!"
"Yeah, I guess so," Jane answered.
"What’s wrong?" Sandra asked.
"It’s just not the same without Ben," Jane answered.
"I thought he said he just wanted to be friends?" Sandra asked.
"Oh, he was just kidding around. I know he likes me and is just too shy to say so. I just wish I knew where he went."
"Maybe he’s Batman and is on some sort of mission with the League," Sandra said, winking.
"Very funny San. What if he’s hurt or something; why would his family be so secretive about it?"
"I don’t know. You heard about what happened to Kyle, maybe something that like happen to Ben?" Great, her too. Jane just rolled her eyes. "Well, those pictures sure looked real even if they were from the tabloids."
Jane put her hands on her hips.
"Those same tabloids claimed that the president is really an alien and that caffeine is in fact something used to control our brains. I mean, what’s next, saying that the tips of our shoelaces are used to record our every thought?"
"All right, I know it’s crazy sounding but you have to admit that it is pretty cool," Sandra said.
"Either way, I just wish I could be with him again. I don’t care what he’s done or if he’s become something from one of those games."
"You just might see him again," Sandra said.
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Jane asked.
Sandra smirked. "Nothing, just trying to make you feel better. Um, did it work?"
"Er, no, not really but thanks for trying."
"No problem, that’s what friends are for."
"Well, you go back to your program, I’m going to go take a shower," Jane said.
Sandra nodded and sat back down as Jane headed towards her room (which had a bathroom off of it). She looked at the picture of Ben on her dresser and sighed before picking it up.
I don’t know where you’ve gone Ben but I’ll find you somehow. I know you love me, you’re just too shy to admit it.
She hugged the picture and put it back down on the dresser before picking out a bathrobe and brining it into the bathroom with her. She opted to take a bath rather then a shower, as it would help her to relax.
Nearly an hour later, she came out dressed in a bathrobe. She heard the doorbell ring. She expected Sandra to get it but Sandra was unfortunately in the bathroom, as Jane discovered when she walked into the hall and saw the bathroom door closed.
"Are you expecting anyone Sandra?" Jane asked.
"No, are you?"
"No, I’ll go see who it is," Jane answered.
If neither of us buzzed whomever it is up then how did they get in?
Jane walked over to the door and looked through the peephole. She saw a man that looked a year or two older then her with spiky hair and sunglasses wearing a Jean jacket and jeans holding what looked like flowers. Curious, Jane opened the door.
"Hello, flowers for a Jane," he said. Jane cringed a bit because of an allergy to flowers.
"Who are they from?" Jane asked, secretly hoping they were from Ben as his way of apologising for being away.
"He wishes to stay anonymous. Well … enjoy," the man said before handing Jane the flowers, turning around and walking off down the hallway.
"Wait, what did he look like?" Jane yelled as she ran into the hall, only to find the deliverer was nowhere in sight.
That’s odd.
Jane went back into her apartment and after closing the door behind her, opened the bouquet, finding the flowers inside to be pink roses. Instead of sneezing as she usually would around them, she felt perfectly fine. They smelled wonderful. Jane saw a card attached to the paper and opened it.
I’ll see you soon.
"Oh, these must be from Ben!" she beamed. Unfortunately, she held the flowers a little too tight and pricked her right index finger on one of the thorns. "Bloody hell!" she yipped, nearly dropping the bouquet.
"Who was at the door?" Sandra asked. Jane turned, holding the bouquet in her left hand as she licked her wounded finger. "Hey flowers, who are they from? Er what happened to your finger?"
"They’re roses, I think they’re from Ben. Unfortunately, they forgot to remove one of the thorns and it pricked me!" Jane replied, handing the bouquet to Sandra. It was then that she noticed something odd; the pain was gone! She brought it away from her mouth and saw the wound had healed, without as much as a tiny scar, "weird"
"How did a thorn prick you? I don’t feel any and I don’t see a rip anywhere in the paper. Are you sure you’re not tripping out on me?" Sandra asked.
Jane took the bouquet from Sandra and felt around it. She’s right, no thorns. Was it my imagination?
"Maybe it was my imagination," Jane said, looking at her finger. "Well, let’s find a vase for these. I just love roses and Ben knows it too. I think he’s the only one that knows it too. These could only have come from him!" Jane beamed.
"Since when do you love roses? I thought you were allergic to them?" Sandra asked.
"Allergic, what are you … wait a second I … was allergic to them. Now I’m not and suddenly I love roses," Jane said as she walked towards their kitchen to find a vase. She found a vase in the dining room and put the roses in it on the table.
"Er, Jane are you sure your allergy is gone; your face is all pink!" Sandra said.
Come to think of it, Jane did realise her face felt warmer and was her bathrobe looser? Did the room seem bigger? Wasn’t Sandra shorter then her rather then almost a head taller?
Jane walked into her bedrooms’ bathroom and looked at her reflection. Sure enough, the skin on the upper part of her face was pink. It wasn’t a rash, if anything, it looked like hair … or fur? There was also the matter of her ears being smaller and the two points emerging from the top of her head as well as three large strands of hair (or was it fur?) sprouting on the right side of her forehead.
What the?
Urges to panic instantly vanished and were replaced with a reassurance and perhaps slight innocence. The two points atop her head grew into what looked like ears as her hair seemed to shift into what looked like three large pink spines emerged at the back of her head; quills, why do I know what they are? Sandra went to touch them but Jane recoiled. Jane was now only as tall as Sandra’s chest; this seemed wrong but at the same time she couldn’t place why.
"Careful, you’ll hurt yourself! Anyway, only Ben may touch me!" Jane scowled.
Sandra backed up, panic in her eyes. "Okay, those flowers had drugs in them. That’s right we’re both hallucinating or it’s all a dream, yes a dream. If you’ll excuse me, I have an er phone call to make!" Sandra said as she ran out of the room.
Jane shook her head and grinned. Her human ears were gone, with no sign she’d ever had any on the sides of her head. Her bathrobe was now far too large for her; no one was looking, so it wasn’t like she had to worry about modesty; she threw it off. She grabbed a small stool from beside the toilet, not bothering to ponder where it had come from. Her mouth and nose tingled for a few seconds but it had stopped by the time she was standing on the stool and looked at her reflection.
She had a small muzzle and little pink furred ears atop her head. Three large pink quills and three strands of pink hair on her forehead had replaced her hair. Pink fur covered most of her face, expect for her muzzle and now far larger eyes.
I look just like Amy!
Her entire body felt warm, as though she was in a warm shower. Pink fur coated the rest of her body as beige skin covered slender arms and her fingers. A small tail emerged just over her posterior as she jumped off of the stool to get some clothes on.
She zipped into her room, seeing her clothing already lay out on her bed. Where it came from, she didn’t know. That should have concerned her but she just couldn’t bring herself to feel panic or confusion. She knew these were her clothes. They felt welcoming to her; they even had her scent on them, that was the scent she now seemed to posses. She slipped on the green dress and chestnut vest, boots and gloves. Now, she was not only decent but also complete.
A flood of memories entered her mind. At first she found herself holding her head in a panic but then she calmed, as though something were telling her she was going to be all right. She remembered where she’d purchased the clothes. She also remembered her home, but on another world. She remembered Ben and Kyle, not as Ben and Kyle but as Sonic and Tails. Shivers ran down her spine at the realisation of the duality of her feelings for Ben. She also had them for his new form and identity. She remembered pursing him, of his saying he didn’t like her in that way, but she knew better. She knew he was only joking and probably just wanted to wait until she was older.
Looking into her bedroom mirror, she no longer felt comfortable thinking of herself as Jane did. She know felt, knew she was Amy. Sandra ran back into the room, Amy seeing her stop in her tracks.
"All right, I called the paramedics … holy molly!"
"What’s wrong honey?" Amy asked before looking down at her body. "Oh right, the whole Amy Rose thing." She zipped over to Sandra and looked up at her with friendly eyes.
"Jane, is that y… you?"
Amy giggled. "Of course it’s me. I guess you could say there’s been some changes in my life. By the way, you don’t have to call me Jane anymore; you can call me Amy now. Now where did I leave my crossbow?"
"You’re not going to shoot me are you?" Sandra asked, backing off.
"Don’t be silly, I wouldn’t shoot you or anyone. Well, maybe some of those nasty robots if they asked for it. Or that dang weasel, oh he’s so asking for it!" Amy cringed at even the thought of Fang. By now, the memories of her new form felt comfortable, perhaps even natural.
"If this has happened to you then … what happened to Kyle must be true! This is so freaky. I’ve gotta take your picture or … something. We have to let the world know!" Sandra said.
"You’re being silly. Now, I have to get back home to show this to my family. Then I have to and find my Sonic. He must be going crazy without me! I’ll see ya later Sandra, I have to go."
Amy found her crossbow, grabbed it and zipped out of the room and into the hallway. She sped out of door, into the hallway and down the flights of stairs into the lobby. There were several people milling about and all gave her surprised looks. She stopped before them, holding her crossbow to her side as not to appear threatening.
"What, haven’t you ever seen a hedgehog practising her second amendment rights before?" she said.
"Who the … what the heck?" a woman asked.
"Geeze, you’d think you guys had never seen a teenaged pink hedgehog before!"
A boy, Amy assumed to be around her age walked right up to her, looking her in the eye. Of course, he was now taller then her, given her smaller Mobian size.
"This is so cool; see Mom, I told you what Billy said about that guy becoming Tails was true! Here’s Amy Rose right here!"
The same woman from before approached the child, looking Amy in the eyes with fear as she attempted to get her son away. "No Zack, she’s just some kid in a costume; although I don’t approve of the crossbow; someone could get hurt!"
"Oh, don’t be silly Miss. I’d never shoot a human, or any animal. An evil robot maybe, but no one else." Well, maybe Fang.
"See Mom, she’s harmless. So Amy, still love Sonic?" Zack asked.
Amy felt her cheeks grow warm at even the mention of Sonics name. "Of course I do silly! What kind of question is that? Me and Sonic are going to get married one day and we’ll live in a nice big house and have lots of kids and…"
Zack giggled. "Yes, you’re Amy all right."
"That’s Sonic and I dear," Zack’s mother corrected.
"You and Sonic? No way, Sonic is my baby!" Amy protested.
"No … I mean…. I was correcting your grammar young lady."
Zack laughed. "Careful Mom, you don’t want her to mallet you!"
"Grammar? You humans are so silly!" Amy saw a team of what she assumed were the paramedics Sandra had called for running up to the door. She zipped over to them. "Well, it’s been fun guys but I have to go now."
"Say hi to Tails for us!" Zack giggled.
Amy zipped over to the paramedics, jumping right into the arms of the tallest one. His nametag identified him as Jonathan. "Don’t worry John, I’m fine," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "You humans are so silly. I don’t know why Sandra called you all; I’m not sick, hurt or anything!"
"That’s an interesting costume young lady. I know it may seem real but it’s important you take it off so we can make sure you’re all right," John replied.
"Costume? I can’t take my clothes off. Now, maybe Tails or my Sonic can get away with not wearing anything but I can’t go doing that."
"He didn’t mean your dress young lady. He meant this animal costume," a woman said, her name badge reading ‘Mona’. "We are going to have to ask you to put the bow down though," she said.
"Costume? Nope, not a costume, I’m the genuine article … in the flesh as you see me here," Amy said looking at Mona. She jumped out of John’s arms and put her bow on the hood of the ambulance. She dashed over to Mona with a mischievous smile on her face. "Okay, I’ll make an exception and let someone besides my sweetheart touch me. See," she said holding her left arm out. "I’m the real thing."
Mona touched her Amy’s and gasped.
"Um guys … that’s not a costume," she said.
She allowed the others to touch her ears, but kept them from touching her quills.
"I’ll told ya silly people. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to be going!"
Before anyone could respond, Amy zipped between them, grabbed her crossbow and ran off, leaving a dust cloud behind her. She ran all the way to her parent’s house, making what humans would consider excellent time. She knew Sonic wouldn’t be hiding here. She still didn’t understand why he resisted her. She was only a few years younger then her, and even the same species! Why would he want to date a squirrel when he could have one of his own? She knew he loved her and was in reality just waiting until they were both adults before he asked her to marry him, she just knew it! She first had to visit her family before heading home, that was, her new home. When she arrived at her block, she ran right up to their house. Her father was standing on the porch with Cosmo beside him.
"Jane is that really you?" Cosmo asked.
"Of course it’s really me and you don’t need to call me that any more, you can call me Amy now."
"Sandra just called to tell us about what happened. This is so cool! I told you what was happening was true!" Cosmo said.
"Okay, I admit it, you were right, I guess I’m the don’t believe until I see type eh?" Amy said.
Her mother ran outside and gasped.
"Oh my God, it’s true then! All of it’s true. Then, does that mean that both the Jones and Johnson’s son really did change into…"
"That’s right … Ben and Kyle are Sonic and Tails now. Isn’t that cool? I can still have Ben in his new form and he still can’t escape me," Amy giggled.
"Ben is Sonic the hedgehog and my sister is Amy Rose … this is totally unreal!" Cosmo beamed.
"Oh … it’s real, just in a twisted way," Amy laughed.
"You feeling all right dear? You haven’t been this upbeat since you were…" her mother asked.
"Since I was Amy’s age. I remember being Amy; it’s like I am she and myself at the same time. I think I really did become a thirteen-year-old again. I don’t just feel fine … I feel great now that I know I’m gonna see Sonic soon!"
"What do you mean? Do you know where Benjamin and Kyle went? Are they all right?"
As though on schedule, a vortex opened behind Amy. It rustled her quills and dress. She looked back and smiled at it, she didn’t know how exactly, but this was her ticket back home.
"They went … there," Amy said, pointing to the disturbance behind her.
"Where’s a tricorder when you need one?" Cosmo joked.
"Wait, you’re just leaving then?" her mother to asked.
"Sorry guys, you’ve been great to me but I really have to go," Amy replied. "I don’t know how or why but I know they need me in that world. This happened for a reason … I have to go to them."
Amy did feel sadness over having to leave her family behind on this world. It had been her home for twenty years. But, she knew there were others that needed her there. In a way, it felt as though she’d been drafted into a conflict and whatever force had done so had given her the knowledge she needed to survive in it.
Amy’s father walked over to her and shook her right hand. "You dress warmly in um wherever it is that thing leads to. Try to stay out of trouble. Just don’t let those nasty cyborgs assimilate you honey."
Amy giggled. "That’s Star Trek daddy. But I won’t let those nasty robots get me. I’ll blast em all with my bow or smash em all with my mallet."
"Will we ever see you again?" Cosmo asked.
"Maybe, I dunno. If you do get the chance though don’t be shy; feel free to look me up."
"Well, say hi to Ben and Kyle for me," Cosmo asked.
"Will do bro. You stay outta trouble too!"
Her mother ran over to her and knelt down to give Amy a hug. She hesitated, Amy knowing hugging a hedgehog probably wasn’t the safest thing to do. Instead, she kissed Amy on the cheek. Normally Amy wouldn’t want anyone besides Sonic touching her but she decided to allow this. Amy hugged her and smiled at her. While she did feel sad for having to leave them behind, she had a sudden sensation that she would see them people again.
"Don’t worry, I’ll see you guys again. I’d better go though, the others need me!"
Her mother stood up and Amy turned around and took one last look at her family. They all waved at her and she waved back before jumping into the vortex and into what felt like her destiny.
* * *
Flying through the brilliant vortex, Amy felt her quills and fur stand on end. It was an incredible sensation, not unlike swimming or bathing in pure energy and light. She felt a bit light-headed and suddenly, her human memories seemed to fade. They were still there but remembering them was now like remembering a dream. She felt more like Amy Rose with each passing second.
As soon as the trip started, she found herself approaching a field of bright light. She made contact with it and felt warmth, not just the sensation but the emotion, this was her home and she had finally returned! That joy however, ended with an abrupt thud as Amy connected with the ground and the light faded.
"Ouch!" she yipped.
As she picked herself up and dusted her dress off, taking in her surroundings. She was in a wooded area and from the familiarity of it, one just outside of Central City. She picked her crossbow up and was about to head towards her apartment when she heard a mechanical whirring sound. She backed up against a tree and peered behind it to see a virtual army of EggPawns just a few trees over.
Okay, there’s only like twenty of them, I can take ‘em! I just need to sneak up on them and go after them one by one.
Unfortunately, just as she stepped out, she stepped on a twig. Much to her horror, the sound alerted all of the EggPawns, eight of which charged at her.
Stay calm Amy you can take em!
Reloading her crossbow, Amy dashed between the trees and fired a single shot at the lead EggPawns. The arrow soared through the humid air and connected with the Egg Pawn’s mid section, cracking its armour in around the arrow. A shower of sparks spewed from the cracks. Amy didn’t hesitate and zipped over to the Egg Pawn. She used her speed to kick the Egg Pawn right where she’d hit it, which shattered it.
Much to her disdain, the seven remaining EggPawns surrounded her, from the sounds of it, all arming their lasers. Amy ran as fast as she could towards the Egg Pawn to her left, holstered her crossbow and drew her mallet. All eight EggPawns fired simultaneously. Amy curled up in a ball, the lasers flying over her and coming within centimetres of her and she felt their warmth, sending shivers down her spine. Hearing the sound of smashing metal, and the cessation of the mechanical whirring, Amy uncurled, seeing all but one of the EggPawns had been destroyed by friendly fire.
Idiots, don’t they ever learn?
The remaining robot was shooting sparks and appeared to be coming apart at the seams. With a smile on her muzzle, she charged it and spun around faster then the eye could see, the force of her blows smashing the Eggpawn. Feeling rather cocky, Amy peered at the rest of the EggPawns from which these eight had approached.
"Come and get me!" she yelled. Every single robot charged. Me and me big muzzle.
With her mallet ready, Amy charged the EggPawns. She spun like a tornado at the nearest ones. She felt the impacts, heard the crush of metal and felt she shower of debris as it impacted against her. It was hot and rather unpleasant. She ran between a trio of EggPawns, not taking time to look back to see how many she’d smashed.
Unfortunately, she felt warmth in front of her just before the ground exploded in a shower of dirt and grass, sending her flying onto the ground, her mallet and crossbow landing a meter away from her. Seeing stars, Amy looked up to see least ten EggPawns surrounding her, possibly more. She also heard the whirr of Flappers having joined their comrades. This seemed to be the end and Amy’s eyes started to well up at the thought of what those robots would do to her.
"Waaa, now I’ll never find my Sonic!" she cried.
Salvation came seemingly from nowhere as a blue blur spun around in the air, smashing the Flappers to pieces in fiery explosions. The EggPawns all turned their heads, and Amy stood to see the blur land, right beside a twin-tailed fox, it was Sonic! He stood there folding his arms, the wind rustling his quills. He was just as handsome … no dreamy as Amy remembered!
"You called?" Sonic asked.
"Hitting a girl, what kind of meanies would go and do a thing like that?" Tails said.
Amy dried her tears as she watched Tails charge at several of the EggPawns, spinning like a ballerina as his namesake smashed three robots to pieces. Sonic dashed at the three others, running around and around as he created a whirlwind, sending the robots flying high into the air, which then smashed to pieces as they landed thirty seconds later.
Retrieving her mallet, Amy grinned. Try to take me away from my Sonic will you? Amy rushed at the nearest Egg Pawn, leapt up and swung her mallet down with as much force as her body could muster. The Egg Pawn was flattened by her impact and exploded. Amy didn’t stop there as she spun around, smashing two more, ignoring the shower of debris.
She watched Sonic and Tails execute a perfect thundershoot, which smashed the three remaining nearest EggPawns into pieces.
He’s dreamy!
With the threat abated, Amy wiped her brow and retrieved her crossbow as she holstered her mallet. She couldn’t contain herself any long before running at the blue hedgehog and hugging him, not even finding his quills the least bit harmful or uncomfortable.
"My hero!" she beamed as she looked into his eyes, ecstatic to see him.
She saw Tails holding his mouth, an act that could not stifle his grin.
"Um … hi Amy," Sonic said fidgeting. Amy of course knew he just did that because he loved her as she loved him. "Say … Amy?" he asked.
"Yes my hero?" Amy answered.
"Did you just get here and if so, who were you before?" Sonic asked.
"Yes I did just get here and what kind of question is who was I? I’m Amy, who else would I be?" Amy answered.
Sonic and Tails looked at each, their expression becoming serious.
"N… no one … else, just making sure you’re okay," Sonic answered.
Amy kissed Sonic on the left cheek, beaming after she finished. "You really do love me!" She took his hands and looked into his eyes, "Come on my sweetie, let’s go for a date."
"Er," Sonic said, beads of sweat pouring down his forehead as his eyes darted back and forth. "I think I left my kettle on … gotta go!" he said before zipping off.
Amy put her hands on her hips and shook her head with a sly grin, playing heard to get, that’s my Sonic. She looked over at Tails. He wasn’t Sonic but he was almost as nice. She zipped over to him, putting her left arm around him and running her right index finger across the fur on his chest. She gazed into his eyes; he was cute too. Maybe she could get to Sonic through him.
"Eeep," the little fox said, his eyes going wide.
"You’re cute too," she said, smiling at him, "your fur is soooo soft and you smell so nice."
"I … er need to get home to get … something to … eat and … work on the Tornado," he said.
"Awe … say hi to my Sonic then!" Amy said. She let go of Tails and he flew off into the sky. He was always such a good friend to her, she loved him too but realised it was like a brother, she just couldn’t see herself having a relationship with him. Oh well, he hangs around with Sonic so much, I just have to go where he goes and…
Sighing, Amy got her bearings before zipping into Central City. She ran all the way to her suite in the hotel and lay back in a chair to relax as she turned the TV on. She watched it for twenty minutes, news reports still listed most of her friends were missing, although they were already reporting sightings of her. At least some people care about me. Eventually, she turned it off and realised that others that didn’t have cable TV would want to know she was back. She remembered her cousins Rob and Mari-Ann; they were still around. They still lived in Mercia, too far for her to run but she did have another way in mind of getting there.
* * *
Kyle and Ben were laying back (well, laying forward in Ben’s’ case, when your back is covered in quills lying it is difficult) in Kyle’s Emerald city home.
"It was like she doesn’t remember who she was," Kyle said, sitting on a chair.
"Yet we remember everything perfectly; I wonder why?" Ben replied.
"Ben, what if we start to lose our memories. Sometimes when I’m flying … it feels so good, so liberating, it’s like I start to remember Tails’ memories," Kyle said.
"What do you mean dude?" Ben asked.
"You know how when you first wake up from a dream, you’re able to remember most of it at first; you even sometimes are still thinking in dream mode and it takes a few minutes to fully wake up. Then you start to forget the dream?"
"Sure man, I," Ben was interrupted by the sound of the microwave dinging. "Just a sec bro." He stood up and zipped out of the living room and into the kitchen. He returned with a tray loaded with chilidogs. "Sorry bro," he said as he carefully lay down on his back and put the plate on his stomach and began eating. "You wake up and forget the dream after a few minutes."
"See, that’s an example right there!" Kyle said.
"Of what man?" Ben asked.
"You never liked chilidogs yet Sonic loves em. Doesn’t that bother you?"
"What are you getting at?" Ben asked, as he licked his fingers off.
"When I fly, it’s like … I start to remember being Tails. The memories start off foggy then they get clearer with each passing minute. I still remember being myself but I start feeling so natural in this body … it’s kinda scary. Once I calm down, they fade away again."
In a flash, Ben was behind Kyle with his hands on the fox’s shoulders in a comforting position. "Whatever reason this is happening to you bro; don’t worry, I’ll be there for you."
"Thanks Ben. I do wonder why Amy forgot everything though."
As though on queue, there was a knock at his front door. Kyle stood up and walked over to it. He opened it to see Amy standing there, looking tired.
"There you are!" she said, jumping at and hugging Kyle.
"Hey Kyle who … er," Ben said.
Kyle felt relieved when Amy let go of him and charged at Ben. He couldn’t help but feel amused and slightly disturbed at the same time over her behaviour. She acted much like the depictions of her. He never had a problem with the character; he felt she was cute. Something inside of him however, perhaps whatever part of him that housed Tails’ personality said she wasn’t meant for him; she was a friend, a good friend even but there was another. He wasn’t sure who that was, but felt the memories were there, just waiting for the right moment to surface.
"Who’s Kyle my love?" Amy asked.
"Hey Ky … er Tails, help me out here!" Ben cried.
"How can I help you today Amy?" Kyle asked.
Amy turned back towards Kyle and smiled at him.
"Who is Kyle?" she demanded, reaching for her mallet.
Oh yeah, definitely Amy.
"Kyle is an um code-name I’m using to fool our enemies. Don’t tell anyone, not even us," Kyle responded.
"You’re so smart," Amy said, zipping over to Kyle. "Say, I was wondering if you could give me a lift."
"Amy, I’m not a taxi service."
"Pleassssssse?" Amy said, looking at Kyle with puppy dog eyes.
"Oh no, not the puppy dog eyes routine," Kyle protested.
Amy persisted, and Kyle knew she had him.
"Oh all right. Where do you want to go?"
"Mercia. I want to see my cousins, to tell them I’m all right."
"I dunno Amy, that’s a long flight and…" Kyle started. Amy did the look again. "Oh all right."
"Thank you Tails, you’re always there for me. Don’t worry, I’ll always be there for you in the best and worst times. You can be my sweetest honey for all of eternity!" Now, she quoting … oh mannnnnn! "Well," Amy said zipping over to Ben. "Second sweetest," she said.
* * *
A few hours later, Amy and Tails were flying over the forests of Mercia in the Tornado. They looked warm and inviting. Amy saw the familiar sight of Albion and knew they were getting close.
"There," she pointed, "they should be down there."
"Coming in for a landing," Tails responded as he brought the Tornado down for a landing just a short distance south of the entrance to Albion.
"Thank you for flying me here Tails; you’re such a good friend," she said.
Tails seemed too busy concentrating on landing to respond. Once he’d landed he climbed out of the plane and offered Amy a hand as they jumped out and he glided them down.
"You’re welcome Amy, I’m glad to help you out in…"
An arrow flying past him and hitting a tree dangerously close to the Tornado’s fuselage interrupted Tails.
"Halt in the name of … Amy?" It was Rob O' Hedge, looking as noble as ever. "Amy is that really you?"
Amy zipped over to her cousin and gave him a huge hug.
"Of course it’s me silly and look who brought me here," Amy replied.
"Mr Prower, it is good to see you again," Rob replied.
"Hi Rob," Tails said.
"Honey, who’s…" Amy released her hug and looked to see Mari-Ann approach the group.
"Amy! You’re all right!" The Echidna said as she ran towards Amy, hugging her with her one free arm, the other arm having being occupied by their baby whom she was holding. "When you all vanished we were so worried about you!"
"Well, I’m back now and happy to be back! Especially now that my Sonic is here and my buddy Tails is such a sweet friend to me," Amy said, reaching over and kissing Tails on his right cheek, eliciting a cringe from the fox.
"It seems congratulations is in order," Tails said after he recovered.
"Amy, this is our daughter, Clara-Ann," Mari-Ann said.
Amy looked at the baby and smiled.
Some day, Sonic and I are going to have a baby to give her a friend to play with!
"Careful Tails, you might have some competition for the world’s biggest cutie pie, well other then Sonic that is," she winked.
Tails blushed and couldn’t help but look away.
With that, Amy felt truly back. She knew a lot of the others were still missing but now that she was back and she had her Sonic, Tails and some of her family back, she felt at home. She looked forward to all of the adventures and fun she would soon have.