Work Text:
It should be illegal to start your next evil plan so soon after the last. Well, it is illegal, but clearly Eggman didn't care. The man either had nothing to do with his life or he was exceptionally multi-focused.
“I'll guess it's more column A,” Amy muttered to herself. She swung her hammer and watched as the badnik before her--a wasp-like creation with big gray jets at its side--fell apart at the seams and went flying a good twenty yards from her. She smirked. “At least he's consistent. He studies Sonic's moves so much, he never considers how to deal with a good hammer to the face.”
She hardly had a moment to herself before she heard a humming sound to her left. She ducked out of the way just as a bolt of electrical energy zapped past her, just barely missing her quills. Okay, she thought, I remember why I hate these things now. She lifted her hammer and charged in the direction of the badnik that fired at her, ready to swing.
In Amy's defense, she had a reason for not taking this so seriously. It was recently that she had nearly faced the end of the world as she knew it. Twice. After that, a small army of badniks felt simple to deal with. Still, it was frustrating. She had barely gotten the chance to properly mourn her lost friend Emerl before his replacement, Gemerl, tried to kill them.
Maybe that was why she felt so lackadaisical about this invasion. All her energy was spent already. All she wanted to do was go home and rest for a month. Instead she was here, hoping to relax with some friends but instead being greeted by an overwhelming amount of firepower. It was just so annoying.
Amy shook her head. Fight now, complain later. She lifted her hammer and rushed forward towards the enemy. It tried to react, it really did--but it was dealing with a girl whose primary workout routine was wearing weights on her ankles as she ran with the fastest thing alive. It was over before it knew what hit it.
Amy's hammer crushed the wasp-like badnik--a Buzzer--with a Piko! sound. Its body exploded outward in a burst of electricity, followed shortly after by a small squirrel leaping out of its frame and disappearing into the woods.
Amy didn't give herself time to rest though. She hurried ahead, just in time to see someone in need. A young badger woman was cowering behind a large sign at the town entrance that read, Welcome to Floral Forest Village! In front of it were a pair of badniks--big and circular, with unpainted gray bodies and big rifles in their hands. They hovered over the ground on jetpacks as they approached their victim.
Not on her watch. Amy let out a wail of anger as she leapt over to one of them and slammed her hammer against it. It flew into its pal, knocking them both over, only for her to follow up with a pair of strikes to the head. The lights in their eyes were out in no time.
Amy narrowed her eyes. Eggrobos. Haven't seen those in a while. Eggman must be desperate if he's using these old things. We must have broken up his newer ones pretty bad last time. She turned towards the sign, which the woman was still cowering behind. First things first…
She wasted no time in hopping around the sign. “Hey!” She called out. The badger woman jumped, her brown fur on end as she watched the hedgehog appear next to her. “What's going on here? Why is Eggman attacking?”
The woman shook her head. “I--I don't know. They just flew in out of nowhere a few minutes ago. They're everywhere, but they're mostly focusing on one place. They're heading for Vanilla's house!”
Amy felt her heart plummet. “Is she okay? What about Cream? Where are they?”
“They're still there as far as I know,” the woman explained. “That fox boy with two tails was with them. He's been holding the badniks back.” The woman was shaking, her entire body quivering like a leaf during a tornado.
Amy smiled weakly. At least I'll have backup. Stay strong, Tails. She leaned her hammer against her shoulder. “Don't worry, we'll get rid of them. You just find a safe place to hide, okay?”
The woman nodded. “O-Okay. Be careful…” With that, she ran off, disappearing behind a nearby house and into the village proper. When Amy was sure the woman was safe, she turned her eyes on the rest of the town, holding her hammer at the ready.
“Alright,” she said as she adjusted her grip on her weapon, “let's see why you're here, Eggman.” With that, she ran ahead, ready to bust some bots.
Floral Forest Village was exactly what it sounded like: a very pretty and serene town surrounded by an equally beautiful forest. As small as it was pleasant, it was the perfect place for a getaway from the high energies of bigger metropolises like Amy’s home in Central City. Did Amy care for small towns with little excitement or adventure? Not particularly. But it was Cream and Vanilla’s home, so that was enough to make her visit when she could.
Of late, she hadn’t been able to do much visiting. The one-two punch of Eggman’s last few schemes had tired her out so badly that she had to recharge her emotional battery. That meant a lot of staying home and practicing her hobbies, not much talking to friends. When Cream invited her over saying she had a surprise waiting, though, she gladly accepted. She just wished it was under better circumstances.
Amy made her way to Cream’s house, bashing any badniks she came across along the way. A simple white-walled building with a red-tiled roof on the edge of where the village gave way to the forest, it was a humble abode, perfectly fitting for a family of four, counting their two chao friends. Surrounding the household, however, were a number of robots--Amy recognized several of them, mostly older models dating back to adventures like that of Little Planet or before. These were definitely kept in Eggman’s backlog.
Standing in front of the house was a thankfully familiar sight, however: none other than Tails the fox, standing atop his plane, the blue-hued Tornado 2. In his hands was a strange device, like a boxing glove attached to a rather large spring that he held the trigger to in his hand: the Magic Hook, an invention he developed around the time they met Emerl. He was firing it off, smacking badniks left and right with it like it was nothing.
When Tails saw Amy coming his way, he sighed with relief. “Amy! I was worried they got you!”
Amy dashed over to him, swinging her hammer into the closest badnik--a simple Moto Bug--before kicking it aside. “Got me?” She scoffed. “Please. I can hold my own against Eggman any day.” At that, an Egg Pawn leaped at her, only to be swatted away with a single hit. “What about you? Are you okay?”
“Better now. I wasn’t sure I could hold them off for very long.” He aimed his Magic Hook at an incoming Balkiry (the proper name for what Amy liked to call ‘those annoying bomber birds’) and tossed it aside. “Vanilla and Cream are inside. They’re taking cover until this all blows over.”
“Right,” Amy agreed. She backed up against the plane. There were a good twelve or so badniks surrounding them. Taking them all at once would be difficult, even for the two of them. “How many are there? Where are they coming from?”
Tails nodded his head towards the opposite end of the village. “They all came from that direction, a few dozen of them. I have a feeling I know what they’re after though.” He glanced around, his eyes scanning for something Amy wasn’t sure of. “It’d be nice if we could have some backup!”
Amy raised her brow. “Backup? Who do you--?” Before she could finish, an Eggrobo jumped at her, hands outstretched to grab her. She was so distracted that she didn’t react fast enough. She was about to swing her hammer when something burst out from the crowd. An unmistakable ball of gray and gold rushed out from a group of badniks, throwing them aside before smashing into the Eggrobo. The latter was crushed through by the hit and it and the ball went flying in the opposite direction.
Amy’s mouth fell open. “A spin dash? Who is…” Her words died away as the ‘ball’ stood up to its full form, revealing itself to be not a person, but another robot. It had a mostly black humanoid body, with gray hands, middle, and faceplate. Gold accents could be seen across its form, but primarily on its head, where it formed a big trident-like formation. A cyan ‘eye’ could be seen in the center, as well as a pair of more normal red-and-blue eyes below that.
Amy felt her confusion melt away into pure, incandescent rage. “You!” She lifted her hammer and darted forward. “If Eggman thinks this trick will work again, he has another thing coming!”
Tails’ eyes widened. “Amy, no! He’s--”
Amy didn’t listen. This was too big of a danger to let slide. The other badniks could be dealt with rather easily, but this guy? They had run into him before, and he was not easy to stop. Better to focus on him now rather than later.
Amy brought down her hammer on the robot and cried out, “I don’t know why Eggman sent you here, but you’re not getting close to Cream on my watch! Get out!”
Gemerl stumbled backwards from the blow of her hammer. When he spoke, it was in a monotonous, electronic-sounding voice. A voice that didn’t match a face so similar to her old friend… “Incorrect. Current mission parameters: protect Cream. I am not an enemy.”
Amy sneered. “Likely story.” She glanced back at Tails. “You hold back the other badniks. I’ll take care of this one!”
Tails shook his head. “Amy, you have it all wrong! Gemerl is--” Before he could finish, a Buzzer rushed into him, striking him with its stinger. Amy was about to move to him, but she was too slow. Gemerl went first, rushing to Tails.
If Amy was fast enough, she would have tossed Gemerl aside before he could touch Tails--but then the unexpected happened. Gemerl grabbed Tails gently, as if cradling a child, then set him against the door of the house. “Damage to your exterior is minor. Do not engage the enemy. I will do this.” With that, he leapt to action, bounding over the Tornado 2 to grab the Buzzer and rip it apart with his bare hands.
Amy just stared. “Wha…He’s helping you? What’s going on?!”
Tails smiled sheepishly. “It’s a long story. How about you drive these things off, then we talk?”
She huffed. “Fine. But I expect answers!” She then raced forward, bringing her hammer down on the nearest badnik. She counted about ten more. Alone, this would be difficult. With Gemerl? Easier…if she could trust him.
Gemerl glanced her way, his eyes fixated on her weapon of choice. “Hammer,” he intoned.
She pulled her hammer away, like a child withholding a toy they didn’t want to share. “Get your own,” she grumbled.
“Suggestion acknowledged.” He held out his hand, and his arm began to change, the metal of his body realigning and shifting until eventually he held his own weapon--a black-and-gold copy of Amy’s Piko Piko Hammer, right down to its comically large size. He then leapt forward and used it to crush an incoming Eggrobo.
Amy felt anger rush through her body. “Of course you can copy my hammer. Just like you copy everything else.” She darted forward and brought her weapon down on a nearby pair of Buzzers. With each strike of the hammer, she felt her own rage manifest through pure, unbridled strength. She couldn’t explain where this sudden anger came from, but it ran red-hot and it urged her to keep hitting things.
With time, the battle came to an end. Every badnik the two of them came across was destroyed. Some of them chose to flee instead, disappearing into the woods. Amy didn’t like the idea of letting them go, but she liked the idea of leaving Gemerl alone here even less.
Once the fighting was over, she and Gemerl approached Tails. “Are you alright?” She asked him. She began to move closer, only to freeze when Gemerl did the same.
He knelt next to Tails and examined the injury. “The wound is not severe. It will fade soon, especially given proper medical treatment. You should approach Vanilla for assistance.”
Tails nodded. “Yeah, I figured. Thanks for the save, both of you.” He stood up, holding a hand over where the Buzzer’s stinger had hit his abdomen. “At least that’s over. Were you two hurt at all?”
Amy crossed her arms over her chest. “That depends. Physically?” She narrowed her eyes at Gemerl. “Or emotionally?”
Gemerl met her gaze. “Amy Rose appears to be physically unharmed, but scans show increased levels of adrenaline and stress. Recommended solution: take several deep breaths and think of appropriately cherished memories. According to current data, anything regarding Sonic the Hedgehog will do.”
Amy felt her cheeks flush with anger. “You’re telling me to calm down?” She clenched her fists together, stepping closer to the robot. “Oh, I’ll show you a thing or two--”
Tails jumped between the two of them. “Hey, hey! Now’s not the time to fight! We just stopped one battle, you know.” He looked at Gemerl. “Why don’t you go check on the villagers, tell them it’s safe to come out of hiding? I need to talk to Amy.”
Gemerl bowed his head. “Request acknowledged.” He turned around and walked away a few feet, before looking over to Amy. “I apologize for any misunderstandings on my part.” With that, he leapt into the air, activated a jet on his back, then sped away.
Amy watched until he disappeared around a nearby house. When he was gone, she walked over to the Tornado 2 and started rummaging about its contents. “What is he doing here? I thought he was destroyed when Sonic fought Ultimate Gemerl?”
Tails nervously clasped his hands together. “Right…Um, well, a few days after that happened, he washed up on a beach not too far from here, right? And I thought, ‘man, it would be a shame to let a piece of technology this powerful just end up in a scrap yard’, you know?” Amy’s silence told him all he needed on that. “W-Well, I brought him home and looked into his programming. It’s all very sophisticated, and I saw the parameters that Eggman put in place to make him so…”
“Evil?” Amy grabbed a small plastic box from the plane’s cockpit--a first aid kit--and walked back to Tails.
“Not evil,” he corrected. “Just…harsh. And restrained. He wasn’t able to choose to be good before. But when I took away that mental block, he had free will. He was able to choose one way or another. So he’s on our side now.”
“Uh-huh.” Amy knelt next to Tails and eyed his injury. It didn’t look bad, but it would definitely hurt. She grabbed a bandage and muttered, “We’ll have to go inside and clean it, but for now…” She applied it to his abdomen. “That should stop any blood from getting on your fur too much.”
He nodded and placed a hand on the bandage. “Thanks. But you do believe me, right? That he’s good now?” Amy tried to keep her expression neutral, but some level of annoyance must have shown through. “You don’t, do you?”
Amy sighed. “It’s not that easy, Tails. I can’t explain why, it’s just…hard.” She could explain why, actually, but she didn’t want to admit it. The emotions she felt when she saw Gemerl’s face…It was wrong. She shouldn’t have been so angry, but something inside her burned up at seeing him. No, not him. Someone else when she looked at him. She wasn’t sure why Tails wasn’t the same.
“I get that,” Tails told her, “But you should really give him a chance. This isn’t the first badnik you’ve seen have a change of heart. Maybe you two could be friends.”
For some reason, that sent a fresh wave of frustration through her. It wasn’t the same…was it? “Maybe,” she lied. “But we should talk about this later. First, let’s get you inside…” She gestured for him to follow as she opened the front door and ushered him inside. She followed a moment after.
The inside of Cream’s house was the perfect definition of cozy. Plenty of decorations could be seen, ranging from potted plots to well-crafted furniture to pictures of Cream at various points in her life--a few even involved Amy, and one or two had their other friends, like Sonic and Tails, in the mix. Standing near the door, holding up a frying pan like it was a baseball bat, was none other than Vanilla the Rabbit.
When Vanilla saw Amy and Tails, she let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness,” she muttered. She set the frying pan on a nearby table. “I heard the fighting stop and I got worried. Are you two okay? Where’s Gemerl?”
“He’s checking on the other villagers,” Tails explained. “We’re fine though. I did get hit kinda bad, but Gemerl says it will be fine.” He pointed to the bandage on his torso. “Could you help me clean this? I want to make sure it doesn’t get infected.”
Vanilla gave him a kind-hearted smile. “Of course, I’d be happy to. Head on to the bathroom and we’ll get you fixed up.” Tails gave a nod, then headed on deeper into the house. She turned to Amy. “It’s good to see you again too. Sorry you had to deal with all this, I know you probably weren’t expecting to get attacked on your way in.”
She shrugged. “It happens. I would have preferred it happens less, but there was nothing we could do.” She glanced around. “Where’s Cream? Is she okay?”
“She’s just hiding in her room with Cheese and Chocolo. She’d probably be happy to know you’re here.”
“Right.” She walked over to Vanilla and handed her the first aid kit. “Here you go. I’ll make sure she knows it’s safe to come out.”
Vanilla nodded, then walked over to the bathroom door. Inside, Tails was waiting, his two tails spinning idly. “Let me know if you need anything.” She then started running the sink and grabbed a small towel, starting the process of cleaning the wound.
Amy took this chance to head over to Cream’s room. She knocked on the door and said, “Cream? May I come in?” Pause. No answer. “Cream?” Still nothing. “Huh. Maybe she fell asleep somehow?” She opened the door and stepped inside--
“Chao chao!”
“Huh--?” Amy didn’t get a chance to react before two little balls of energy, one blue and one brown, rushed her. She let out a shocked cry and jumped to the side, just in time for the two balls to hit the wall behind her. “Cheese! Chocolo!” She knelt in front of the two chao, who had fallen onto the floor. “Are you okay? What were you doing?”
“Oh! You're here! Amy, I’m so sorry, we thought you were the bad guys!” Amy turned to see the familiar face of Cream, who ran over and cradled Cheese and Chocolo in her hands. “I told you two not to do anything until we were sure the badniks had gotten in here. This is why we were waiting for Gemerl.”
Amy felt her heart sink. “I saw him outside--He mentioned you. Do you two know each other?”
Cream smiled. “Yes! Tails fixed him so he could take care of me. He watches over me when Mother is busy, so he’s like a babysitter and a bodyguard and a friend put together! A lot like you!”
Amy wasn’t sure how to feel about being compared to Gemerl. She knew it was meant to be a compliment, but it was hard for her to take it that way. “He's certainly…interesting. I didn't expect to see him again.” I was counting on it, actually. “Anyway, the badniks are gone now, if you want to head to the living room.”
Cream nodded. She followed Amy back into the living room, where she hopped onto the couch. “Alright! Is Gemerl back? I can't wait to spend time with both of you. It'll be like a big family reunion!”
Amy held the nicest smile she could. “That sounds great…” She took a seat on the couch next to Cream. She clasped her hands together nervously. “So…What do you think of Gemerl anyway? I mean, it wasn't that long ago that we were fighting him, you know?”
Cream’s eyes lit up like a burning candle. “He’s so nice! I know we had to stop him before, but he’s different now. He walks me to school, plays games with me--he even protected us when the badniks attacked! He really is a good guy now.”
“Hm.” Amy leaned her head back against the couch. “I guess it's good that he's helping you. Don't you think it's a little…weird though?”
Cream tilted her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Like…” Her words died away. She wanted to bring up how awfully familiar Gemerl was, but she wasn't sure that was wise. Cream was only a kid, she didn't need Amy's problems weighing her down. If Cream liked Gemerl, well…That wasn't Amy's business, was it? As long as she was safe.
Amy shook her head. “Never mind. I'm just overthinking things. It's nice that you have another friend keeping you safe.” She let herself show off a slightly cocky smirk. “As long as I'm your favorite.”
Cream giggled. “Of course! Nobody can replace you.” She leaned in close and wrapped her arms around Amy. Nearby, Cheese and Chocolo did the same, placing their tiny arms around her head.
“Aw, You're all sweet,” Amy said with a chuckle. She returned the hugs eagerly, taking comfort in the closeness. She still wasn’t certain how to feel about Gemerl, but at least she still had friends like this. She pulled away from the hug and went on, “How about we do something fun? What would you like to do?”
“Prior data suggests that Cream would enjoy a game of Fight or Flight.”
Amy’s head swiveled in the direction of the front door. Standing there, closing the door behind him as he walked in, was none other than Gemerl himself. Amy spotted a few new scratches and bruises on his metal form, but other than that he looked perfectly fine, as if he hadn’t just fought an army of badniks.
For the briefest of moments when she first saw him, she saw something else in how he carried himself. The little spike on his head, the way he moved, it was so reminiscent of someone else that for half a second, she tricked herself into thinking it may be him. When she realized it wasn’t, a profound sadness settled into her chest and she felt her mood drop.
Despite that, she tried not to let it be too easily seen. “Oh. Hey Gemerl.” She tried to control the feelings that threatened to seep through her words. She wasn’t sure if she did a good job--if not, neither Cream nor Gemerl seemed to feel otherwise…Though she was pretty sure she saw Chocolo shoot her a suspicious look. “What’s that? Some kind of board game?”
“Correct.” Gemerl approached the couch, but didn’t take a seat. Instead, he stood directly in front of them, staring at Amy unflinchingly. His face couldn’t really make expressions and his tone of voice never seemed to change from a simple monotone. It reminded her a lot of another robot she once knew, but at least he grew out of it after a while…
“Fight or Flight is a board game acquired by Vanilla shortly after Tails rebuilt me,” Gemerl explained. “It is quite simple, and especially easy to learn. I can attempt to teach you, Amy.”
Cream beamed. “Please say yes! We've been playing it all the time lately--it's really fun!” She glanced at Gemerl and pouted. “Even if he lets me win.”
Gemerl glanced at Cream. “You claim you want to have fun, but losing is not enjoyable. Thus, it only makes sense to allow you victory.”
“I like it more when I try hard and beat you! It's not fair if you just let me win!”
“Very well. I shall challenge you with 60% percent of my processing power. This will make an adequate challenge.”
Amy hummed to herself quietly. “Try not to go too easy on me either. It's not a good win unless I earn it.”
“Understood. Please gather at the dining room table so we can commence the game.”
Amy and Cream moved to the dining room at his request. About the same time, Vanilla and Tails joined them, the latter with a proper treatment over his injured chest. Gemerl then brought out a board game and set it on the table, starting to set out the pieces. Together, the five of them began to play, spending the next hour working against each other, each player trying to win.
Amy was able to enjoy herself. She pushed aside her feelings about Gemerl and tried to approach with an open mind. He didn't brag and he didn't cause trouble, but in some ways she wished he would. If he did, that would mean there would be something reminiscent of someone else in how he acted. Someone she wanted to remember. She both wished he would be the same and desperately wanted him to be different. She wasn’t sure how she could want both, but she did, and it tormented her.
Thankfully, she was able to take her mind off that once she immersed herself in the game. Eventually, however, it ended with a--
“Game finishes. The winner is: Gemerl.”
Cream placed a hand on Gemerl's shoulder. “You did so good! That was a really fun challenge.”
“Even if you won every time,” Tails said with a chuckle. “Good game, Gemerl.”
Amy nodded, grabbing a cookie from a plate that Vanilla had set on the table early in the game. “Yeah. It was nice. Thanks for showing it to me, everyone.”
Gemerl looked between the other players. “You are happy to have lost. I do not understand.”
Vanilla nodded. “The important part is that we are together and having fun. Even if we lost, we enjoyed being around you. I would hope you did the same.”
Gemerl made a noise like his processors were working hard to understand this information. “I see. Should I be glad that I was born?”
Amy choked on her own cookie. “What?!”
Everybody turned to look at her, each of the non-robots sporting a confused look. Even Cheese and Chocolo looked concerned.
Amy felt like her blood was running cold, her heartbeat unsteady. Did he actually say what I think he said? She looked to the others, but they didn't seem to feel the same way. They all just looked worried.
Gemerl stared directly at her. The resemblance to him was uncanny. “I said: should I be glad that I won?”
Amy felt all the tension in her body slowly drain away. “Oh. I…I see.” She shook her head. “I'm sorry, I think I just heard him wrong, I…” She looked over at Gemerl. Her throat tightened and she could feel tears threaten to well up in her eyes. “...I’m sorry. I have to go.” She stood up and fled into the kitchen, doing her best to ignore the troubled stares from the others.
She stopped by the sink and held her hands against it to steady herself. She squeezed her eyes tight. You’re just getting in your own head, she told herself. You misheard him. It was an honest mistake. So why do I feel so bad when I see him? Why does he have to remind me of him?
“Amy.”
She spun on her heel to see Vanilla standing at the doorway to the kitchen. The older woman stepped forward, her hands clasped over her dress. “Are you alright? What happened back there?”
Amy wasn’t normally one to hold back her feelings--she was the kind of person who believed that it was fine to cry if you were sad, to vent when you’re upset. She believed in the importance of embracing your emotions so you can work through them, good and bad. But right now, this feeling that ran through her mind…it wasn’t one she wanted to share. She felt afraid to let anyone in on it. Afraid that it would drive them away.
Amy turned her gaze to the ground. “It’s nothing. I’m just not feeling well, that’s all.”
“Mm. And does that have to do with being around Gemerl?”
“...Maybe.”
Vanilla shot her a sympathetic glance. She moved closer to the hedgehog and set a hand on her shoulder. “You can talk to me, Amy. Whatever’s wrong, I won’t judge you. You’re like a member of the family. If you have something you need to say, I’ll listen.”
Amy was quiet for a few moments before letting out a sigh. “Okay. Just…don’t be mad.” She took a breath, then closed her eyes. “It’s Gemerl. I just--I don’t think I can be around him.” Her shoulders drooped as she spoke, her quills on her head starting to lift a little and poke back--a subconscious defensive measure. “It’s not his fault, but every time I see him, I can’t help but be reminded of…” She trailed off. She didn’t want to say it. She was scared that if she said his name out loud, she’d break down right here and she wasn’t ready for that. Vanilla said she wouldn’t judge, but Amy felt ashamed of the way she was acting right now. Of the feelings she held towards Gemerl.
Vanilla’s brow scrunched together. “Of what?”
“...Of everything that happened,” she redirected. Amy turned away to look out the window, focusing her eyes on the treeline beyond the backyard. “So much has happened lately. Gemerl tried to kill us, the world was nearly destroyed twice in the past few months alone. Every time I look at him, I just think of all of that and it overwhelms me.”
“Oh, Amy…” Vanilla knelt down beside her so they would be at eye level. “I understand completely. It’s fine to still be bothered by these things. Cream felt the same way at first.”
“She did?”
“Of course. When Gemerl was first rebuilt, she was uncertain if he could be trusted. She was scared that he might try attacking her again. It took time, but she decided to take a chance on him and it paid off. She saw that he’s kind, considerate, and patient. The two of them are close now, and I’m sure they’ll be even closer in time.”
Vanilla raised a hand and gently touched Amy’s quills, urging them to go down. Despite that, they stayed up, as if trying to defend her from an unseen threat. “You don’t have to give Gemerl a chance. There’s nothing wrong with keeping boundaries. But Cream would like to see you two get along. Is there a chance of being amicable, at least?”
“I…I don’t know.” Amy held her face in her hands. She thought about Gemerl, envisioned his face, and a feeling of sharp anger lit within her. “Whenever I see him, I get so…So angry. I feel like he’s messing with me just by existing. It puts me on edge so much, I can’t stand it! Why should he be here when--When…!”
Amy’s hands balled into fists. She felt fury rise up inside her chest, burning her very thoughts. “It’s not fair! He shouldn’t be here! I hate how he makes me feel! I hate him!”
Amy didn’t realize she was shaking with rage until she felt Vanilla pull her into a hug. Her body steadied with her support, but it wasn’t enough. She was still so frustrated, and she couldn’t get these thoughts out of her head. Why am I like this? She wondered. Why am I being so harsh? She knew the answer, but it didn’t make the guilt go away. She always had something of a temper, but she knew Gemerl didn’t deserve it directed at him. It made her feel even worse.
She didn’t have much time to react before she heard a quiet whimper coming from the living room. She peered over Vanilla’s shoulder to see Cream hiding in the doorway of the kitchen, her eyes wide.
Cream stared at the floor. “Oh…I’m sorry, Amy, I didn’t mean to make you deal with all of this. It’s my fault for inviting you here.”
Vanilla turned to face Cream just as Amy pulled from the hug. “Wait, Cream,” Amy told the younger girl. “It’s not your fault. I just…” Her words faded. How was she supposed to defend herself after all she said? She couldn’t think of anything that wouldn’t hurt Cream’s feelings.
Cream shook her head. When she spoke, every word was laced with doubt. “It’s fine, Amy. I shouldn’t have done this.” Without another word, she ran off, covering her face with her hands.
Amy’s heart felt like it was falling into her stomach. “Cream, no! Listen, I can explain!” She ran after her, but before she could even reach the living room, she heard the front door open and close. Cream was gone, and in the living room, Tails, Gemerl, Cheese, and Chocolo were staring right at Amy herself.
She set a hand against the doorway. “Amy, you’re so dumb sometimes,” she muttered to herself. She glanced at the others. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin everyone’s day.”
A beeping noise alerted from Tails’ direction. The fox produced a small device from one of his tails--a little prototype tablet with little decoration or color--and frowned. “Uh, I think we have bigger problems to worry about.”
“Like what?” Amy hurried to his side. On the screen, she could see a map of Floral Forest Village. On its borders, several red dots could be seen not far from the house, flickering for an instant before disappearing.
“When the attack started, I set up a radar to scan for electronic signatures from badniks,” he explained. He placed a finger against where the red dots were. “That’s what those were. I think some of their friends have come over for round two.”
Amy’s pulse quickened, her quills standing sharp. “And Cream’s out there. She doesn’t know they’re here.” She hurried to the door. “We need to find her and get her to safety. Tails, can you keep tracking the bots?”
“Sorry, Amy, they’re messing with the signal; I can’t get a stable lock on them. All I know is they’re near here, but they could get anywhere before I could track them down!”
Amy grimaced. “Then we don’t have time to waste. I’ll head out and look for her.” She produced her hammer and held it at the ready. “If I find her, I’ll bring her back here. I won’t stop until she’s safe.”
“I will accompany you.” Gemerl stood up from his seat and stepped forward. “I am in charge of Cream’s protection. If she is in danger, my top priority is negating said danger.”
Amy sighed. “Gemerl, no. Just…No. I’ll be faster on my own.”
“I am capable of matching your top speeds. Additionally, time is of the essence and the badniks will slow you down. Aid in defeating them will speed up the process of finding her and reduce the chances of her being lost.” He moved forward until he was only a few feet from Amy. “You cannot stop me. I will find Cream. We have the best odds if we work together. Do you agree?”
Amy groaned. “Fine, just…Let’s go.” She turned to Tails. “Protect Vanilla and keep an eye on that radar. If they enter the village, be ready for trouble.”
Tails gave a thumbs up. “Will do, Amy. Be careful out there.”
Amy didn’t waste any time. She charged out of the house with Gemerl right behind her. Her eyes scanned the area of the village. “Alright, Cream. We’re coming.” With that, she hurried off towards the woods opposite of the house.
Gemerl followed close behind. He was able to match Amy’s speed; neither were Sonic levels of fast, but they were still impressive. “Why would Cream be here?”
“Cream has a secret spot here in the woods,” Amy told him as she ran between trees. “She goes there when she’s upset and needs to think. If she’s anywhere, that’s it.”
“Is it a secret from Eggman’s robots as well?”
“In theory. Hopefully it stays that way.”
“I see.” Gemerl didn’t say anything for a moment, mulling over her words, before eventually saying, “You hate me. Why?”
Amy stifled a groan. “You heard that?”
“Your outburst was quite loud. The entire house heard it.”
“Ugh. Fair enough.” She shook her head as she darted forward, keeping an eye out for any sign of the young rabbit. “Look, it doesn’t matter right now. We just need to find Cream.”
“A prospect that would be easier if there was transparency between us. I understand if you do not trust me due to my work with Eggman, however, I feel it is necessary to show you that I am on your side.”
“It’s not that, Gemerl, it’s just…It’s complicated. Can we talk about this later? We need to focus.”
Gemerl nodded. “I can multitask…but very well.” With that, he became silent, and the two focused on their search.
The woods held no sign of Cream or the badniks. All they could see were trees and cute little animals that scurried out of their way whenever they ran past. Please be there, Amy thought to herself. Please, please. I’m so sorry, Cream…
After a bit of running, they finally found a clue. Or rather, heard it…
“Help! Amy, Gemerl, somebody--Please help me!”
A chill ran down Amy’s spine. “Cream!” She lifted her hammer high and faced the direction the voice was coming from. “Stay right there, I’m on my way!” She rushed forward, into a large clearing surrounding a big, crystal-clear lake that sparkled in the sunlight. Flowers could be seen across every inch of the grass, every one a different color. It was beautiful.
The one thing she didn’t see was Cream.
Amy frowned, lowering her weapon. “I don’t get it--this is her secret spot, Floral Lake. Where is…?”
“Amy! Be careful, there are badniks everywhere!”
Amy’s brow furrowed. “Badniks? But I don’t see any…” She stepped forward, following the sound of Cream’s voice. “Cream! Where are you?”
Gemerl walked beside her. “My scanners do not indicate any signs of Cream’s location. Something is wrong.”
“I could have told you that.” Amy and Gemerl walked onward, until they came across the spot that Cream’s voice was coming from.
“I’m over here! I’m in some kind of cage. I think…I think this is a trap!”
Amy clutched her hammer tightly. “It’s a weird trap if they’re keeping you hidden.” Amy knelt down and ran her hands against the ground. The voice was coming from right here. But where…?
After a moment, Amy felt her fingers touch something metal. She brushed away the flowers and grass, which were tossed aside like they had been torn up from the earth and used to cover something. When she did, she saw cold steel beneath her feet, marked by a familiar red logo of a mustached man, with little speakers built into its surface.
She didn’t get a chance to say anything before she heard a humming noise. Immediately, four connected walls of blue energy sprung up from the ground around them, followed by a hardlight roof that boxed them in. Both Amy and Gemerl were stuck without a way out.
“No!” Amy slammed her hammer against the forcefield wall, but it just bounced off with a spark of electrical energy. “That’s what Cream meant! They broadcast her voice from this speaker to catch us! Oooh, Eggman, when I get my hands on you!”
“Amy, Gemerl! Are you there? I can’t--” Cream’s voice cut out, followed by the sound of laughter. Clearly not Cream’s--Amy would recognize that chortle anywhere.
She narrowed her eyes. “Eggman. Get out here and fight me like an adult!” Next to her, Gemerl went still, staring at the speakers below their feet. Amy wasn’t sure, but he seemed almost…tense?
The laughter subsided, though when the voice came from the speakers, it was just as cocky. A screen appeared in one of the walls, showing the doctor himself, sporting an arrogant smile. “Oh-ho! Feeling brave, Amy? Unfortunately for you, I don’t plan on giving you a fair fight. I don’t need either of you interfering with my plans.”
Amy sneered. “What plans could you possibly have that involve kidnapping two kids?”
Eggman chuckled. “Oh, you think you and that little rabbit girl are important? No, no. She was just bait, and you…Well, you were unexpected, but I’m glad to have taken you out of the equation. No, I’m just here for Gemerl. Speak up, you--I know you’re there.”
Gemerl’s hands clenched into fists. “Eggman. I do not know why you want me, but I refuse to be used by you again. There is no point in arguing.”
Eggman crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t plan to argue with you, Gemerl. I just need your data. You are descended from one of the most sophisticated and powerful robots in existence. I clearly made a few mistakes in your work--that ‘Ultimate Gemerl’ incident must have been a result of your original gizoid programming acting up. Next time, I will make sure to overwrite it. You won’t have the luxury of being able to break from my orders then.”
Gemerl shook his head, cutting the air with a hand as if to physically destroy the notion. “Neither I nor my data will serve you again. I would rather be destroyed. Now, release Cream or I will force your hand.”
Amy glanced at Gemerl. He didn't look back at her. “That goes for me too. You hurt a single scrap of fur on her and the next thing you see will be this hammer in your face!”
Eggman scoffed. He tapped a few buttons on a keyboard in front of him. “I don't know how to break this to you, but I'm not picking you up myself. My badniks set this trap, and they'll be bringing you to the Egg Fleet. There, you girls will be kept prisoner while I take apart Gemerl. So no, I don't think there will be any fighting back from you.”
“You've kept me prisoner a few times before,” Amy snarled. “I got out every time. What makes you think this time will be any different?”
Eggman raised an eyebrow. “Do you mean the time Sonic freed you or the time my traitorous creation Gamma let you go? Either way, you're on your own. This cage is impenetrable from the inside. No amount of physical force can--”
Piko! Piko! Piko!
“...Are you done? If it wasn't true, I wouldn't brag about it. As I was saying, nothing can break it open.”
Piko!
Eggman massaged the bridge of his nose. “My genius is lost on you. Enjoy your time together, it won’t last long.” The screen disappeared, leaving Amy and Gemerl in silence.
Piko!
Well, mostly silent.
Amy scowled at the hardlight walls. “Let!” Piko! “Us!” Piko! “Go!” Piko! “NOW!” She slammed her hammer into the wall one last time, resulting in a burst of electrical power that leapt from the wall, traveled down the length of her hammer, and electrocuted her fingertips.
She let out a gasp and dropped the hammer, staring at the now-blackened tips of her gloves. She curled her fingers together, feeling tension blossom across her entire body. I can’t believe I did this…Cream’s in danger because of me. So is Gemerl. I was so stupid, all because of a dumb grudge. I can’t…I can’t…
She couldn’t even finish her thought before she dropped to the ground, kneeling amidst the torn-up flowers. Her body shook as her throat tightened. Tears welled up in her eyes. “This is all my fault,” she whispered. “I’m such an idiot.”
“Amy…” Gemerl lowered himself to her level. “We will escape this. Given our combined abilities, there is a high probability that we can get out of this cage. We must focus.”
Amy sniffled. “Easy for you to say. You didn’t cause all this.” She wiped away a tear. “I’m sorry, Gemerl. If I wasn’t so mean to you, none of this would have happened.”
“That outcome is unlikely. If Cream had not left the house, Eggman would have tried a different plan. We would be facing him regardless.”
“Except we’d be fighting him together with Tails and Cream--we’d be together. Now…” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Now I got her captured. She’s in danger, and it’s because I couldn’t stop thinking about my problems with you.”
“I see.” Gemerl sat down in front of her, placing his hands together. “Perhaps if you explained what is wrong, it would make you feel better--thus improving your concentration and our ability to escape. Tell me what your ‘problems with me’ are.”
Amy sighed. “It’s horrible. I don’t want you to feel bad because of me.”
“I will not judge you. I already know you do not like me--I simply want to know why. Perhaps then, we can work past the issues at hand. After all, we have much in common already.”
“Like what?”
“We are both living beings, with ‘hearts’ and free will. Is that not enough?”
Amy’s breath caught. He said it this time. He really did. She didn’t mishear--it was those exact words. They had less emotion to them, Gemerl’s monotone made it sound less energetic than he did, but she would recognize that phrase anywhere.
“I wanted to thank you for waking me up. Thanks to you, I've learned the true meaning of ‘friendship’. I'm not just a weapon...I'm a living being with a "heart" and free will!”
Amy blinked away tears. When she took a breath, it was ragged. “You’re so much like him sometimes.”
Gemerl tilted his head to the side. “Him?”
“Emerl.” The name sounded wrong to say. Amy tried so hard not to bring him up, not to focus on his loss, that the very air became heavy with regret once she said it out loud.
She picked up a flower from the ground, twirling it between her fingers. It was beautiful--a black-purple flower that held a few thorns along its stem. She held it carefully to avoid hurting herself as she said, “Is there anything left of him? Am I crazy for thinking that there might be some part of him hidden away in there?”
“I…do not know.” Gemerl stared at the ground. Amy wondered if he was looking for something, or if he just didn’t want to meet her gaze. “I have asked before. Tails says he cannot find anything in my data that could rebuild Emerl with his old memories. Despite that, I feel…a connection. Some things are familiar. I see them, and I remember pieces of his old life. I think he is a part of me. But not one I can bring back.”
Amy closed her eyes and breathed in and out. The motion was calming, but it didn’t dull the pain of what he said. “I know. That’s what I thought. If Tails had a way to bring Emerl back, he would have. I just had to know. I needed to. If there was a chance…” She squeezed the flower’s stem. Its green body began to splinter under her fingers. “I couldn’t keep acting like it wasn’t on my mind.”
Gemerl raised his hands up, staring at them intently. Amy wondered if he was doing what she had done a hundred times today--search for some sign of Emerl within him. “I do not know what he was to you. Cream and Tails do not like to talk about him. It makes them sad, and they become quiet. But my memories suggest that you were important to him.”
Amy nodded. “Yeah. I was like his mother.” She smiled, but it was weak, mournful. “So dumb. I was so obsessed with the idea of having a family of my own that I latched onto anybody who could be a part of it. I know other people thought it was weird, but it was nice to have him be a part of my life like that.”
“Why did you want a family? Do you not have friends, such as Cream and Vanilla?”
“It’s not the same.” Amy gently touched a gloved finger against the black rose’s thorn. “I love Cream and Vanilla, they’re the closest thing I have to an actual family. But we live such different lives. They want a simple life in a small village, keeping to themselves and not getting into trouble. I want excitement and adventure and plenty of people to talk to--that’s why I live in the big city. They visit me, but sometimes it just feels so lonely. I’ve been by myself for years--I don’t want to keep living like that.”
She set the flower down. “Emerl though…he wanted the same life I did. He wanted to have fun and fight bad guys and go on adventures. Sonic was practically raising him. So when I met him, a part of me felt like this was my chance to have my own family. People that would stay with me for once. I was so desperate to have that connection that I became attached. I built this fantasy life in my head, and Emerl--he actually was fine with it. He didn’t want to run away. It was so nice…”
Amy’s throat tightened. She could feel the tears start to return in full force. “Then he died. We were all heartbroken. I thought I was on my way to getting better…but then Eggman made you. You look so much like him, you have his powers, you move like him and say things that he said…It felt like Eggman had slapped me in the face. He dangled my son’s body in front of me and had you attack me. Then Sonic fought you and I thought you were destroyed--it was like Emerl had been killed twice!”
She balled her hands into fists, holding them against her skirt. “Now you’re back, and you’re a good guy--but Emerl’s still gone. Every time I see you, I see his face. Sometimes you talk, and I think you’re ripping words straight from my memories of him. So all my feelings came rushing back. I looked at you, and I was reminded about how he’s gone. So I took it out on you. I shouldn’t have done that. It’s not your fault.”
Gemerl shook his head. “I understand. You are caught in your memories of him. In a sense, so am I.” He let out a sound that could be mistaken for a sigh. “I contain background recollections of his life, flashes of his past, but it is fleeting. Emerl’s life haunts me. Nobody wishes to speak of him, but they all see him when they look at me. I live in his shadow, and I worry that all I am doing by being here is hurting all of you.”
Amy hugged her arms around her chest. The pressure provided some comfort. “I didn’t realize you were so affected by it too. I thought…I thought it was just me. Cream and Tails didn’t seem to feel the way I do.”
“They do. Sometimes Cream becomes sad when she looks at me, and Tails seems to become despondent when he repairs my frame--they both care, but I believe I am making it easier on them. They are my family now, and my goal is to make them feel better and let them feel safe.” He paused. “I…would like you to become part of that family one day. It is only right.”
Amy let loose a sigh. “I want to say yes, I really do. I just…I’m scared that I’ll end up forgetting about Emerl one day. I don’t want to lose my memories of him.”
“...Do you want me to leave? Would that make you feel happier?”
Amy’s eyes widened. “No! I can’t do that to you. You’re clearly happy with Vanilla and Cream. And besides…Do you remember Emerl’s last words?”
Gemerl was quiet for a moment. “‘Should I be glad that I was born?’.”
“Yeah. I don’t…I don’t want you to feel bad that you were created. You’re practically Emerl’s little brother. I should be celebrating that something new and wonderful was made from his loss--your friendship with my friends.”
She rubbed the tears away from her eyes. Saying all of this to somebody…It made her feel a little better. She had been holding the feelings in for so long that it hurt worse than any badnik’s weapon. “I’m sorry, Gemerl. I should have given you a chance. I don’t know how long it will take for me to stop seeing Emerl everywhere, but I don’t want to feel like this forever. I don’t want his face haunting me every time I see you.”
She sniffled, then wiped away more tears. “I want to try. Do you…Do you think it’s alright if we spend time together later? I can tell you more about Emerl--that way you can have more of a connection to him.”
Gemerl’s lack of ability to emote didn’t show it, but for some reason, Amy thought he would be smiling if he could. “I would appreciate that, Amy. However…” He touched a finger to the hardlight walls, causing them to give him a mild shock before he quickly pulled away. “We are still trapped. We need a plan of escape.”
“Yeah, we do. I wonder…” Amy stood up, examining the cage closely before glancing at Gemerl. Seeing his face reminded her of something else… “You know, you’re not the first time Eggman tried resurrecting an old friend of mine.”
“I am not?”
“Nope. While I was adventuring with Emerl, I saw that Eggman created a robot called ‘Chaos Gamma’. He was a replica of a friend of mine, with none of the memories. I was so angry when I saw what he did…But it might help us here.”
Amy gestured to the hardlight walls. “Chaos Gamma had a useful ability that my friend Gamma didn’t have--he could turn his hand into an electric dagger. And Emerl was able to mimic that power, like he could mimic everything everyone else did. I wonder if Emerl’s data holds the knowledge of Chaos Gamma’s moves. If so, maybe you could overload the cage by electrifying it. Could that work?”
Gemerl looked at the wall, then at his hand. “In theory, it may succeed. My scans of the cage suggest overwhelming its energy supply could disable the forcefield. However, I do not know if I am capable of summoning Chaos Gamma’s attack methods. I was only able to create a copy of your hammer due to seeing you in action.”
Amy laid a hand on Gemerl’s shoulder. “You have Emerl’s data in you. I think you can do this, you just need to draw on that connection. The two of you are family--just like he and I were. So believe me when I say I trust you’ve got this.”
“I…will try.” Gemerl held out his hands, and she placed her own underneath them to offer support. She closed her eyes and focused. She didn’t really think it would do anything, but giving it her all, sending all of her thoughts to Gemerl--she liked to believe it would do something. Show support, if nothing else.
She could feel Gemerl’s body hum, his processors running loudly and his body warming up. His hands became hot, enough that it would have been uncomfortable to touch had it not been for her gloves. She could feel her quills stand on end--not from her own tension, but from the feeling of something in the air. It took a second for her to realize what it was.
Electricity.
“You can do this, Gemerl,” she whispered. “You’re just like Emerl--one of the ultimate lifeforms. You fought all of us to standstills, you were a challenge for Super Sonic. If anybody can get us out of here, it’s you. I trust you.”
And she meant every word. Maybe she wasn’t over Emerl yet, maybe she had yet to develop a bond with Gemerl, but none of that mattered. He was the friend of Cream and Tails. That was enough. She believed that Gemerl could be her friend one day, that’s the future she wanted! And it was going to happen, regardless of what Eggman did.
She watched as Gemerl’s wrists moved slightly, rotating as a pair of sharp-tipped pieces of metal emerged from the back of his hands, each one buzzing with electricity. Amy let go of his hand and let out a cheer as he held up the electric daggers for her to see.
“You did it!” She leapt forward and--carefully, so as not to get shivved--wrapped him in a hug. “Now we can get out of here!”
“So it would seem.” Gemerl nodded at her, then stepped away. He held up his electric daggers and said, “Stand back.” She did so, and the blades lit up with sparks. He then jabbed them into the hardlight walls.
The effect was immediate. The walls started to glow brightly, then to flicker. The floor beneath them gave off red warning lights before, a moment later--
Boom!
There was a burst of energy. Amy had curled into a ball just in time to avoid the worst of it, but she could feel her quills become singed and her body pressured by the surrounding force. When she looked up, the cage’s walls were gone, and the floor was buzzing with static.
She wasted no time in leaping away. “Thanks, Gemerl. I knew you could do it.”
“Only because you aided me. Thank you, Amy.” He glanced down at the cage’s floor and touched the speakers. “Scanning…A preliminary analysis suggests the original signal echoing from this device came from--” He pointed towards the underbrush near the edge of Floral Lake’s clearing. “--there. That is likely where Cream is.”
Amy grabbed her hammer and held it up. “Then let’s go get her! Ready when you are.” The two of them charged forward, into the underbrush. When they got there, they saw something similar to what they just left; a cage built by glowing blue hardlight walls over a metal bottom. Inside it was Cream, sitting by herself and hugging her knees. She looked worried, but not devastated. Amy knew her well enough to understand that even when Cream was scared, she wouldn’t break herself over it. She was so brave.
When she saw Amy and Gemerl, she let loose a huge smile. She jumped up and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing would come through. The forcefield was negating all sound.
Amy sighed with relief. “There you are, Cream. Don’t worry, we’ll get you out of there!” She glanced at Gemerl. “Do your thing.” She then mimed with Cream to get down. Cream did so immediately.
Once Cream was ready, Gemerl stabbed at the hardlight walls with his electric daggers and channeled power through them. After a few moments, the walls exploded outward. Amy heard Cream let out a yelp as some of her fur was singed, but when the younger girl looked up, she was free.
Cream jumped up and flung herself at Amy, embracing her in a hug. “I’m so sorry for running away!” She nuzzled her face against Amy’s side. “I thought you were going to be mad at me for making friends with Gemerl, so I went to my secret spot to think! I didn’t know badniks were going to be there.”
“Hey…It’s alright.” Amy placed a hand on Cream’s head. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I would never be mad at you for something like that--and if I did, it would be my fault, not yours.” She looked to Gemerl. “Actually…I think this whole thing has brought us closer.”
Cream’s brow furrowed. “Really?”
Gemerl gave a very stiff thumb’s up. “Emotional bond with Amy has improved by at least twenty percent. It is expected to improve significantly more in the coming days.”
Cream looked between the two of them. “So…you’re friends now?”
“I don’t know,” Amy admitted. “But we want to try. I think knowing Gemerl will help me find closure on things…and I couldn’t have gotten the chance to meet him without you and Tails.” She knelt next to Cream and looked her in the eyes. “I’m sorry I made you feel scared that I wouldn’t approve of your friendship. You should never, ever be afraid of upsetting me, Cream. You’re like my sister, and I’ll love you no matter what. If Gemerl’s okay in your book, then I trust him.”
Cream gave a nod. “Okay. Thank you.” She gave Amy another hug, one which the hedgehog returned eagerly. “Can we go home now though? I don’t want to worry Mother.”
“Of cour--”
“Well, well. I see you’ve gotten yourselves free. How annoying.”
The trio turned their heads to the cage. One of its hardlight walls had reappeared, with a screen of Doctor Eggman himself back on it. He scowled at the group. “Listen here, you miscreants. Just because you got out of this trap doesn’t mean it’s over. I’ll get Gemerl’s data one of these days. You can count on that.”
Amy met Gemerl’s gaze. She couldn’t read his lack of an expression, but she felt something there. A common feeling of respect, understanding, and righteous anger. She stood up and approached the screen, lifting her hammer over her shoulder.
“You can certainly try,” she told the doctor, “But you won’t win. Floral Forest Village is under our protection. If we catch so much as a glimpse of a badnik near Cream’s house, Gemerl and I will bring everything we have down on you. We’ll take apart every robot we see, and if we find out that you’re even thinking of getting close to Cream again, we’ll get Sonic, Tails, and everybody else to personally hunt down your Egg Fleet and put it out of commission. You’re not harming a hair on her head.” She held out her hammer, readying to strike. “Understood?”
Eggman watched her, and she could feel the tension as he tried to study her face for a bluff. When he found none, he groaned and threw up his hands. “Fine! I’ll leave the rabbit’s village alone for now, if only to rebuild my badniks. I’ve faced too many casualties to care about a failed project like Gemerl. My brilliance is better suited to finding new places to succeed, better master plans. Gemerl can rust in your care picking flowers or tending to gardens. I have no further need of him. But know that one day, I’ll be ready for you, with forces that will make Gemerl look insignificant by comparison.”
Gemerl raised his hand to show off the electric dagger. “We will be waiting.” With that, he stabbed the screen and watched as it dissipated. Amy followed up with slamming her hammer into the floorboard of the cage for good measure. Did it help? Probably not. But it felt good.
“We should leave before badniks return,” Gemerl noted as he retracted the electric daggers back into his arm. “We must find the remaining Eggman force. I suspect they headed for Cream’s house.”
Cream raised her arms high. “I can get us there fast! Here!” She held out both hands to Amy and Gemerl. They took her grasp, and before they could say anything, Cream’s ears started to flap, and a moment later they had already taken off the ground, rising into the air before soaring across the sky.
It wasn’t long later before they arrived back at Cream’s house. Tails and Vanilla were both outside, both covered in oil. Surrounding them were the leftover badnik forces, each one in shambles at their feet. The two of them were in the midst of sweeping aside the pieces when the trio landed in front of them.
Vanilla set aside her broom and rushed forward to wrap the three of them in a hug. “Thank goodness you’re all safe. I was starting to worry.” She gave Cream a kiss on the forehead before pulling away. “I was scared I’d lose all three of my children. It’s good to see nothing went wrong.”
Amy felt a warmth inside her heart at being called Vanilla’s daughter. Her cheeks lit up as she said, “It was nothing. You know that I’d do anything for Cream…and Gemerl too, now.”
Vanilla’s smile became a little bigger at that. “You two made up? That’s wonderful. Why don’t we clean up this mess and celebrate after? I think we all deserve a chance to rest properly after all of that.”
“Definitely.”
“Yes, please!”
“Affirmative.”
Vanilla and Tails grabbed brooms for everyone and handed them out. Together, the five of them worked to start cleaning up the mess of badnik parts and throwing them away. It was in the middle of this that Amy approached Gemerl.
“You know,” she began as she swept a Buzzer stinger into a trash bag, “Since Emerl was like my son and you’re kinda his little brother, does that make me your mom?”
Gemerl stared at her. “I do not think that is the case. but…the sentiment is appreciated. Thank you.”
Amy felt a brief tinge of grief at his first few words, ever so reminiscent of Emerl’s. But she only smiled. “You’re welcome. Though if we’re going based on how we act, well, I guess we’re more like siblings. Cream’s big sister and big brother. And as your sister, I plan to do everything in my power to show you the things you missed! You deserve to have your own life, outside Emerl’s shadow.”
“That would be nice. I look forward to fostering this relationship with you, ‘big sister’.” Pause. “And if you ever wish to discuss your feelings about Emerl’s passing, I will listen without judgment. Cream tells me I am good at that.”
“I think I’ll take you up on that. First though, let’s finish this mess. After that, we can spend some family time together, all of us~!” She beamed, then waved at him as she went back to sweeping. After a few minutes, they were able to bag up all of the badnik parts and stow them away to be recycled later. After that, they headed inside to start finally relaxing.
It was a weird feeling to finally have some level of that grief sorted. It wasn’t gone, not by a long shot, but Amy felt a little lighter, a little more free. It was nice to start accepting Emerl’s fate and move on in a positive direction. This wouldn’t be the last time she was ever upset about his loss, but at least she had found someone she could guide. Maybe talking to Gemerl about their shared ‘brother’ would lessen the weight on her shoulders.
Until then, she vowed she would talk to the people around her and find comfort in their help. From her friends and her makeshift family. Because that’s what they were--family, and she was surrounded by them.
What else could a girl need?