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Regret.
Pain.
Agony.
Groan worthy embarrassment.
These words summarized Amy Rose’s very ironic feelings as she walked through the apparently never ending void of white space. Sigh. With a few minor alterations this would have been the dream. Romantic. Her, the beautiful damsel in distress. Him, the dashing knight. The thought of it made her heart flutter.
“And that’s how I showed Robuttnik how I like my eggs: fried! Ha! It was an awesome fight. His big robot didn't stand a chance against my new Spin Dash! That’s where I roll up into a ball and rocket forward at sonic speed! Impressive, huh?” Her blue compatriot finally finished after a ten minute long story. His mouth was as fast he was, cramming countless details and long-winded side rants into his tale. A sly smile on his face as he looked to Amy’s approval. Which made sense.
Seeing as Amy had been listening to the far younger version of her crush regale “the tale of how Sonic the Hedgehog defeated Dr. Robotnik for the second time with his best pal Tails!”
“That sounds wonderful, Sonic.” Amy deadpanned. Past Sonic’s looked positively bashful despite her tone.
“We-well I’m glad you think so. Heh heh.” He said, his cheeks red.
Argh! This was so weird!
She never had any doubts her love would save her from that terrible terrible void. Sonic would always be there with a smile on his face. Her biggest fear was just that she’d never get to flirt with him again! Which had unfortunately come to pass. Was this karma? Some sort of divine punishment for trying to make Sonic marry her for all these years? That she be saved not by her handsome sixteen year old hero but by her adorable, nostalgic, very much outside acceptable age for flirtation twelve year old former hero!?
“I go on adventures like that all the time! Making sure all the critters are safe. It can be dangerous, but it’s always fun! Let me tell ya, it was all worth it to meet a lady like you! ” Past Sonic chimed in again, childlike stars in his big eyes. Smile wide as could be. Amy resisted the urge to groan, instead flashing him an awkward smile. Was this what she was like all those years ago?
At first she assumed Sonic had just put a lot of care into his skin-care routine. She asked about their friends.
“So… where’s Tails and Knuckles?”
“I-I-I dunno where my best buddy is, m-miss. Who’s K-knuckles?”
“What do you mean who’s Knuckles? He’s our friend!”
“I don’t know any Knuckles, m-ma’am. And I think I’d remember meeting someone as beautiful as you!” He practically blurted out that last part.
“B-beautiful? Wait. MA’AM!?”
He was at least gentleman enough to apologize.
Amy pieced together the rest of the story as they traveled to the “safe zone” Past Sonic said he found. This Sonic was from the past. He’d just beaten Eggman for the first time on the Death Egg. Last he knew he had just escaped before winding up here and doing what he did best: run. Since that initial meeting, the young blue hedgehog had practically fallen heads over heels for her. Which was just
Really unfair!
She finally got Sonic to notice her and it was him from when she was like… eight! He didn’t even know who Amy Rose was! He told her her name was the most beautiful he had ever heard! If her Sonic had told her that she would have fainted!
Did this mean Sonic was into older women? Was it always that way? Were her efforts always destined to fail? She could feel the beginning of a sob rise up from her throat. Stopping in her tracks, she collapsed to the ground.
What if she never found her Sonic again. Or any of her friends. What if she was stuck here in this void forever? Stuck here being petty and beating herself up over being with a childhood version of her beloved?
“Ms. Rose?” A lighter voice chimed in. She recognized the tone even if it hadn’t dropped yet. “You alright?” Past Sonic asked, concern evident on his youthful features.
Amy sighed to herself. Breaking down in front of a twelve year old. Real mature, Rose.
“I’m sorry, Sonic. I just really want to find my friends is all.” She tried to brush it off.
He wasn’t having it.
“So do I, Ms. Rose! Why if whatever zapped me here hurt Tails I’ll whoop their butts! But we can’t find em if we stand around, right?” He spoke, sitting down next to her with a plop. She didn’t respond, looking down at the barren white floor.
“Hey. I’m sorry if I’m botherin’ you. It’s gotta be hard being trapped here.” He continued. Amy let out a small laugh.
“You’re not bothering me, Sonic. You just… remind me of a friend of mine. I really love him and he’s… he’s not here right now. I’m scared and… I can’t help but feel alone. Even if I’m with you.” she explained. It was the truth. To Amy, this Sonic was practically a stranger. At the time she was more obsessed with the fate foretold in her tarot cards to learn about the kid behind the legend.
Past Sonic visibly deflated at her words.
Aw man. She had a boyfriend?
He shook the disappointment out of his head. It made sense. A gal as lovely as Amy Rose would totally have a boyfriend. She was kind, beautiful, listened to him, and could keep up with him when he ran! These were perfect qualities, man. Perfect!
“We’ll find your friends. I promise. Maybe they found my safe spot! It’s only a few more minutes that way!” He replied, placing a gloved hand on her own. “Then you can smile again, right? I uh… I also have a chair! You can have it!” He announced, desperately hoping this brought her hopes up again.
Amy let out a laugh.
“Well aren’t you just the perfect little gentleman…” she said somberly. She wasn’t used to such polite treatment from her darling. He only ever acted like this when
When…
She wasn’t chasing him.
“Sonic?”
“Yeah?”
“I know this girl. Her name is uh… Rosy.”
“Rosy? Is she a friend? Is she trapped here?
“Yeah. Her name is Rosy the Rascal. Don’t worry she isn’t here. She really likes this guy… uh… Needlemouse.”
“That’s a weird name.”
“I know! I know. Just. She really wants him to notice her. So she chases him constantly hoping he’ll marry her. But he always runs away.” She explained.
Past Sonic’s face scrunched up in displeasure.
“I don’t blame him! If I had anyone breathing down my neck I’d run away from them too! It sucks to have someone constantly breathing down my neck. Way past uncool.” He spoke with such revulsion Amy couldn’t help but be a little hurt.
“But shouldn’t I- Rosy… do whatever it takes to get what she wants?” She asked. Past Sonic looked downright shocked.
“No way, ma- I mean. Nah, Ms. Rose. You gotta let him be free like the wind! Who wants to be with someone who never lets you be who you are?” Past Sonic questioned. “Hey! When did we start talking about romance? What about your friends?”
“Y-yeah.” Amy replied. This was off-topic. She got up and looked down at her young old friend. “Lead the way, Sonic.”
“Aw yeah! Back in action!” He cried, jumping up to his feet and dashing off, taking care to set his pace so Amy could still reasonably keep up. She did.
“So about Rosy…” Amy hesitantly started yet again as they jogged.
“The nag?” Past Sonic questioned. Amy’s unamused look quickly shut him up. Scary! Amy sighed again.
“Yes, Sonic. She can be naggy. But only because she really wants Needlemouse to notice her.” She conceded the point. Sonic kept his confusion to himself. If he was right, why was Amy offended?
“What… should she do?” She asked. Sonic rubbed his chin in thought.
“She should just let ‘em be. Tell him she’s interested but don’t try to force anything. Maybe try being his friend first! There’s always time for some love later on. At least, that’s what I think. I’m not exactly uh… thinking about it. Usually.” The blush returned as he looked down.
Amy thought about it. If that's what Sonic felt back then, it could stand to reason it was what he felt now. She never thought there was such a thing as too forward. The more you know. She understood now. If she wanted to make Sonic feel the way she did, she should be a good friend first! Wow. When she put it like that she felt stupid for not thinking of it before!
“That makes sense! Thank you, Sonic! You’re the best! I’ll… make sure Rosy knows!” She said, cheer returning in full force.
Past Sonic positively beamed. Yeah! He was the best! With that said, Sonic pointed forward to a small red velvet room. “There it is! My safe room!” He declared, starting to speed up a bit as they approached.
Amy nodded and joined him. She let out a laugh as the adrenaline pumped through her. Past Sonic matched it. In a few moments, the two skid to a stop in front of the room.
“You can stay here while I find everyone else!” Past Sonic declared, hands on his hips as he did his best hero pose. Amy smiled again.
“Thanks again, Sonic. You’re my hero.” She declared, kneeling down to the young boy’s height.
Past Sonic’s heart beated rapidly as she got closer. She was smiling right at him! Was this the part where the princess kissed the hero or something? Like in those old boring books he read about the plumber who fought the turtle? She got closer… closer…
And patted him on the head.
“You’re gonna grow up into a fine young man, Sonic.” Amy said. Past Sonic’s heart fluttered.
“Y-ya think so?” He asked, staring up at her. Stars once more in his eyes.
“I just know it.” She replied with a grin, standing back up and walking over to the promised chair.
Past Sonic put his hand to the top of his head and smiled before running off into the void. Spirit reinvigorated.
“Man! I am never washing my quills again! Woo!”