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Sally sat at her writing desk, blowing over a mug of hot tea. Even though the sunlight shining through her window was artificial, it still helped calm her. She could almost fool herself that she wasn’t underground.
After her return to flesh and blood, Nicole had transformed the bunker her procedure had been performed in into a recreation of Sally’s hut from Knothole. It was another in a long list of miracles the holo-lynx had performed for Sally that the princess could never fully express her thankfulness for. Bringing her mug to her lips, Sally took a tentative sip to test the tea’s temperature.
“Sally! I need your help!” The princess startled at the shout and spit her tea across the room at the sudden appearance of Nicole’s hologram.
“What is it?! An attack?!” Sally stood from her chair in a frantic motion, her mug nearly spilling as she pushed it aside.
Sally’s heart rate skyrocketed and flashes of Eggman’s leering grin went across her vision. Nicole looked equally alarmed, wringing her hands and looking lost and nervous. The holo-lynx was, however, not so lost as to fail to notice the panic she’d brought to the princess.
“No! no… it’s not an attack,” Nicole hastily assured. Sally normally would’ve been calmed, but Nicole looked no less alarmed.
“What is it then?” Sally asked, still fearing the worst. To the princess’ surprise, Nicole became sheepish,
“It… is a personal matter…” Nicole’s demeanor was no less frantic as she wrung her hands, but there was an awkwardness there too as she avoided eye contact with Sally.
Sally’s mind performed a complete overhaul. Thoughts of invasion and enemy troop movements were replaced with a completely different kind of concern for her friend.
“What is it?” Sally asked again, this time in a soft tone.
Nicole’s handwringing became more pronounced, and she cast worried looks behind her, seemingly indicating the cyberspace she’d just exited.
“I… believe I have handled a situation poorly… I know it is hardly proper etiquette to… but I’ve never had to… and I had no idea that…” Nicole began to ramble as she switched from wringing her hands to a new gesture Sally had never seen her use in the form of clutching her ears and pulling them down around her face.
“Nicole, breathe, just tell me what happened,” Sally instructed, taking the holo-lynx’s hands. Sally put on her best reassuring expression and waited for Nicole’s reply. The holo-lynx swallowed once before…
“ShardaskedifIwantedtogoonadatewithhim!” Nicole answered in a rush. Sally blinked several times, playing the sentence over again in her mind at a slower pace…
“Shard finally asked you out?” Sally clarified in surprise. Nicole gave an awkward nod, before frowning,
“Finally…? You… How did you know he would ask!?” Nicole stared dumbfounded at the princess.
A grin tugged at the corner of Sally’s mouth, but she forced it down. The situation may have been amusing to her, but it was clearly distressing Nicole. Also, Sally knew she was the last person to judge for having an overblown reaction to situations dealing with romance.
“I had… suspicions,” Sally answered. Nicole only became more frantic, pulling away from Sally and resuming pulling her ears around her face as she paced the hut’s interior in dismay.
“I don’t understand! If you noticed it then…! Were there cues I was supposed to notice?!”
“Nicole!” This time Sally took her friend by the shoulders, “I knew because of his memories.”
When Sally’s consciousness had been in the city’s cyberspace and been pursued by Eggman’s invasion virus, she’d had no choice but to hide out in Shard’s programming. Of course, she hadn’t known at the time that the program she’d hid in was that of a sentient being, or even who Shard was, otherwise she would’ve been more polite about snooping around, but try telling the disembodied digital avatar of a traumatized princess to respect boundaries when she was running for her life.
Anyway, finding and viewing Shard’s memories had led to her helping restore him to life and defeating the virus Eggman had tried and failed to destroy the city with, so it had been worth it. Along the way she’d seen several memories that told her Shard had harbored feelings for Nicole.
“It wasn’t my place to tell you, especially if I’d turned out wrong.” Sally finished. Nicole nodded acceptance of that, but still looked lost. Suddenly things began to fall into place in Sally’s mind at the full situation.
“How did you answer him?” Sally asked as delicately as possible. A holographic chair appeared alongside Sally’s table, which Nicole sagged into and promptly buried her face in her hands.
“I… said I needed to think… and ran away,” Nicole mumbled, avoiding looking at Sally, which the princess was grateful for as she couldn’t help but wince at how that must’ve gone. Seeing that Nicole had no plans for moving, Sally sat down in her own chair alongside her friend.
Eventually, Nicole dragged her hands off her face, before slumping in her chair and resuming her handwringing. “I don’t know what to do.” Sally had to fight down a spike of profound sadness for her friend's dismay as she thought of how best to help.
“What’s making you scared right now?” Sally asked. It was more an invitation to voice her thoughts than an actual question as Sally knew her well enough to have an idea of why this had set Nicole off.
“Both of my choices present… risks,” Nicole said.
“To your friendship,” Sally said, clearly hitting the mark as Nicole’s reaction showed relief in Sally catching on, “As well as you two working together on the same team,” Sally finished. Nicole visibly relaxed to Sally’s understanding, but was no less frantic for advice.
“What do you want to do?” Sally eventually asked. Nicole seemed to pale at the question.
“I… I don’t know… Without a preferable outcome I…” the holo-lynx trailed off. Sally put on a comforting smile,
“Unfortunately, this is a primarily emotion-based question,” Sally said, trying to word things in a way that would appeal to Nicole’s sense of logic.
“However, I don’t think you need to worry about potential fallout as much as you are,” Sally continued. Nicole took on an expression of desperate hope for that sentiment. “You’ve both proven capable of putting the mission first, even at your own personal expense. So don’t worry about you two working on the same team.”
Sally smiled as she saw Nicole’s franticness die down at the assessment. “So…” Sally continued taking Nicole’s hand, “What do you want to do?” Sally again had to stifle a grin as Nicole’s nervous demeanor had been largely replaced with awkwardness.
“I… still don’t know. I had not considered romantic feelings as… something I would have to deal with…” Nicole trailed off.
Sally heartbrokenly realized Nicole had never thought there was a chance of romance for her due to her artificial nature. The princess rose from her chair and hugged her friend, the two becoming silent for a moment.
“I… suppose I should be flattered, but… I’m still afraid,” Nicole said after a pause, her expression now confused as well as nervous.
This time Sally allowed herself a smile. This much, at least, was something she could relate to. “It’s normal to be scared about it, even for organics, and especially for the first time,” Sally assured. Nicole sighed and relaxed a little.
“What do you think I should do?” Nicole asked, looking up at the still standing Sally.
The princess became contemplative. Sally hardly considered herself a credible source for relationship advice after how she’d reacted to Sonic’s return from space. But Nicole had come to her, and she knew the holo-lynx better than anyone.
“I… think you should tell him how you’re feeling right now, like you’ve just told me. Sonic and I… well… it was mostly me who needed to… But we’re always at our best when we talk things out.”
Nicole nodded agreement, but still curled in on herself. “What if… What if I ruin our pre-existing friendship?” she asked in a small voice. Sally sighed,
“In my experience… it’s going to be different from now on, no matter what you choose,” Sally admitted. Nicole nodded, taking a deep breath.
A moment passed, before Nicole stood up. “Right… I… I’ll do as you suggest." She turned as if to de-materialize and return to cyberspace, before hesitating and turning back to Sally. “Sally, by your estimation… am I ready for something like this?”
This time it took no effort on Sally’s part to summon a reassuring smile. “Nicole, you might be the most emotionally intelligent person I know.” Nicole’s eyes widened at Sally’s statement. “Go talk things out, only you two can decide, and whatever happens, I’ll be here.” Nicole nodded, and smiled for Sally’s reassurance, before returning to cyberspace.
Nicole materialized back in the city's cyberspace looking around. She’d returned to the system she’d been working on where Shard had found her, but the reformed badnik was nowhere in sight.
“Umm… Shard?” Nicole called hesitantly. Her voice echoed in the empty green checkered environment. A ping went off on her sensors, indicating Shard had left cyberspace and was now returning. A spike of guilt went through her as she realized Shard hadn’t expected her to return. A second hologram shimmered into existence next to her, which eventually formed into Shard's digital avatar.
“Hey uh… look, sorry for… scaring you…” Shard avoided looking Nicole in the eye as he spoke, nervously tapping his finger on his cannon arm. “I… didn’t think it would freak you out... so… we… you… don’t have to…”
“I’m sorry I ran away,” Nicole interrupted quickly. Shard ceased his awkward apology and finally looked her in the eye. “I have never had to deal with… romantic emotions…” Shard’s eyes widened, with just a hint of hope sparking within them.
“Due to my inexperience… I was afraid I would give an… incorrect response. I suppose I have already failed in that regard.” Nicole finished.
Shard didn’t know what to say to that and remained silent. A short pause followed before Nicole continued, “I would like to make an informed decision.” Shard frowned in confusion and stood up straighter.
Nicole waved her hand making a table and two chairs materialize between them. “May we discuss things properly now?” she asked with an apologetic tone. Shard nodded and sat opposite the holo-lynx, and they began their discussion.
“Took him long enough,” Sonic said as he sat across from Sally in her hut.
The blue hedgehog had made it a habit to visit Sally as often as possible to keep her company. While getting some much-needed alone time was important to her following her time as Eggman’s slave, Sally was just as happy to enjoy Sonic’s company, especially now that she wasn’t being forced to punch his teeth out. Shortly after Nicole had returned to cyberspace, Sonic had arrived.
Sally took on a wry expression for Sonic’s comment following her explaining the conversation she’d had with Nicole. “It’s harder for both of them, both due to a lack of experience, and potential partners,” Sally reminded. Sonic grimaced as he saw her point.
“Oh yeah…” Sonic admitted, “Still, they’re practically made for each other,” he shrugged.
Sally gave a soft chuckle as she recalled Sonic’s theory: If Shard had been modeled after him, and Nicole had gleaned most of her emotional data from her, then the two should be a perfect match. Sally had to admit it wasn’t entirely unfounded.
Sonic noticed the princess’ downcast expression. He frowned for a moment before the answer came to him. He reached across the table and took Sally’s hand, “Is it about them, or us?” he asked, indicating her worried face.
Sally blinked in surprise, before smiling. When she’d been restored, one of the first changes she’d noticed from her absence was Sonic’s reading of emotional cues had improved dramatically.
“I’m just hoping Nicole has only learned from, and not inherited, my emotional maturity,” Sally answered.
“Sal, we talked about this already,” Sonic reminded.
“I know. I just hope I haven’t steered her wrong is all,” Sally assured. The two shared a tender smile for one another, before a hologram began to form next to them.
Once Nicole had fully formed, the two organics saw she had an expression that hovered between excitement and nervousness. Nicole gave a brief smile and nod to Sonic’s presence before turning to Sally.
“We have agreed to be a couple,” Nicole reported with a shaky smile. Sally rose from her chair to take Nicole into a hug while Sonic gave a thumbs up and a wide grin.
“We agreed to take things slow, and see what works best for us as we go,” Nicole said. A knowing smile made its home on both Sonic and Sally’s faces. Nicole noticed and made an inquiring expression.
“Speaking from experience, you guys are already on the right track,” Sonic said with a wink. Nicole became visibly calmer for the assurance.
“Where’s Shard now?” Sally asked, wondering if perhaps the badnik was afraid of what she might have to say of their relationship.
“He said he wanted to get some air, but that he would be back soon,” Nicole reported, with both Sonic and Sally noting the ever so slight change in tone Nicole had when referring to him.
Meanwhile, high above the Great Wastes, a black and yellow blur rocketed through the sky. If any living thing could’ve survived at the altitude, they would have heard the whooping cheer of the happiest badnik on Mobius.