Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Far away, in a distant land that neither Captain Sonic or I had ever heard of, an incident was unfolding.

Scourge and one of his subordinates were breaking into a safe, hidden deep in Dr. Eggman’s Omelette Lodge, looking for his grand invention. The power ring. Unfortunately, his guards would get in the way of this grand heist. Guns aimed and fired. Knuckles plucked Scourge from the ground, they leaped through the glass windows and were now gracefully gliding across the tranquil beauty known as Look-A-Like Island.

Birds of paradise called into the air as a gang of thieves and crooks alike, gathered ‘round in their hidden lagoon... what they wouldn’t realize is that this would be the most eventful week of their lives.

“What was that about?!”

“What d’ya mean?!”

“I didn’t give you those brass knuckles for nothin’! You’re supposed t’ back me up!”

Scourge was arguing with Knuckles. After their success in stealing the Master Emerald from Look-A-Like Island’s museum, they struggled to find success with any of their other grand heists. Tonight, they were supposed to steal the next best treasure of Look-A-Like Island, Dr. Eggman’s power ring. They were planning to take it, becoming the rulers of this place, forcing the denizens to bend to their will. They wouldn’t have to hide. They wouldn’t have to steal. They could finally remake this island in their image.

And Knuckles ruined it.

While Scourge was attempting to get inside the safe the power ring was kept in, unfortunately, the armed security guards found them. Knuckles stood right there, he watched them shoot at Scourge, hurting his leg in the process, and all for some stupid warriors’ code!

Right now, Rouge was bandaging up Scourge’s leg. “Hold still!” She yelled. “If ya keep squirmin’ like that, you’ll make it worse!”

“You shut your trap and you fix me up!” Scourge shot back at her.

He didn’t have the patience for her attitude right now.

Rouge responded with a devilish grin. She took the bandages and pulled them tight around his wound.

Scourge grasped the rock he sat on. “Stop it!” He yelled at her.

Rouge scoffed, continuing on as if nothing had happened.

“I did back you up.” Knuckles insisted. “I just… you know I couldn’t just… fight them. Not until—“

“Not until you were sure of their intentions.” Scourge mocked. “Like the guns pointed at me didn’t make it obvious?!”

Knuckles sighed. “I can’t just go around beating up everything I see! I am grateful for these weapons you gave me… but… I didn’t ask for them.” Knuckles turned away, heading toward his cave in their lagoon hideout. “I’m goin’ t’ watch the Master Emerald.”

“All ya ever do is watch!” Scourge called after him.

Rouge roughly finished her work. “I’m goin’, too.” She opened her wings. “I’ll see ya tomorrow.”

Scourge scoffed at her. Probably goin’ off to see her “friend”. Rouge would never admit that she still liked that rich cat. Angrily, watching her fly away, he could never tell if she was truly committed to their gang, on account of her spending every night at Blaze’s house, hopefully not giving up any secrets about them.

Then again… if his Rosy were ever separated from him he’d probably sneak off from his… superior… too…? Scourge paused for a moment, halting his thought before it went any further. He had been spending so much time pretending to be that pink hedgehog’s boyfriend, often, thoughts like that would sneak in.

Years ago, the two agreed that if they were ever going to survive on this island, they needed to run a tight ship when it came to their future gang. Rosy’s idea… behind every good gang… is a good power-couple. She was clearly talking about herself becoming his queen, but he had eyes for someone else.

For a moment, he truly believed in Rosy’s idea… a powerful gang needed a power-couple behind it. He had his own ragtag team of youngsters and a queen of his own. Sally… then… she broke up with him and kicked him out! Of his own gang! He had to rebuild. Starting from square one. His only loyal subordinate being Rosy.

At this point, Rosy was clearly in-love with Scourge, but Scourge couldn’t really bring himself to care… or he tried not to. It sounded pathetic, which is a word that Scourge would never willingly associate with himself, but… he really wasn’t open to even the vague concept of love, right now.

If it didn’t work for him, that must mean it wasn’t real.

Especially on this island… it really was impossible to care about… anyone, really.

Dr. Eggman was just as much a liar as the rest of them… he was just much better at hiding it. He didn’t deserve that power ring. He wouldn’t know how to use it anyway.

Scourge sat back and lit a cigar, courtesy of the goody-two-shoes, Dr. Eggman. Scourge missed his past petty heists, but all of that changed the night they actually managed to steal the Master Emerald. A night of euphoria… as well as great trauma for Scourge. As he sat back against a comfy rock, puffing his smoke… his fingers wandered over to the scars on his chest, remembering that fateful moment.

They did manage to take the Master Emerald, but a pack of wolverines, sent to find Scourge and his gang, managed to find him … alone. They scratched and bit at him, the near life-ending blow, a great score across his chest by a surprisingly bold wolverine.

At this point, he was so delirious from blood-loss, pain… he could hardly tell what happened, but he remembered… Knuckles carrying him to their hideout, Rouge attempting and failing to stop his bleeding and… Rosy… hysterical.  Everyone was sure that he was going to die. They seemed so devastated at the thought.

Then, a miracle happened. The Master Emerald glowed, it sewed his wounds shut and breathed life back into him. When he… came back… he didn’t… look the same though. It had been so long, Scourge had forgotten his blue quills and green eyes. It seemed like the Master Emerald was confused when it brought him back. It flipped his colors around. It still frustrated him, having to look at those piercing blue eyes and sickly green fur every morning… but he had to admit that his sudden wardrobe change was what made it so easy to hide until now.

Since that night, the law enforcement of Look-A-Like Island was sure that the nuisance-turned-master-thief was dead. Tonight would’ve been a great comeback, but as usual his… “friends”, got in the way. His one chance to take what they deserved. The police would never let him slip by now, especially after they found him on Dr. Eggman’s property.

Scourge angrily got up from his comfy rock by the sea, and he began to wander. Painfully aware of how much his leg hurt. Would he ever be able to make a clean getaway again? Scourge bit down on his cigar. This is all his fault! He wanted to scream. If Knuckles didn’t have that stupid self-defense code, he wouldn’t have to worry about these things!

He angrily kicked a rock, with his bad leg . He sucked in air through his teeth forgetting that he was smoking a cigar. He coughed, taking it out of his mouth. He was surprised to see someone’s shadow behind him. “Buzz off…” he said as he waved his hand, assuming it was Knuckles. “I’m not in a mood for a half-cheeked apology.” He got ready to take another drag of smoke, suddenly realizing under the light of the moon, that the shadow that stood above him was someone he recognized.

What stood, or floated, before him was one of that goody-two-shoes’ robot butlers, Cubot. Scourge’s eyebrows raised at the sight of the yellow, cuboid robot. He was very surprised to see him here, but even at that, that didn’t mean that he could catch him.

Dr. Eggman and his two lackey robots were always trying to rat his gang out to the police, all the way back in Scourge’s earlier years, to the days where he would terrorize his greenhouses. But thanks to his many years of clean getaways, the cops could never find him. Scourge bent his knees, ready for a good run, but had to bite back a cry of pain. He forgot. His leg. He couldn’t move.

While normally, Dr. Eggman’s robots were just as sweet as the doctor himself, there was something about Cubot tonight that felt… off. Scourge limped away as the robot menacingly floated towards him. “Look, I know we’ve had some bad blood in the past…” he said, “but can ya cut me some slack, tonight?” Scourge gave a toothy grin. Dr. Eggman was a sucker for a smile, no matter how fake. He would give him a little honey, and the crazy old fool would be convinced that he’s sweet. Were his robots just as naive?

Cubot sighed. “I’m not here to catch you or anything.” He said. “I’m here…because I want you to do something for me.”

Do something? For him?! Scourge almost had to laugh. Of course he wouldn’t do anything for anyone… not unless there was some kind of reward. “What’s in it for me?” Scourge asked.

“Dr. Eggman’s power ring,” Cubot said, “as well as his fortune.”

Scourge raised his eyebrow. Did he think he was that stupid? Dr. Eggman was just some botanist. He wasn’t rich! His small flower bouquet business was nowhere near what Scourge would call a ‘fortune.’ Not even that gaudy bed and breakfast he opened was enough to bring any money to his name. That wholesome idiot was constantly burning a hole through his wallet.

Cubot sensed his disbelief. “Dr. Eggman has money.“ He said. “You just haven’t seen any of it. Not even him.”

Many, many years ago, when Dr. Eggman was young, he was part of a very rich family. Known as Ivo Robotnik before he took on his nickname. He took this privilege for granted. He was more than a troublemaker. He was a menace to society that could even rival Scourge. No mailbox left un-smashed, no clean wall was safe from his spray paint. He left quite an impression with the locals. An impression his rich grandfather didn’t like.

His grandfather, the patriarch of the family, and the center of this family’s wealth, forced his son to do something about the youngest of the Robotnik’s immediately. He was ruining their grand reputation. So his father, kicked him out of their giant mansion, handed him two of their robot butlers, and told him to make something of himself.

Orbot and Cubot, the two robot butlers in question, had actually made a deal with Eggman’s father and grandfather. If Eggman wasn’t capable of turning a new leaf by the time he turned sixty, the family’s fortune would be given to the robot’s of the estate.

Eggman’s sixtieth birthday was only a week away, not a single bit of destroyed property in sight. It looked like he was going to win his fortune back. Cubot couldn’t have that. The robots didn’t slave away to the Robotniks for nothing. It was their turn to live in the lap of luxury.

Before Scourge’s eyes, Cubot reached into a nearby bush and laid down a giant sack full of items. High-quality spray paints that would take a small army to clean up, hammers, pickaxes, firecrackers… all things perfect for a night of debauchery. Cubot tossed a can of spray paint to Scourge. “I want you and your little gang to… wreak havoc, paint the town red… whatever you kids call it these days, just ruin Eggman’s reputation.”

Scourge chuckled. This was too easy. He would get to have a bit of fun and in the end… become rich and powerful… all in one night. There was just one thing, though. “What about the cops?” Scourge asked, subtly grasping his hurt leg.

“I won’t call ‘im.” Cubot said. He held out his hand. “I’m assuming that’s confirmation, isn’t it?”

Scourge stared at the robot’s hand, before taking it in his own. “Deal.” He took the sack and put it over his shoulder.

“It would be nice…” Cubot said, “if you started at Eggman’s hotel.”

Scourge rolled his eyes. The nerve of this robot to tell him where to go. Then again, it would make a good example, a lasting impression. “Fine.” Scourge said. “It’s on the way t’ my favorite chili dog stand anyway, so I might as well.” Now it sounded more like his own idea. Scourge walked away, trying not to show weakness, he stood as straight as he could, despite his bad leg.

Cubot stared at him confusedly. “What about your other friends?”

Scourge waved his hand. “Don’t need ‘em.” Plus, he wasn’t going to reveal his hideout’s location. Scourge carried on by himself to the heart of Look-A-Like Island to start his chaos. All he had to do was cause trouble. Something he was convinced he was born to do.

                                             >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Scourge huffed and puffed his way to Dr. Eggman’s bed and breakfast. Lugging around this giant bag of goods wasn’t easy, but he would make it. The moon was still high in the sky, giving a silver highlight to everything he laid his eyes on. One silver outline that stood out the most, Dr. Eggman’s Omelette Lodge.

Scourge settled Cubot’s bag beside him. He gazed at the items before him. Should he start big? Taking one of the hammers and smashing the hotel’s windows? He picked one up and braced himself for a good swing… but his leg made it difficult to keep a firm stance. Scourge sifted through the bag for a while until he finally took out the spray paint. He gazed at it lovingly. Never lose sight of the classics~

Scourge’s eyes widened, chuckling once he saw the brand Cubot had given him. Quick Dry, meant to clean up vandalism. A little while ago Scourge came across this brand. It took Eggman months to get rid of that crude rendition he made of him. Cubot wasn’t jokin’ when he said ‘wreak havoc.’ He would paint the town red, and Dr. Eggman would never have a chance to clean up before his next birthday!

Scourge popped off the lid and shook the can, ready to spray, but he paused when he thought he heard someone.

“What do ya think you’re doin’?!”

“Rosy!” Scourge grabbed her, shushing her. “What do ya think you're doin ’?!” He whispered. “Do ya wanna get caught?”

Rosy crossed her arms. “Ya know… as a couple~” she sighed, “we really should discuss things like this before ya head off on your own.”

“Go away!” Scourge yelled at her. “And we’re not a couple!” Their relationship was just for show. She knew that.

Scourge turned away, starting his masterpiece. He was annoyed to see Rosy hanging around, looking curiously through Cubot’s bag. She held up a hammer testing out its weight. “I heard Cubot wants us t’ do some damage.”

Scourge ignored her attempt at conversing with him.

Rosy ignored his ignoring. “You’re not gettin’ anything done with this.” She continued, dropping the heavy hammer, a devilish smile spreading across her face before she took out a hammer of her own. Practically made of solid gold and with a sharp, green gem growing on each side, this hammer was once a decoration for some summer mansion they raided. Rosy found it acted as a great weapon. She swung it through the glass windows, first, the glass shattered, then, her hammer hit the ground. The sound was so thunderous, the entire first floor of windows exploded before them.

Rosy shook the broken glass out of her hair. She looked hopefully at Scourge, waiting for his approval.

Scourge rolled his eyes and continued with his work.

“That’s alright.” Rosy chuckled. “Ya don’t have t’ say anything.” Rosy dropped her hammer, swooning at her own delusions. “Our hearts are so in-sync, we’re on an entirely new level of love. I can hear ya loud and clear.”

Scourge felt that she couldn’t hear anything at all. She’s always makin’ stuff up about us. He would’ve wanted to yell at her, call her an idiot… but he knew by now that counted as attention, and Rosy saw any amount of attention from him as confirmation of their love.

As Rosy continued to smash the first floor of the hotel. Scourge finished his work. A crude remake of Eggman’s logo. Rosy settled beside him, admiring his work, too. She wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, Scourgey~” she sighed, “it’s wonderful!”

Scourge couldn’t muster a sigh of annoyance. He forced his attention elsewhere. His ear twitched. He thought he heard something really bad. Is that… barking?

It was. The police were on their way, a pack of wolverines stuck on their leashes. Scourge knew that they would be released the moment they saw him. He was about to try to run, but he was shocked to see something beside the policeman. Cubot.

“There he is!” The robot yelled. “He’s the one that killed Dr. Eggman!”

What? Scourge hadn’t done anything… but he knew the police wouldn’t believe him. They saw him only moments before.

Even from his spot in front of the Omelette Lodge, Scourge heard the click of the wolverines being released, and instantly he was brought back to that horrifying night. The adrenaline rush from the Master Emerald in their cart, the fear when the wolverines came for him. The sadness when he saw his gang carrying on without him.

Despite his want to get away, his feet were planted firmly onto the ground. What are ya doing?! He yelled at himself. Move! But he just couldn’t. Whenever he tried his limbs would lock into place. He was able to crane his head, just enough to see Rosy leaving him, just like that night.

It looked like Scourge would have to come to terms with his fate this time.

The leader of the pack had already made it to him. Scourge recoiled in surprise, energy suddenly coursed through him again, but pain shot through his bad leg. He fell, covering his ears, because he knew that part hurt the most when they nipped at him last time. He waited desperately for the shredding to be over, but he was surprised to hear the monster yelp.

Rosy whacked the creature away with her hammer. She reached out her hand. “C’mon!” Scourge reluctantly took it. Rosy tried to drag him along, but Scourge limped badly. “What’s wrong with you?!”

“I hurt my leg!” Scourge shouted back. He was already starting to see a spot of red where the gunshot wound was. Scourge’s worst fear was playing before him. He really couldn’t get away. “Just, go!” He gasped.

Rosy picked him up, ignoring his cries of protest. “I’ll head by the dump.” Rosy said. “So they can’t smell us.”

The dump was a long way to run for a girl like Rosy. Scourge looked down and already saw blood dripping from his wound. No matter where they went, the wolverines would be led right to them.  “We’re not gonna make it!” Scourge yelled at her. “They’re gonna find us!”

Rosy glanced at his wound, fully understanding just how dire their situation was. She turned to a patch of large flowers that were growing around an old abandoned shed. Scourge knew these flowers. They smelled terrible.

The perfect cover.

Rosy hopped through, quickly opening up the shed and sat the both of them inside.

Scourge sat, his ears scanning around. He heard them. The wolverines must be close by. His panic was starting to get the better of him. “It’s not working! We’re not gonna fool ‘em!”

“Shush!”

“They’re gonna find us! I-it’s not gonna work—“ Rosy shut his mouth with her hand. He tried to pull it away so he could breathe. He couldn’t understand why he was gasping so hard, he wasn’t the one running. As he was forced to breathe through his nose, and had his mouth shut up, he heard the wolverines bark… sniff… sneeze… and then carry on. Soon the barking faded away and the only thing he could hear were his painful gasps and his blood dripping on the floor.

Rosy ripped the fabric on her tattered red dress. She did her best to tie it around Scourge’s leg as tight as she could.

Scourge grunted, trying to hold back screams that might lead those furry monsters back to them.

As the shed quieted down, and the two could only hear the sounds of birds and insects calling around them, Rosy asked, “did ya really kill Eggman?”

“No!” Scourge yelled, slamming his fist on the ground. “Cubot… he… h-he set me up!”

Somehow, someway, Cubot killed his owner and placed the blame on Scourge, the worst gangster in all of Look-A-Like’s history. The police had been trying to take him in since he was a kid. Now Cubot would get them what he wanted, Scourge’s head on a silver platter!

Rosy went to open the door. “What are you doing?!” Scourge yelled. “We can’t let ‘em see us!”

“Well, we can’t stay in this shack!” Rosy yelled back. “Where do ya wanna go?”

Scourge wracked his mind. “We’ll… head t’ that cove. Our second idea for our hideout.”

That way, they couldn’t be seen.

Rosy picked Scourge up and headed straight over to their rejected hideout. The stench from the flowers making her eyes water, but it would take much more than that for her to drop the love of her life. Despite Rosy’s excitement of their encroaching adventure the two never spoke another word that night.

They wouldn’t know what to say.

Was Rosy suspicious that Scourge had something to do with Eggman’s death? Would their team ever learn about the harrowing moment they just went through?

Many questions ran through their mind, only one truly needing an answer.

How could Cubot kill Dr. Eggman?

Chapter Text

“Ya ready?”

“…yeah.”

The Summer wind howled in the trees above me, carrying the scents of rotten logs and moss, only the raindrops pattering over my quills showed the hint of a storm on the horizon.

Tonight, myself and Captain Sonic waited outside a strange garage, deep in the swamp close by my hometown of Little Planet. Cobwebs draped over every nook and cranny, windows shattered and patched together with tape. It definitely looked strange, for a place of business still running… but it was nothing compared to the strange events that led up to me being here.

It was a day like any other. I… ace journalist and hobbyist mystery writer, Ms. Rose, had received an envelope in the mail. Clean, white paper, accented in gold, and dressed to the nines in pretty handwriting. It almost looked like it was crafted by Gaia herself!

To me…  it would seem that way.

I hadn’t gotten much work since the beloved, rich mogul, Dr. Eggman was supposedly killed.

A job would be a miracle in disguise.

A year ago, me and my friends witnessed a scene no one could possibly believe, and still refused to believe. Dr. Eggman flying away on his hovercraft after threatening all of Mobius with his doomsday device, the Eclipse Cannon. Thankfully, his short-sighted machine backfired and exploded. His whole town of Eggmanland burst into flames as he flew away unscathed.

The public still believes that he was killed that night. That we had something to do with it. The police couldn’t find anything, on account of the entire city burning down… but it’s not like we trusted them to investigate on our behalf anyway. They were a part of our growing line of detractors as well, so my friends, Knuckles and the Chaotix Detective Agency put it upon themselves investigate… but they hadn’t had any luck clearing our names, or finding Dr. Eggman either.

As far as the world knew, Dr. Eggman was dead.

We were beginning to think that, too… until that envelope showed up.

I quickly opened it, believing that it was, hopefully, a client who hadn’t heard the rumors of me being a violent criminal. My heart nearly stopped at the sight of the silhouette of Dr. Eggman’s face, stamped at the top of a message, decorated with graphics of exotic plants and animals. It was written in that same, fake wholesome tone:

Dear, Rose. I humbly invite you to come visit my beautiful hotel on the wonderful island known as Look-A-Like. I’ve spent a long time building this magnificent home away from home, and during my long days overseeing construction, I have found your articles very thought-provoking. I would be delighted to have my hotel be the site of your next review. Inside are two tickets. You may bring a friend along with you. On the back of this note are detailed instructions to the getaway of your dreams! All expenses are paid!

Sincerely yours… Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik…

It was clearly a trap… but when I said ‘Eggman’s goin’ down’, I meant it! If I could bust down Dr. Eggman’s door myself, I would gladly do so… it would still be nice to have… some help.

“Thank you, again.” Ms. Rose said to Captain Sonic. “I’m really glad ya came.” Ms. Rose’s request was very short notice. She had called Captain Sonic from his job on the Typhoon Cruise, by accident. She was surprised to hear him answer, listen to her words and offer almost immediately to come with her on this trip.

“Ya know I couldn’t let ya do this on your own.” Captain Sonic responded. He looked warily at the rundown building.

Hidden by thick vines and being practically eaten by the tall trees that blocked out the moon, was their second to last destination. The building was lit only by the fireflies and the fog that rose from the swamp water, you could barely see this place of business’s sign. Bunnie…? Ms. Rose tried to read.  She couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but it was clear from Dr. Eggman’s directions that this was the place. How many other garages could there be in the middle of this swamp?

Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic cautiously entered the garage. An old pickup truck lay in front of them. The building it sat in was so dusty, rusty and old… this machine, its one resident, looked no different. A rusty chassis, torn leather interior, the smell of old mildew filled the air. The car looked like no one had touched it in years, it was the embodiment of the word ‘jalopy’.

Captain Sonic and Ms. Rose jumped. The sound of oil cans sliding across the ground started them. The loud squeaking afterwards, mice. Captain Sonic wrapped his arm around Ms. Rose. “Stay close to me.” He whispered.

Ms. Rose nodded her head, not only because she was too scared to speak. It looked as if the car in front of her would fall apart if she simply looked at it wrong. They weren’t going to seriously drive in that rust bucket, were they?

Ms. Rose’s heart nearly stopped. She grabbed onto Captain Sonic’s suit when she heard a soft click. She didn’t notice a tiny light from underneath the old truck. It was snuffed out. A mechanic slid from the floor, holding a small flashlight. A cute pink bandanna tied over her head and two large ears with bow ties on their ends. She, a rabbit, wore a dusty-purple jean jumpsuit, stained with grease. “You guys’re my passengers?” She practically wheezed. The dust in this place must be affecting her.

“Depends…” Captain Sonic said suspiciously, “who are you…?”

The young rabbit stood up proudly, taking away her greased up gloves, flicking on a light that softly buzzed above them. She looked like a brown rabbit with a thick tuft of fur on her head. Despite her messy line of work, she still took some time to groom herself. You could tell by the soft, purple eye-shadow she wore. “You can call me Bunnie, if ya want t’.” She said, a wholesome southern drawl in her voice.

Captain Sonic reached to shake this rabbit’s hand, he leaned in closer to read a name tag sewn onto her jumpsuit. His eyes lit up the moment he saw what was written. “Bunnie… Rabbot…? Is that you?”

“It’s pronounced Rab-bow…” The rabbit stared back for a moment, the same look was soon placed on her own face. “Sugar-hog?!” She gasped. She wrapped her arms around him tight. “I haven’t seen ya in ages!” It would seem that the two knew each other.

Captain Sonic and Bunnie spoke excitedly, catching up on their lives.

“So… you’re a Captain, now?” Bunnie asked, glancing at his hat. “Of what?”

Captain Sonic straightened his jacket, polishing his gold buttons. “The Typhoon.” He said breezily.

“Those big crew lines— oh!“ Bunnie gasped, “I should mention…” she held out her hand. A shiny wedding ring stuck out on one finger. “It’s not Bunnie Rabbot anymore, it’s… Bunnie D‘ Coolette. This suit’s old.”

Captain Sonic scoffed, admiring the golden band. “No way!”

“Yes way!”

“Ya got married?”

“Yup.”

“T’ that nerd?” Captain Sonic snickered.

Bunnie scoffed, slapping Captain Sonic playfully. “You stop it with that childish nonsense.” She chuckled. “He can be pretty cool…” she sighed. “ya just… didn’t get a chance t’ see it.”

Captain Sonic rolled his eyes.

Ms. Rose tentatively jumped into the conversation. “Uh… hi.” She said sheepishly. “I’m Amy Rose.”

Bunnie turned to her. She held her arm out for a shake. “Then you must be my client, Ms. Rose.” She looked between the both of them. “You guys’re, uh… together?” She looked more closely and noticed Captain Sonic’s arm wrapped around Ms. Rose. Bunnie glared at the blue captain. “Sugar-hog!” She gasped. “Ya weren’t gonna introduce me t’ your girlfriend?!”

Ms. Rose blushed. “Oh, I don’t know about girlfriend!” While her and Captain Sonic dated a while during his vacation, Ms. Rose didn’t feel comfortable calling herself his girlfriend. He’s so mysterious… Ms. Rose always swooned in her head, but even deeper inside, it unnerved her that she didn’t know that much about him. He was strangely uncomfortable with his past. Always changing the subject soon after a question. This meeting with Bunnie almost felt like another one of his secrets.

Besides… Ms. Rose thought, we haven’t even kissed yet! They were a long ways away from the typical couple.

“I would like t’ catch up…” Captain Sonic said, “but we gotta get goin’.” He was talking about their trip, but the way he gripped his healing leg showed that he also needed a place to sit.

Bunnie glanced at Captain Sonic’s leg. “If ya needed t’ rest you can tell me…” she sighed, “I understand.” She pulled up her pant leg, revealing shiny, metal. “I figured I should just get it out of the way.” Bunnie said, looking away. “People tend t’ ask at some point.”

Captain Sonic nearly gasped in shock, his expression quickly interrupted by a nervous smile. “Looks like ya lived up t’ the name, Rabbot—“ his words caught in his throat. “Sorry, I didn’t—“

Bunnie patted Captain Sonic on the back. “It’s okay.” She chuckled. “I used t’ make that joke when… this happened, too.” She sighed softly. “It seemed like somethin’ you’d say… t’ lighten the mood… a-and I know ya don’t have a serious bone in your body.”

Captain Sonic nodded awkwardly. “Do ya mind… tellin’ me—”

“Those memories… are still a bit rough on me.” Bunnie sighed. “Maybe later.” She took the car’s hood and slammed it shut, and slid away her creeper, used to investigate the trucks undercarriage. “Plus,” she continued, “I’d think you’d be pretty used t’ secrets. Seein’ as how ya never told anyone about your leg.”

Captain Sonic scratched the back of his quills awkwardly. “I… lost touch with a lot o’ you guys after I moved.”

“Well, now’s a good time t’ start catchin’ up.”

Bunnie sifted around her desk. Ms. Rose understood her mission. She took her own pen and notepad out of her purse. “Here ya go.” As Bunnie took her gift, Ms. Rose noticed a shiny glint under her sleeve. Her arm was robotic, too. It was clear by now that the circumstances that led to her looking the way she did, were traumatic, but Ms. Rose was more interested in where she had gotten these things. She had met the odd war hero or two, but she had never seen anything as robust as this. They looked fairly expensive, too. “Where did you get your prosthetics?” Ms. Rose asked brightly.

Bunnie smiled as she took her friend’s number. “Dr. Eggman made ‘em for me!”

While Bunnie was all smiles, Ms. Rose, even Captain Sonic couldn’t hold back a flash of dread. The feelings around this were fairly hard to navigate through. While the two hedgehogs knew Dr. Eggman’s true colors, the rest of the world still saw him as that wholesome businessman. Dr. Eggman was always doin’ charitable work like that. Bunnie must have been one of his many projects.

While Dr. Eggman was clearly evil, this was yet another decision Ms. Rose couldn’t criticize. It made her wonder how she could bring Dr. Eggman’s misdeeds to the light, if not even she could admit that he was evil out loud. Her recommendation letter earlier was dripping with lies, despite the sweetness of the words. His actions were no different, only meant to save face… but it was clear that he must have made a positive influence on this rabbit’s life, including many others. If it weren’t for his evil doomsday agenda, simply inviting Ms. Rose to the Influential Summit was a charitable act that would have set her up for life.

Ms. Rose and her friends, were just as vocal as Captain Sonic now about their distrust of Dr. Eggman… but this was the one moment neither felt like talking. Captain Sonic took his friend’s number and simply said, “I’m glad you’re doin’ alright now.” A decision was made to keep the peace.

Bunnie pushed the hedgehogs into the old truck. “Let’s get goin’ then! The sooner ya finish this trip, the sooner we can talk.”

This car ride was only one checkpoint. Dr. Eggman’s letter had said that their true final destination was a strange curio shop that only he and his client knew about. There was no telling beyond that how they would be sent to Look-A-Like Island.

The truck was a tight squeeze, only really allowing room for two. Captain Sonic looked around for a seatbelt for Ms. Rose. Bunnie handed her a rope. “Sorry it looks kinda thrown-together.” She chuckled nervously, brushing her large ears. “I didn’t know there would be three of us.”

Ms. Rose tied the rope across her waist, and they were off.

The pickup truck jerked backward out of the garage, the tires skidded over the wet mud outside, but Bunnie still managed to start their journey smoothly.

To pass away the time, Ms. Rose read the back of Eggman’s note once more, looking at their final stop. Little Shop of Wonders…

Ms. Rose was very familiar with these kinds of places, always finding interesting things in them. It was even the start of her hobby in divination. She honestly couldn’t contain her excitement. Despite the fact that she was potentially walking right into Dr. Eggman’s trap.

Captain Sonic glanced over at Ms. Rose. “You look excited.”

Ms. Rose blushed. “I’m really excited t’ get there.” So much so that Ms. Rose went on a terribly long tangent talking about the lucky charms, and other such things she had gathered in other shops across Mobius. Her cards, her crystals, her charms and magic spells. Ms. Rose felt the need to give a detailed description of all of them. Captain Sonic listened, hanging on to her every word. “Some people aren’t really in t’ these places…” Ms. Rose said, finally catching her breath, “but I love ‘em!” Her eyes glittered with pure delight.

Captain Sonic nodded quietly.

Ms. Rose felt awkward, her face suddenly burning with embarrassment. Captain Sonic was a little bit older and perhaps more mature than her. Did this interest of hers seem childish? “Sorry…” Ms. Rose chuckled, “I got a little bit carried away.”

Captain Sonic leaned in closer. “Ya don’t have t’ apologize.” He said. His hand grazed her quills. “I think it’s kinda cute.” He chuckled. “How ya get carried away.”

Ms. Rose felt her face warm up. Captain Sonic was so close to her. A sweet kiss seemed to be on the horizon. Ms. Rose stared into his green eyes for a moment. She leaned in for a peck on the cheek, at least. To her surprise, Captain Sonic drew away. He held her back. To stop her. Ms. Rose was shocked, she almost thought she saw a flash of fear in his eyes. “Sonic—“

“I wouldn’t worry about Sonic.” Bunnie interrupted, clearly unaware of the moment they just had. “He’d hate to admit it, but he’s just as much into those, lucky charms as all o’ us were.”

Captain Sonic blushed. “Bunnie.”

“So you remember?”

“Remember what?” Ms. Rose asked.

Bunnie chuckled evilly.

Captain Sonic clasped his hands together. “Please, Bunnie! She doesn’t have t’ know!” He begged.

“I think it’s kinda cute.” Bunnie laughed. She leaned closer to Ms. Rose as if she were keeping a secret. “When Sonic went t’ these cheerleadin’ tryouts, he never changed his socks for weeks and was thoroughly convinced they were lucky.”

Ms. Rose turned to Captain Sonic. “Did ya get in?”

“Kinda…”

Bunnie laughed so hard, she had to stop her truck. “He smelled so bad, they outright rejected him! Sent him straight away!” She sighed as she caught her breath. “If it weren’t for that sweetheart, Sally, ya would’ve never made it.”

The truck seemed to quiet down at the mention of that name. “Who’s Sally?” Ms. Rose asked.

Bunnie glanced over at Captain Sonic. “Ya… haven’t told her?”

Captain Sonic shrugged. “There’s nothin’ t’ talk about.” He sighed.

Bunnie seemed taken aback by Captain Sonic’s tone. Ms. Rose was used to this behavior. On their dates when they talked to each other, she could barely get anything out of his hometown of Green Hills. She had learned from her earlier research that he once lived in an old, rural neighborhood named ‘Knothole’, but it was just as hard, if not more so for him to talk about that.

Ms. Rose was getting worried. It wasn’t exactly normal to feel the need to hide so much, but she felt it wasn’t her place to pry any further. She felt that she should at least voice her concerns, even though the thought made her heart race nervously.

Her cards had told her that they were meant to be together. She believed that their love was written in the stars… if she was truly loved and she truly loved him, this would only be a small bump in their relationship.

Bunnie’s truck skidded to a halt on the muddy road.

“Last stop. Little Shop of Wonders.” She called. She turned to the two hedgehogs. “I’m sorry ya couldn’t see Antoine, Sonic. He was out gettin’ spare parts for me.”

“Really?” Captain Sonic chuckled. “Didn’t think he was the type t’ get his hands dirty.”

“A lot’s changed since we last saw each other!” Bunnie laughed. “I never thought you’d lock yourself on a ship in the middle of the ocean!” Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic exited the truck, waving their goodbyes. “Next time, bring your girlfriend!” Bunnie called back as her old truck tore through the mud.

Just as the young rabbit’s truck disappeared over the horizon, loud thunder boomed in the sky, causing a heavy downpour. Captain Sonic quickly removed his jacket and held it above their heads. Together, they ran to the shelter of the curio shop.

Looking just as gloomy as Bunnie’s garage, it was hidden well in the growing fog. The neon lights were the only beacon that led you there. Although they still loudly buzzed and fizzled in and out with age, the name was clear as day. “Little Shop of Wonders.”

Ms. Rose had heard urban legends about this place. No one knew how to get there other than a select few. The kids in Little Planet used to say you follow the fireflies, the fog, or even that you would simply find it when you need it. Turns out… you just need to know the right people.

Captain Sonic sighed, looking around at their destination. “A weird route to take us out of Mobius.” He whispered. Instead of an airport, they were guided to a swamp. Instead of a plane, they were driven by an old pickup truck and whisked away to an old souvenir shop, only rumored to be magical. “What’s next on the list?” Captain Sonic asked.

Ms. Rose opened her purse and checked her invitation. She didn’t remember there being anything else, and lo and behold, “Nothing.” Ms. Rose said. “This is the last stop.”

Captain Sonic grumbled, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. He looked at a note taped to the front door of the shop and ripped it off. He held it to the light, allowing them both to read.

Welcome to my Shop of Wonders! As Dr. Eggman said, all expenses are paid for, so feel free to browse around and take as much as you want. Once you’re through, take a good, long, look at my greatest treasure. The Master Emerald. Some say that the beautiful green prism is so enchanting… so mesmerizing… it will take you to places not thought possible.

Captain Sonic rolled his eyes.

From Ms. Rose’s experience, she knew that talk like this was the norm. It might seem overblown to the odd passerby or two… but Ms. Rose found that there was always a hint of truth in these things. She truly believed her charms helped and she had no idea where she would be without her cards. She was excited to see this Master Emerald.

Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic stepped inside. A bell rung over their heads as the door swung open.

Captain Sonic stood by the entrance to wring out his jacket while Ms. Rose started her exploration.

The smell of old mildew once again hung in the air, even though this shop seemed oddly new. Not a hint of dust in sight. Inside were many curiosities, from Mobius to even further beyond, their golden plaques so polished they practically glowed. Ms. Rose walked through and read all of their stories. Rocks that could supposedly turn back time, golden rings of power... she stumbled onto something pretty that caught her eye. She leaned in closely and read the item’s story.

Echidna Warrior’s Feather

This feather headdress was once owned by one of the ancient race of warriors. The echidnas. Said to be the ones who started the rumor of the Chaos Emeralds’ existence and guardians of the Master Emerald… what was in the past called “The Controller.”

Like the Master Emerald I showcase proudly, this was found nearby in a tomb not too far away, said to be the final resting place of the Master Emerald’s last guardian, Tikal.

Those who wear this warrior feather are said to be either possessed… or protected… by the spirit of an old warrior, perhaps even Tikal herself. Do you dare test the mettle of your soul? Risk being possessed by an unknown spirit, or even guided by the spirit of the last guardian, Tikal?

Ms. Rose stared at the feather curiously. It seemed like it might be helpful. She would love the spirit of a warrior, or even a guardian to protect her against Dr. Eggman’s possible scheme. She was allowed to take whatever she wanted… and she wanted the warrior feathers as her lucky charm. Still feeling ashamed of its capture, she called out to Tikal. If you can hear me… I’m sorry that this was taken from you. She picked up the warrior feathers. I promise, I’ll find a way to return it. She would bring Tikal’s feathers back to her final resting place as a thanks… if she were to survive this adventure.

Captain Sonic leaned in to read the plaque. “Seems interesting.”

“I think… I’ll take this.” Ms. Rose said, holding the warrior feathers.

“Let me help you with that.” Captain Sonic said. He gently took the feathers out of Ms. Rose’s hand and tied the headdress into her quills. Brushing his hand against it to straighten them out, he said, “Now ya look like a true warrior.”

Ms. Rose smiled at this gesture. She felt compelled to try for another kiss… but remembering Sonic’s past behavior, instantly thought differently of it. After their discussion, she could think about that, but right now… her gaze was drawn to the giant gem in the back of this shop. The supposed Master Emerald. Just as she believed. This giant rock was impressive, but was it truly the famed magical stone? She walked up to it, gazing at the many reflections of her. Captain Sonic stood closer to it. The moment he did, the rock seemed to shimmer even brighter.

Ms. Rose’s eyes glowed, the only thing in her vision the Master Emerald, before her sight seemed to fade altogether.

Chapter Text

Ms. Rose laid in a soft bed. The sound of distant bird cries had woken her up. She felt a strange weight on top of her. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see Captain Sonic, lying close by her. He was fast asleep, his arm relaxed around her body. Ms. Rose didn’t know exactly what to do. Where am I?

Captain Sonic started to stir awake, seemingly just as confused as her about his whereabouts. With his eyes closed, he felt around, his hand pressing into her side and then his fingers grazing against her back.

“S-Sonic?” Ms. Rose said, before he went any further.

Captain Sonic’s eyes shot open. He shot up straight in their bed. “I’m sorry! I didn’t—“

“It’s okay.” Ms. Rose chuckled. She wrapped her arms around him. “I actually kinda… liked it.” She said hesitantly.

Her and Captain Sonic hadn’t gone much further than a walk down the park, hands locked between each other. Maybe even the odd cuddle in the grass. What happened earlier, wasn’t exactly an odd thing for a couple to do.

If only she could understand why her eyes would fuel Captain Sonic’s love, just as much as it would make him so tense, closed off. It would make things less awkward. This was the perfect place to unwind—

Ms. Rose’s thoughts were interrupted.

She thought that an island paradise hotel room would be the perfect place to stay in this moment of vulnerability… but then she wondered, why was she in a hotel room in the first place? The last thing she remembered… she scratched her head, and felt something in her quills that wasn’t there before. The warrior feather. Than she remembered the curio shop, and then… the Master Emerald. Herself and Captain Sonic stared into that mesmerizing glow… and it took them here.

“The Master Emerald teleported us!” Ms. Rose gasped.

Captain Sonic stared around their room. “I’d probably say that can’t be true… but I really don’t have an explanation for this.” They were deep in a waterlogged swamp, only moments ago. Now, they slept on an island far away.

If the Chaos Emeralds were capable of fueling Eggman’s Eclipse Cannon, then the other legends must be true as well. The Master Emerald took them to an island paradise. Look-A-Like Island!

Ms. Rose looked around at their room. Their bed, carved out of wood and somehow smelling as sweet as pineapples. Their walls were woven out of some kind of wicker, and tall, exotic plants in pots stood close to their bed. Ms. Rose leaned over to touch the pink flower petals, expecting the cheap fabric these things tended to be made of, but what she found instead was the soft, velvety touch of a real flower! Even the entrance to their balcony was lavishly decorated. Rather than a door, there were wooden beads strung along together. The lack of privacy made up by the warm, night air, bringing in the scents of saltwater and sand.

Ms. Rose gazed in awe at their room. The Crepe Suzette was the only magical experience she had ever had in any big name hotel. She almost hoped very dearly that the person who sent her here only had a coincidence of a name. With her salary, she would never have the chance to see something like this again.

Ms. Rose laid back in their bed, sighing happily, just barely able to contain her excitement. She looked over at Captain Sonic, casually laying beside her. To her, this place was magical, but Captain Sonic must be used to things like this. He was always traveling around. He noticed Ms. Rose’s gaze. “I haven’t seen ya smile this much in a while.” He said, his hand brushing her cheek.

“Really?” Ms. Rose chuckled. “It’s just that… the Crepe Suzette was the only hotel I’ve ever really been to.”

Captain Sonic chuckled softly. “Well… after we’re done with this… we’ll have t’ change that.”

Ms. Rose rolled around until she was comfortably nestled in Captain Sonic’s arms. His face so close to hers… her mind once again went to a kiss, but she thought better of it. Just as it came to her earlier, this private room was a perfect place to stay in this moment of vulnerability. “Sonic?” Ms. Rose asked.

“Yeah?”

“I-I would like to talk. About earlier, with Bunnie and maybe…” Ms. Rose winced, “Sally?”

Captain Sonic sighed heavily. “Is there a reason… ya have t’ know anything?”

Ms.  Rose knew she was a bit nosy. She was told as much since she was young, but her goal was different than simply solving a mystery. “I need t’ know… I can trust you.” She said hesitantly. “I-it’s weird… not knowin’ that much about you.”

Captain Sonic sat up, looking down at Ms. Rose, his brow furrowed in worry. “I didn’t know it was that serious.”

“No!” Ms. Rose yelled as she sat up quickly. “If it’s too much.” Her voice was quickly muffled by Captain Sonic’s jacket.

“No.” Captain Sonic sighed. “I don’t want t’ make you worry like that.”

Captain Sonic’s arms pressed against Ms. Rose’s back, his hands rubbed together awkwardly. He really was uncomfortable. What could his past possibly entail to cause this reaction? Ms. Rose wrapped her hands around Captain Sonic, her hand brushing against the quills on his back. “I just don’t like seeing you so uncomfortable around me.” She whispered. “If I’m doing somethin’ wrong, I’d like t’ know.”

Captain Sonic nodded. “It’s not you, i-it’s me—“

The two hedgehogs turned their heads. A knock was heard on the door, an envelope was slipped underneath. Ms Rose and Captain Sonic were suddenly reminded of their mission. This wasn’t just any hotel, it was run by Dr. Eggman. They quietly pulled away from each other, and walked up to the door’s peephole to see the person who had sent out this letter.

Ms. Rose looked through. She saw a red wolf with big square glasses happily walking by. They were likely already in Dr. Eggman’s Omelette Lodge, considering the well-stitched suit that this employee wore. Once again, dressed in Dr. Eggman’s colors. Red coat, yellow trim, a pure white undershirt and a black bowtie.

Captain Sonic bent down to pick up the letter. Together, they read it.

Welcome to my luxurious home away from home, the Omelette Lodge. Dinner will be ready very soon in our beautiful dining hall, overlooking one of many dazzling coves on this island. Tonight, you will have all the beauty this island has to offer right at your doorstep! As my very important guest, I’ve had wonderful outfits picked out for you and your plus-one. They’re in the closet. Please, hurry to the dining hall once you’ve finished.

Ms. Rose went to a door nearby and swung it open. Only two outfits were prepared for them.

Ms. Rose held onto a pretty, red dress, about as grand as what she had worn to the Crepe Suzette. Its silhouette was reminiscent of her typical tube shaped dress, but instead of her blue feather boa a thick, white fur shawl was wrapped around its shoulders. A small, round, golden accessory was stuck to the center of her chest, golden tassels hung underneath it. Small sparkles were practically baked into the fabric, making her look like the living embodiment of a sunset-kissed ocean. Shiny, red heels were given to her, similar to her old shoes.

Captain Sonic wore a striking white suit with black trim and a black bow tie, and shiny, black dress shoes to match. The only other thing worth noting was the blood-red rose stuck to his chest. Together, the two hedgehogs looked like a couple of movie stars on their way to the red carpet. Captain Sonic stared at the shiny golden cuff links on his jacket. “A little expensive.” He mumbled. “Even for me.”

A rose corsage was the last thing in their closet. Captain Sonic took it and gracefully attached it to Ms. Rose’s wrist. Ms. Rose gazed at herself in the door’s vanity mirror. She never imagined wearing anything as nice as the dress Rouge lent her for her first date with Captain Sonic. Her heart fluttered looking at the two of them in the mirror right now.

They both stepped to their door, now dressed to the nines, Captain Sonic glanced at the warrior feather still in Ms. Rose’s quills and adjusted it, Ms. Rose doing the same to the rose on his chest. Once they were happy with each other’s looks, they swung open the door.

While Ms. Rose was excited for their evening together, her hands already wrapped around Captain Sonic’s arm, a dark cloud still drifted over her head. If this man’s name was just a coincidence, it would be the best night she had ever had… if not… then they were exactly where Dr. Eggman wanted them.

Captain Sonic noticed Ms. Rose glancing warily at the walls, as if the crazed scientist would jump out at any moment. He pulled her closer. “Let’s try t’… enjoy the night.” Captain Sonic whispered. It seemed he was trying to be just as hopeful.

Ms. Rose nodded. Still, in her head she begged. Please, be a coincidence!

This Omelette Lodge was fairly beautiful. The designs on the wallpaper were just as grand as any hotel, the thatched roofs and wicker doors continued the tropical look… but the balcony, made of thick bamboo, held the true treasure of this place of relaxation. A full moon hung over a beautiful island, yellow lights from summer homes glowed beneath them. Palm trees stuck out, reaching towards the stars. Large leaves and colorful flowers nearly hid the sidewalks and roads. Exotic birds flew out into the night, their songs ringing throughout. Ms. Rose sighed, once again, finding herself really hoping this wasn’t a lie.

Finally, they made it to the dining hall. Mobians and humans alike gathered together, chattering away to jazz music, played live on stage. A Mobian who would guide them to their table sat out front. Ms. Rose couldn’t believe who it was.

“Barry?!”

The red quokka stared at her warily. “Uh… hi…?”

“What are ya doin’ here?” Ms. Rose chuckled nervously. “What happened to that assistant job?”

Barry stared at her, clearly confused.

“Y’know…” Ms. Rose said, “the one Rouge and Blaze gave you?”

Barry still had no idea what she was talking about. They cleared their throat. “This wolf here, Avatar, will take you to your table.” They continued on as if she hadn’t said anything.

The red wolf from earlier stepped forward. Ms. Rose couldn’t believe it. This was Avatar? Barry’s boyfriend? She was glad to see him getting around well, Barry made it seem as if he was in pretty bad shape, but… why would Barry introduce him so professionally? “Barry…” Ms. Rose chuckled, “I thought you would at least introduce me to him properly first.”

Barry chuckled nervously. “I, uh… just did.”

Ms. Rose shook her head. “This wolf?” She scoffed. “Is that any way to talk about a significant other?”

Barry’s face turned beet red at the words ‘significant other’. Even Avatar tried to look away, embarrassed. “Please… Rosy.” Barry said hiding his face. “Not now.”

Rosy? Was Barry the type to give people nicknames? Ms. Rose obviously hadn’t known them for long, so the answer was up in the air. Avatar quickly led them away, holding two, paper menus. As the two hedgehogs sat down, he took out a pen and paper, scribbled something down and handed Ms. Rose the note.

“What do you want to drink?” It read.

Captain Sonic leaned over to read, too. “I’ll just have a water.”

“Me, too.” Ms. Rose added. If Avatar was as nervous as he looked, she would want to make the orders as easy as possible on him. This place was already packed full of people. Avatar wrote their drinks down. Before he left, Ms. Rose leaned over. “Don’t worry about what I said earlier,” she whispered, “I’m sure Barry loves you and they’re just tryin’ t’ be professional.”

Avatar blushed really hard, his condition clearly affecting his writing. He hastily ripped out the paper, and passed it to Ms. Rose.

“Call me if you need me.” It read. Although it practically looked like chicken scratch, Avatar’s professionalism still shined through. He bowed, keeping the silver tray he held perfectly upright, and then he quickly carried on, stiffly, to the rest of his guests.

After Avatar left, Ms. Rose wondered aloud, “what’s up with them?” Barry acted like they hardly knew her. Avatar seemed fairly embarrassed at the thought of them being together, but earlier… Barry spoke as if they had known each other for a while. They were already living together.

Captain Sonic followed her gaze. “They are workin’ right now.” He said. “I wouldn’t say much about it, but some people don’t like it when their employees date each other.”

“I guess.”

For a while, Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic sat, waiting for their drinks. Now that things had gotten quiet, Ms. Rose had some questions surfacing in her mind. “How come…” she started hesitantly, “ya never mentioned Bunnie, or Antoine to me?”

Captain Sonic was clearly uncomfortable again. He was leaning over the table, gazing at the beachfront. “It’s… well… it’s been a while since I thought about them, honestly.” He said hesitantly. “When I was younger, I used to live in a place called ‘Knothole.’ Bunnie, Antoine, Rotor… and Sally… those guys were my best friends.” He sighed heavily. “Then… I had t’ move away.”

“Ya lost touch?”

“Pretty much.” Captain Sonic tapped his fingers on the table. “I wasn’t tryin’ t’ hide them, or anything like that… there’s just… no real way t’ bring ‘em up.” Captain Sonic reached over for Ms. Rose’s hands. “I’ll talk to ya later about… everything.” He said. “I promise. I just… want t’ go somewhere private… is that okay?”

“Of course it is.” Ms. Rose answered. She was just happy that Captain Sonic was talking to her. “Why do ya think Bunnie knew about Little Shop of Wonders?” She asked, adjusting the subject. “Where I come from, that place is practically a myth.”

Captain Sonic gazed up. “Not sure…” he sighed. “She never mentioned it much before.”

If Ms. Rose knew the location of Little Shop of Wonders, she would never shut up about it! Probably why she wasn’t tasked with keeping the secret. She couldn’t help it, though. This discovery was no different than learning your childhood friend was keeping the Loch Ness monster in their backyard.

“Ya still thinkin’ about it?” Captain Sonic teased.

“Of course!” Ms. Rose gasped. Little Shop of Wonders, especially. “It’s like an urban legend come to life.” She said. “Just hearin’ the name kinda had me feelin’ nostalgic. I haven’t heard anyone mention it in years.”

Interrupting their conversation. Avatar came back with their waters. He didn’t stay to let them order their food, instead hurrying to the front, where Barry stood. Ms. Rose was surprised to see Barry speaking to someone frantically. Avatar worriedly standing by. The man, a tall human that Ms. Rose now noticed was a policeman, held out a piece of paper. Avatar leaned in close, adjusting his glasses, before nodding his head, glancing nervously at Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic.

Captain Sonic was watching quietly, too. Something strange was happening.

The policeman stomped his way over to Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic, his handcuffs clinking and his holstered gun, sticking out. He held up the paper. Wanted signs, showing illustrations of two hedgehogs that looked very similar to Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic. “Amy, ‘Rosy’ Rose, and Sonic ‘Scourge’ the Hedgehog. You two are under arrest for the murder of Ivo Robotnik, a.k.a, Dr. Eggman!” The policeman took out his handcuffs. “You have the right to remain silent!”

“Hey!” Captain Sonic screamed.

“Anything you say can, and will be, used against you in a court of law!”

Ms. Rose was handcuffed, too. “What?” She looked around frantically as the officer continued reading her rights. These turn of events felt very similar to her, but this time, she couldn’t see an obvious way out.

The policeman got to wrangling the two. He was pushing them towards the exit. Barry watched, horrified. “Rosy! What did you do!” They cried.

“I didn’t do anything!” Ms. Rose cried back.

“There has to be a mistake!” Captain Sonic yelled. “We didn’t—“

Captain Sonic’s voice was interrupted by a loud thump. A police officer nearby was taken down.

To their surprise, Knuckles was standing out in the open. Instead of his large white boxing gloves, his fingers were wrapped up tight in sports tape.Brass knuckles sat on each hand. The policeman guarding them aimed and fired, Knuckles sidestepped, the bullet only grazing his dreads. He punched the policeman in the gut, so hard, even Ms. Rose felt the impact.

Behind them, their handcuffs were freed. Rouge was picking their locks. “You take Rosy. I’ll take Scourge.”

Those names again. Who were they? How do they know Rouge and Knuckles and why were they even here on this island? Helping them evade the police?!

Ms. Rose was quickly swept off of her feet. “Hang on, Rosy.” Knuckles said. Ms. Rose had no reason to object. A steady flow of police cars were gathering at the hotel’s entrance, and she wasn’t sure if she could run with how terrified she was. She was completely at the whim of everything around her and yet she still felt like she was committing a crime!

Knuckles and Rouge ran through the hotel’s halls, narrowly dodging staff and cowering guests. The police yelled for people to run and hide as they attempted to apprehend them. Knuckles and Rouge were very slippery however. Rouge boldly leaped over carts, Knuckles threw them on the ground in an effort to slow their pursuers. They slipped into hotel rooms and slipped out through the balconies until they made it to one in particular. “Wrap your arms around my neck.” Knuckles panted. Ms. Rose did as he said, not expecting what would happen next.

Knuckles readjusted Ms. Rose to his back. Him and Rouge leaped off of the balcony. Into the air. Ms. Rose was frozen from shock. Knuckles held out his arms, while Rouge flapped away. They both flew into the night. The red and blue lights from the police cars flashed, so many had gathered, it nearly blinded Ms. Rose.

Knuckles and Rouge had escaped, the police, being non the wiser.

Chapter Text

As the police lights flashed on the front lawn of the Omelette Lodge, officers everywhere scattered to find the missing Scourge and Rosy. What they didn’t realize was that the two hedgehogs were nowhere near them. Scourge and Rosy were headed to the furthest reaches of Look-A-Like Island. A place only they knew of. Known as Indigo Cove. Before Scourge and his slowly growing gang settled in their hidden lagoon, they planned to live there.

On the way to this home far away from home, they would meet an old friend.

Scourge and Rosy walked slowly down the hidden pathway. This cove was only really known to the cast away natives of this island. The riff-raff or ruffians, as the rich folks put it. Indigo Cove.

It lay somewhere far away from the typical hotspots the tourists would relax in. They had walked for a whole night and day, and now another night was fast approaching. They shouldn’t have to worry about the police finding them, but Scourge wanted to put as much space between him and those wolverines as possible. His leg was slowing him down.

Rosy glanced warily at Scourge, slowing further and further away from her. “I can still carry you!” She called back hopefully.

Scourge only grunted as a response. Really, he did need help, but he still didn’t want to give Rosy any ideas. He wouldn’t let her manipulate him. He knew her concern was fake. He didn’t understand why she would keep up with the charade, even when no one was around to see them.

Scourge glanced up at the trees. He recognized this place. “We’re pretty close t’ Shadow’s, I think.” He said.

“We’ll take a break there.” Rosy added cheerfully. She reached for his hand. He shook it off, but this didn’t quell Rosy’s affection. “I’ll give ya some space.” She giggled.

Scourge rolled his eyes. Shadow’s hideout must be close by. He only had to deal with this for a few more moments.

Shadow… he was one of Scourge’s first recruits after he was rudely abandoned by his love. His story spells the start of an unfortunate pattern of Scourge’s gang seeming like a home for the less fortunate.

While Look-A-Like was an island paradise to the rich tourists, to the Mobians who had lived here their entire lives, it couldn’t be any further from that nowadays. Shadow being the poster child for this phenomenon. He was a science experiment, a Mobian passed between ambassadors like a living Knick-knack. His existence was only to prove that they could do something amazing, recreating life… but they had no real plans on what to do with him after they succeeded… other than show him off.

When Scourge found him, wandering the halls of another politician’s summer home, despite his polite demeanor and mature personality, his knowledge of this world was no different than a newborn. Scourge and his team happened to run into him during one of their petty heists. He stood there and watched as they raided his current owners’ jewelry boxes, not understanding why this act needed to be stopped. It was fairly easy to convince him to join Rosy and Scourge.

Once he had a taste of what life, true life, was like… Shadow drifted on… away from Scourge’s growing gang. Scourge didn’t take this very well. Shadow’s black fur and quills made him perfect for night heists, it made him furious. It’s almost like he’s bein’ rewarded for his treachery! He thought. He would have to put away his sour thoughts tonight. He couldn’t go on any longer.

Scourge angrily grasped onto his aching leg. Shadow was one of his best, a fighter and a medic. He wouldn’t be having any trouble walking if he were still around. He’d probably take down that night guard. Scourge thought. My leg would’ve been healed by now. Shadow never hesitated to do what needed to be done. He could easily lead a gang of his own by himself.

Scourge and Rosy had made it to a clearing in this jungle. To the odd passersby, it might seem like random piles of junk, but to a fellow Lookalike on the streets, it was an obvious campsite. Piles of scrap metal and an old mattress was a shelter. A huge cloth hid a large horde of items to pawn off. Scourge sniffed and could smell smoked fish in the air. Shadow must still live here.

“What are you doing out here?” A voice growled. “Who are you?!”

Scourge looked around. He was hard to spot, but Shadow hid in the foliage around them, blending in perfectly. He carried a large sack over his back and a large set of lockpicks at his hip. It looked like he had just come back from looting. Scourge tried not to stare too much, he knew how territorial folks could get over their treasure. “I just needed a rest stop.” Scourge said casually. “Surely, you would have mercy for your past boss… wouldn’t ya?”

Shadow stared at Scourge, confused, but when Rosy stepped into the moonlight. Recognition flashed in his eyes. “Rosy…?” His eyes widened further when he realized who he was talking to. “Sonic?”

“It’s Scourge now.” The hedgehog sighed. “Thought it’d make sense with my new look.” He said, presenting his green quills and flashing his leather jacket, showing his new scars. He realized that Shadow had left a long time ago. He wasn’t there the night the Master Emerald had brought him back to life.

Shadow shrugged. He placed his loot on the ground. Glancing at his leg, he asked, “What happened there?”

“Y’know…” Scourge said breezily, “run-in with the cops.”

“Weren’t you the ‘master of getaways?’” Shadow joked.

Scourge scoffed. “Even monkeys fall out of trees.”

Shadow rolled his eyes. He grabbed Scourge and roughly sat him on a flat rock nearby. “Don’t move.” He said as he sifted through his pile of treasure.

Scourge could barely sit still. He clicked his tongue. He tapped his foot impatiently. He would like to have a smoke right about now. A sliced cigar was tossed his way, a lighter soon after. Shadow continued sifting around, Scourge got to lighting his cigar. Of course, as his first true recruit, Shadow should be expected to read his mind so easily.

“You know you shouldn’t use those.” Shadow called over his back. “I’m sure that those born on this planet will not last as long as me.” He glanced warily at Scourge’s plumes of smoke. “I heard those… speed up the process.”

Scourge couldn’t care less. The residents of this island didn’t believe he would make it to three, let alone twenty-four. They didn’t expect him to last long, and he wasn’t exactly expecting to be begging for scraps when he was an elder. “I don’t plan on stayin’ that long anyway.” Scourge said breezily. “Might as well have fun while I’m here.”

“Would these thoughts have anything to do with your… crime of passion?”

Scourge tried to play dumb. “Crime of passion?” He asked.

“I heard…” Shadow said hesitantly. “I heard… that you killed Eggman.”

Scourge stared up at Shadow. He blew out a large puff of smoke. “I didn’t kill him.” He said. His first words without an air of humor. “I was framed.”

Shadow didn’t continue to question him. Scourge believed he was too busy with his current task.

Shadow took out a giant metal box. Inside were medical supplies. He kneeled down, and removed Rouge’s old bandages. He took out a cloth and dabbed some hard liquor onto it. He looked closer at Scourge’s wound and shook his head. Out came a pair of metal tweezers. This did not make Scourge feel well.

Rouge examined his leg. She said there were no bullet fragments or anything in his leg. It would appear she was wrong.

Shadow cleared the forest floor. Scourge looked around and placed his cigar on an old dish, getting ready for this procedure. Shadow took Scourge and laid him on the ground in the moonlight. “How were you able to walk with this…?” He mumbled half to himself.

Scourge’s leg felt terrible, but if it took him away from those wolverines, the pain was worth it.

Shadow had wrung a thick piece of cloth until it was no different to braided rope. He shoved it into Scourge’s mouth. “Bite when you feel pain.”

Rosy hovered worriedly above the two. “Is he okay?” She asked. “What’s wrong with ‘im?”

“It’s nothing serious.” Shadow sighed. “Just… hold him down.”

Scourge rolled his eyes at Rosy’s meddling. He already knew the drill. He had been saved from more than a few bad scraps by Shadow. Let’s just get this over with. Scourge was laid down straight, his leg stuck out. Rosy was placed on top of him to keep him from moving. Thankfully, Scourge’s view was blocked by the pink hedgehog, but he still felt Shadow’s strangely professional hands working on his leg. The cloth did well muffling Scourge’s screams, Rosy did well to keep him still so that the pain wouldn’t stretch out any longer than it had to.

Finally, Scourge felt the now comforting burn of alcohol on his leg, the smell of hard liquor filled the air.  Shadow was always wasting the good stuff on things like this. The moment after his wound was redressed. Scourge held out his hand. “Gimme that.”

Shadow sighed. “Smoking and drinking within the same vein are not really recommended.” He took the pretty bottle and kept it far away from Scourge.

Scourge lazed on the ground. “Ya may be a better medic,” he chuckled, “but Rouge’s more fun.”

Shadow put away his medical supplies. “What’s your plan?”

Obviously, he was talking about their run from the cops. “Me an’ Rosy are headin’ t’ Indigo Cove until things blow over.”

“That’s pretty far away.”

“The further the better.”

“And blow over?” Shadow scoffed. “They think you killed Dr. Eggman.”

Scourge ignored his comment.

Rosy sat quietly beside Scourge. “It would be nice if ya let us stay for the night.” She told Shadow.

“Stay?” Scourge scoffed. “Didn’t I just say—“

“She has a point.” Shadow said. “Even after that treatment, you won’t get far on that leg.”

Scourge growled, glaring between his supposed girlfriend and traitorous subordinate. He wasn’t going to argue and he wasn’t going to let these people order him around. Despite the burning ache in his leg, he stood up and walked away, continuing on his journey. He heard the protests of Rosy. Just like normal, he ignored her.

Scourge walked in silence, shoving his hands into his pockets. Despite the natural heat of Look-A-Like Island, hiding in the trees… alone… made everything feel cool. Scourge couldn’t explain why, but his decisions always seemed to lead to him walking alone in the cold darkness of this island’s forest. The last time he came to this conclusion, was the day he and Sally broke up.

Scourge was in-love with her. He had many others come to him, excited by his constant life on the run. Sally was the first to think nothing of it. She was a castaway. Like him. Really, she was the first who seemed to have anything in common with him. The young daughters of rich travelers just didn’t understand how hard it was, constantly trying to struggle just for food each day. Exciting, yes… but still a struggle. Scourge had to turn on the charms just to survive.

A fiery redhead like her understood. She had more than a few suitors, too. She must have seen something in Scourge. Something they didn’t have.

Just when Scourge felt that he found his soulmate, Sally started talking about taking over the island and remaking it in their image. Scourge was comfortable where he was, he didn’t need any of that, as long as he had her. And then, of course Sally would go on about planning for the future, and then he would start to get worried. Scourge told Shadow he didn’t think he would last long, he definitely didn’t want to be begging for scraps in his final years… but taking over an island to make sure that didn’t happen… seemed impossible.

They argued about the possibility of them ruling together and Scourge had to open up his big mouth. “If you think a ragtag team like us is enough…” he said, “then ya really have some learnin’ t’ do.” He said those words so casually. The final straw. Sally would always play dumb when it came to her ‘boyfriends’… he forgot how much a simple insult like that could affect her. He tried to lighten the mood… but Sally was sure she wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

Scourge refused to let it be her decision.

In the dark, on a night just like this one, Scourge left, heading as far away as you could on an island. He was grateful that Rosy showed up, but it seemed she thought he was available now that Sally was gone. Her ‘power couple,’ comment was sly. Scourge did believe that behind every good gang was a good couple to guide the reins… but he was really thinking of Sally when he agreed with the odd charade.

A cool breeze blew by. Scourge kept his leather jacket close to him. His leg started to ache more, making him limp. Another thing to slow him down. Scourge glanced beside him. A summer home with a large yard was hidden beyond the trees. A shiny glint caught his eye.

Far away, past a black, metal gate… in the moonlight was a glass bottle, standing on a silver tray. Especially with his aching leg and his rising frustration with his memories, Scourge could use a drink, or two… or more. Just to ease off some of the pain.

He walked up to the gate, and hopped up, clumsily. He fell to the ground, gasping as he landed. Holding onto his newly patched up leg, he sucked in air as he got to his feet. The glass bottle stood on a patio just above the lawn. A flight of stairs was nearby, but Scourge was worried the floorboards’ creaking might alert someone that he was there. Scourge looked around for any signs of danger, and then carefully crept forward. He hopped onto the patio’s edge and climbed up and through the railing. He snatched the bottle up, about to take a swig, when he saw something terrifying.

A wolverine slept on the floor close by him.

It sniffed around. Its red eye opened and immediately saw Scourge. It growled, its claws scraping against the ground as it stood. Scourge backed away, forgetting that the railing was right behind him. He lost his balance and fell.

Pain exploded in his hurt leg as he hit the ground, his nose burned from the smell of alcohol drenched in his fur. Some of the bottle’s contents spilled all over himself. His mind was fuzzy, trying to take in all of this information. Quick as a whip, he came to his senses as he heard the wolverine’s claws scraping over the wooden floor. It was heading straight to him. I have to get out of here! Scourge grasped at the grass frantically. He cried out as he pulled himself to his feet.

The wolverine was making its way to a flight of stairs.

                                             >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Rosy dragged Shadow along with her to find Scourge. He was sure he couldn’t get far, but Rosy was worried something might happen to him, especially in his condition. Despite all that Scourge said about them, she knew deep down that he would understand someday how important he was to her.

Rosy had stuck close to Scourge for years. Ever since he had rescued her from an angry mob, yelling and shouting at her for daring to steal a rotten apple. He snatched her up and hid her deep into the forest where no one else could hurt her, offering her a much better selection from the Omelette Lodge’s buffet. He asked for her name. She said “Amy Rose”, and he said, “I’ll call ya ‘Rosy’.” Ever since that day, she knew she found her soulmate. From him, she was given a safe haven and a name…she just wished he would figure things out already. That day was a sign. A sign that they were meant to be together!

Thinking of their first meeting together made Rosy’s heart flutter. She seemed to change her walk to a wandering mozy, swooning over her love. Shadow found it hard to keep up. He sighed before asking, “What happened earlier?”

“Wha…?”

“The murder?” Shadow reminded her. “Or the lack of one.” He forced Rosy to stop. “None of us liked Eggman, but we wouldn’t kill him. Not even Scourge.” Shadow caught his breath. “What… happened?”

Rosy wasn’t really sure, but she tried her best to explain what she saw. Cubot told Scourge to go to the front of the eye sore known as the Omelette Lodge… and wreak havoc. He planned to give Scourge untold riches and the amazing power ring. The moment she arrived to help, they were accused of murder. “Cubot said that… Eggman’s dead.” He tried to blame his death on them.

Shadow thought for a moment. “This sounds strange…”

“Scourgey thinks that Cubot killed ‘im.”

Shadow shook his head. “He couldn’t have.”

“Why?”

“The Law of Robotics.” Shadow said simply. A robot must obey orders, it may protect itself… but under no circumstances is it allowed to harm a human. “Cubot couldn’t hurt or kill Eggman… if he is dead.”

“What do ya mean ‘if’?” Rosy asked. “Cubot said—“

“We can’t trust anything Cubot says.” Shadow interrupted. “Did you see anything? A dead body…?”

Rosy shook her head. “I’m not even sure if we were at the scene of the crime.”

Shadow grabbed Rosy’s hand and led her forward. “Then it’s settled.” He said. “After you two leave tomorrow, I’ll go and do some investigating.”

Rosy was somewhat relieved. Shadow was great at hiding in plain sight, most people were already used to him walking around. He could investigate freely. Scourge would be happy to know that their case was being covered.

Rosy and Shadow continued trying to follow Scourge. They were surprised to hear a desperate cry.

“Help!”

It was Scourge. He was pressed up against a metal gate, desperately trying to climb. Rosy and Shadow hurried to him, Shadow took out his ring of “keys” used to break into his favorite houses. Now, it would only be used to free his old boss.

Shadow unlocked the gate. Scourge leaped through, a barking wolverine was hot on his trail. Shadow and Rosy shoved the gate closed. Rosy’s breath was forced out when the creature hit the gate. Shadow nearly lost his footing, but as Rosy held the door shut, he took out his “keys” and locked the gate once again.

The wolverine barked angrily at them, before suddenly realizing they weren’t on its territory anymore. It sniffed at them before heading back to a patio and scratching at its door. It was trying to gain the attention of its owner.

Rosy went to Scourge. “Ya have t’ get up!”

Scourge lay still, curled up with his hands over his head. “Of course they would keep those things as pets!” He screamed.

“Scourge—“

“Get off of me!” Scourge screeched. He shoved Rosy away roughly.

Rosy tripped over a large plant. She stared back at Scourge. With each bark of the wolverine, he flinched, curling himself tighter. His breathing was strange and sharp. Rosy took a step forward. Scourge jumped, looking up wildly at Rosy. She knew he was terrified of wolverines, but seeing Scourge in such a state was worrying. Where was the hedgehog who used to leap into danger? Just for the fun of it?

Shadow watched Scourge closely. He kneeled close to him, now cowering in the thick leaves. “Scourge, what’s wrong?”

Scourge didn’t answer. No one was sure if he could. Rosy stood beside Shadow. “What’s wrong with ’im? Why’s he breathin’ like that?”

Shadow leaned close to Rosy. “I think… it’s a panic attack.” He whispered to her. Rosy almost ran to comfort him, but Shadow stopped her in her tracks. “Let me handle this.”

Rosy just hoped that they would hurry. Lights were turning on in that house.

Shadow reached for Scourge. The wolverine’s bark could still be heard. Scourge gasped, cowering away. “Scourge…” Shadow whispered, I can take you somewhere that’s more quiet… safe… but you have to let me carry you.”

Shadow reached for Scourge once more. This time, he relented. “Get me outta here.” Scourge croaked through his gasps.

With Scourge in his arms, Shadow ran into the forest, Rosy following close behind. “Focus on your breathing.” Shadow told Scourge.

Scourge took big gulps of air, his hand pressed desperately against his chest. It seemed he was still having trouble. Rosy matched her pace close to him and took deep breaths, inviting him to follow. She wasn’t sure if he was listening, but this action calmed her down, too.

Through the trees, Rosy could hear the owners of the previous house, yelling at their wolverine and punishing it for a false alarm. It looked like they got away scot-free.

Shadow returned to his hideout. He took Scourge further away behind a group of trees. Rosy sneakily followed. She heard Shadow whispering to Scourge. “Stay here. You’ll feel better soon.”

Scourge lay on the ground. He sighed with his hands covering his eyes. He hardly responded to Shadow.

Shadow took one sniff of the air. “Are you… drunk?” He asked hesitantly.

Scourge sighed exasperatedly. “No.” He said. “I fell off the patio and dropped a bottle of whisky.”

“If you don’t mind me asking.” Shadow said. “Why were you so afraid? I’ve never seen you panic like that.”

Scourge sat up. He spoke quietly, opening up his jacket to reveal his scars. Shadow seemed to have not noticed they were there. He gasped when he saw them. Ignoring his reaction, Scourge continued his explanation. “Ever since that night those wolverines almost killed me…” he sighed, “I can’t stand bein’ around them.” He growled shakily.

Rosy noticed that Scourge was a lot more skittish than usual when it came to those creatures. She hadn’t seen anything like what happened before though… other than the night they ran from the police. Rosy emerged from the bushes. Scourge looked so sad… he could use a hug right now. She was prepared to give him one, but  was hurt to see him flinch when he saw her.

“What’re you doing here?”

“I-I wanna help—“

“Then leave.”

How could Scourge be so cruel? He clearly needed her. Rosy took one defiant step forward. She was stopped by Shadow, who took her away. He turned back to Scourge. “Stay here and focus on your breathing.” He called back.

Rosy was somewhat dejected to see him relax. If she were there, her mere presence would help him.

Shadow spoke quietly to Rosy. “I know you… really like Scourge and want to hug him and kiss him… or whatever it is you’re always doing, but he really needs space right now.”

Rosy stared back the way they came. She was sure that her love could heal him of this curse… but then she remembered the way Scourge looked at her. He was already scared enough and… her existence seemed to unnerve him. Rosy sighed. “Alright.” Maybe… Scourge would be more happy to see her later.

In the corner of her eye, Rosy saw the cigar and lighter that Scourge left behind. Scourge was always crabby these days, but he would calm down after a good smoke. Rosy reached for Scourge's cigar. Shadow grabbed her hand. “What are you doing?” He asked her roughly.

“Scourgey likes to smoke when he’s feelin’ bad.” Rosy said matter-of-factly.

“Scourge is soaked in alcohol.”Shadow sighed angrily. “I don’t think he needs a smoke right now.” He said. “Just… give him some space. I want you to do that while you’re traveling, too. If this happens again you need to give him some room to breathe.”

Rosy stared at Shadow. Back when he was their medic, he would always talk like that when he was saying something important. It seemed that her passionate hugs were not the answer to Scourge’s problems. Rosy nodded her head. “Okay.” She said, nervously messing with her tattered dress. “I’ll try.”

Shadow sighed. Heading to his mattress. “This place is big enough for all three of us.” He told Rosy. “If you need to sleep, you can do it here.”

Rosy decided to sit and wait for Scourge to reappear, so that she could guide him to their sleeping quarters. Shadow began to snore and Rosy sat for a while. She felt like it was taking a long time, so she got up. She pushed through the big leaves until she saw Scourge, curled up on the ground and hugging his leather jacket tight. Rosy’s first thought was that her body could warm him, she was about to lie down close to Scourge before she remembered. Scourgey needs space.

Rosy turned around. She found a blanket on top of the pile that Shadow slept in. She took one, returned to Scourge and draped it over him. She turned to leave, but was surprised to hear Scourge shuffling around. Despite the fact that their eyes didn’t meet, she knew that he was watching her.

Rosy was hoping that Scourge would ask her to join him.

Scourge stayed quiet, turning back around to sleep. Rosy heard soft snoring coming from the thick blanket. She turned to go back to Shadow’s sleeping space to go get some shut-eye of her own. Shadow’s body was warm, offering protection from the cool night air. Scourge would like to sleep here to keep himself warm. But I guess Scourgey likes bein’ alone more than a good night sleep. Rosy closed her eyes and drifted off to dreamland.

Chapter Text

After a hectic night of evading the police, and hiding in the jungles of Look-A-Like Island… Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic were taken back to the… hideout of their supposed friends. They spoke to each other as if only a moment had passed since they had last seen each other, but clearly, they had no idea who they were. Ms. Rose was convinced that they were nowhere near their home anymore.

Rouge went on about how exciting their small adventure was.

Knuckles fretted over every sound, wondering whether the police had followed them.

Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic stayed quiet, hoping they weren’t found to be the odd ones out.

They spent the entire night evading the police, and even though it was light outside, they left to sleep.

Everyone separated to sleep in their caves. Their friends were living out in the wild, on the beaches of Look-A-Like Island, in a hidden cove. Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic laid in the sand, on a pile of blankets. Sunlight poured in from a natural skylight, creating a soft glow above them, but never reaching their bed. They were wondering about what they should do.

Ms. Rose laid down close to Captain Sonic, his arm resting on top of her. They should be getting ready to sleep, but they were so confused about the situation they had found themselves in, they couldn’t. Ms. Rose, more worried than confused. “What’re we supposed to do?!” She whispered frantically. “We can’t convince anyone in our own world that we didn’t kill Eggman!”

“I’m still surprised you’re just accepting this whole… alternate dimension thing.” Captain Sonic chuckled. He pulled Ms. Rose closer, until all she could see was his reassuring gaze. “Don’t worry, Amy.” He said, brushing his hand against her body. “Technically… when ya think about it… our odds are a lot better here than back home.”

Ms. Rose looked at him confused. “What d’ya mean?”

Captain Sonic sat up as best as he could. Laying Ms. Rose over his dress-shirt. “In our world,” he said, “the Crepe Suzette burned down… and all of our evidence went up in flames with it. Eggman’s missing, and we have an entire world to search for ‘im.” Captain Sonic sighed, rubbing Amy’s quills as she relaxed against his chest. “I don’t know if Eggman’s dead for real in this universe,” he said, “but here… we only have an island to investigate.”

A lot less ground t’ cover… Ms Rose thought. Compared to the whole world, at least. “You’re right…” she sighed, “when ya think about it… things are… a lot better.” Just the usual stresses of Eggman possibly being dead, and… them being accused of having something to do with it.

The policeman mentioned their names. Amy “Rosy” Rose and Sonic “Scourge” the hedgehog… were their counterparts ruthless enough to do something like that? Or were they being framed, too? Ms. Rose pondered on this question, but something kept breaking her thoughts.

Captain Sonic nodded off against their rough rock wall, shocking Ms. Rose. They did have a long night. Just now, and further ahead of them. “You can go t’ sleep.” Ms. Rose said as she climbed out of his arms.

“You’re not going to?” Captain Sonic yawned.

Ms. Rose shook her head. “I wanna talk to ‘em.” This band of Mobians, of course. If they were anything like their friends at home, they weren’t dangerous. “I’ll try t’ explain some things.” First, how they teleported to this world, next, how they clearly weren’t murderers.

Captain Sonic stiffly tried to stand. “I’ll help ya.” He said, through a sharp breath. The walk around Look-A-Like Island was a lot on his leg.

Ms. Rose gently stopped him. “You should take a break.” She whispered. “You’ve been walking all night.”

“I’d listen to her for once.” A new voice was heard in their cave. Rouge stood in the entrance, a big box in her hands. “I came here t’ check on your leg.” She told Captain Sonic.

Captain Sonic stared at her. He pulled back his pants and held out his once-broken leg, wincing as she grabbed it.

Rouge examined it closely. She looked very shocked. “What happened to your bullet wound?”

“My… what?”

“And honestly…” she leaned in close, “your blue quills and green eyes...” she touched his face as if she couldn’t believe it was there. “They’re… back?”

Captain Sonic removed her hands. “They’ve… uh… always been here.”

It looked like Rouge was already figuring things out. “Open your shirt.” She kneeled closely as Captain Sonic followed her orders. Looking at his bare chest, she felt around. “No scars.” She mumbled to herself. She glanced at Ms. Rose. “What’re you doing here?” She almost seemed agitated. “Y’know Scourge hates ya.”

This was the time for the truth. “Well…”

“Excuse me?” Knuckles had entered the cave, interrupting Ms. Rose. “Since everyone’s here, I would like to speak with you all.” He sighed sadly. “I have some… important news.”

Already, this Knuckles wasn’t all that much like the Knuckles that Ms. Rose knew. Even in his kiddie sheriff’s costume, he looked big and intimidating. His large fists protected by his spiked boxing gloves. Even after Ms. Rose’s friends befriended him, he still spoke roughly and was very quick to anger. Knuckles said that people often spread rumors of him being in some sort of gang. It was obvious why.

This Knuckles stood shyly before Captain Sonic, trying his best to avoid his eyes. He anxiously rubbed his fingers over his brass knuckles, keeping his head low. He seemed really scared. “The Master Emerald... i-it is… gone.” He said in a strained voice.

The whole room was silent. Captain Sonic shuffled in his seat. Knuckles winced, as if he were expecting something bad to happen, his fear clearly aimed at Captain Sonic, but the hedgehog sat there quietly. “What happened?” He asked simply.

Knuckles seemed confused. “You’re not going to yell at me?”

“Uh… no?”

“Or throw anything?”

“Not… really?”

The two blinked at each other for a while before Knuckles, shaking his head, shrugged it off. “I-I can explain.” He stammered.

A few nights ago, Knuckles was supposedly sitting before the Master Emerald. Watching it all through the night like he had planned to do. He had let it get stolen once, and he wasn’t going to do it again… that was his plan, at least. Something big seemed to have hit him, maybe having fallen from the sky, it knocked him unconscious.

When he woke up, his cave looked strange. The sand underneath him was disturbed, but no footprints were left behind. Only the imprint of the Master Emerald itself.

This intrigued Ms. Rose. “Let me have a look.”

“Not now, Rosy.” Knuckles said, dismissively waving his hand. He glanced at her, and instantly a look of pure rage was in his eyes. “Hey!” Knuckles yelled. “What are you doing with Tikal’s feather?!” He reached for it. “Give it back.” He growled.

“Knuckles stop!” Captain Sonic yelled, slamming his fist into the sand.

Knuckles immediately froze.

Ms. Rose hopped back. She held up her hands. “Okay, I’ll give it back.” She took the feather out of her quills and placed it in Knuckles’ hand.

“I didn’t mention that this was stolen, too.” Knuckles growled, attaching the feather to his dreads. “It’s rather bold for a pirate to walk around with their treasure.” Knuckles approached Ms. Rose until he was only a quills’ breadth away from her face. “You must’ve stolen it.” He growled. “Where’s the Master Emerald?”

“I didn’t steal it.” And honestly, I have no idea how I could have. Ms. Rose thought to herself. “I do think I have some idea of where it is though…” the Little Shop of Wonders. It was where she found Tikal’s warrior feather and where she saw the Master Emerald, but once is an accident, twice is a coincidence. If she had one more thing to connect these places together, she could prove in some way that she didn’t have anything to do with it.

Ms. Rose thankfully still had her purse. She held out her invitation and the note written on the door of the shop. Ignoring the designs and stamps, both of the papers were a clean, egg-white, sheet, typed out on a typewriter. They looked nearly identical. “Eggman must have something to do with it.” She said. “He sent me here, and to where I saw your Master Emerald. He set this up.”

Knuckles took the papers, examining them closely. “These are strange…” he said, “but they can’t be from Eggman.” He scoffed, throwing the paper on the ground. “I’ve never seen him use a typewriter. I’m not sure if he even knows how they work. All of his notes are handwritten.” Knuckles looked down at Ms. Rose, his anger not being quenched. “Stop lying. Where did you put it?”

That certainly didn’t help, especially considering how just about anybody could use a typewriter, all except for Eggman apparently! Despite this setback in her lacking of evidence, Ms. Rose was sure that Eggman must have something to do with it. She had never heard of any Master Emerald in her own world. Not since the note, or the plaque in the Little Shop of Wonders. Where else could he find a Master Emerald?

Ms. Rose stared at the typed note allowing her to take as much as she wanted from the curio shop. Perhaps someone else could have typed it for him… someone else! That’s it!

There must be missing a piece of the puzzle. A middleman, a missing link. “Well… it might not be Eggman,” Ms. Rose admitted, “but it has to be somebody else.”

“Prove it.”

“Take me to the scene of the crime.” If Ms. Rose had a good look around, she could find something to absolve her of this act, and pin it onto the proper culprit.

Knuckles stared at Ms. Rose, debating in his mind whether he should humor her. “Very well.” He sighed.

The Mobians followed Knuckles through the caves. Captain Sonic leaned in to speak. “Are you sure about this?” He whispered. “You’re an ace journalist, not a crime scene investigator.”

Ms. Rose smiled at the sly compliment. “If I can prove I didn’t steal the Master Emerald, maybe these guys might be more willing to listen to us.” It was a huge gamble, but who knew what these Mobians would do without this attempt at good will? “It also might get us closer to understanding what Eggman’s tryin’ t’ do this time.”

“Ok.” Captain Sonic sighed, holding her hand tight. “I trust you.”

Ms. Rose was enamored by the sweet gesture. Boldly, she leaned to give him a peck on the cheek. She was surprised to see Captain Sonic recoil away, again. Anxiety spiked in her chest. To her horror, Captain Sonic began to distance himself, looking away, as if the walls were far more interesting. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but they had already reached their destination.

Sunlight peaked through a hole in the ceiling, lighting the area. A makeshift altar was created out of piled up flat rocks. In the sand surrounding it, there was a large imprint in the ground close by. Ms. Rose assumed that it must be from the Master Emerald.  As Knuckles said, there were no foot prints.

Ms. Rose gestured for everyone to stand back at the cave’s entrance. She didn’t want this place to be any more disturbed than it already had been.

She crept carefully around the imprint. Clear as day, plastered into the ground, was Knuckles’ face. Just as he said, something must have fallen on top of him, forcing him into the sand and making him lose consciousness. Ms. Rose looked closely and was surprised to see that one footprint, hidden in the dark, had made it into the sand. Large and flat, like a pair of slippers or sandals. Looking more closely, she noticed a few more inklings of footprints, swiped away. Most likely made by the culprit, trying to hide their presence… although their dynamic entry must have made this step useless.

Ms. Rose saw something sticking out of the sand. She reached inside and found a long strand of purple fur. It looked familiar to her. She couldn’t remember why… until she saw the tiny prints beside it. Hopping through the sand was a tiny frog, just barely disturbing the ground underneath it. Despite its small size, its webbed feet were unmistakable.

Judging by the depth of the footprints, whoever this culprit was, had a large stature. Purple fur was littered throughout the scene and a frog constantly hopped by their side. If Ms. Rose was correct, and she knew who the culprit was, it would make the strange footprints disappearing in and out make sense. His big fluffy tail would be more than enough to sweep his tracks clean. “I have an idea of who might have stolen your Master Emerald.” Ms. Rose said.

Knuckles rolled his eyes. “Go on then. Tell me.”

“Do you know anyone by the name of ‘Big’?”

Knuckles nodded his head. “Yes. He’s wandered by our hideout before.”

“I believe he must’ve stolen it.” Specifically, Ms. Rose had a hunch, and she knew it was always a good idea to follow a hunch. She presented the purple fur, the sweeps on the ground, even the tiny prints of his pet frog. Knuckles seemed to follow along well, getting angrier as time went on.

“Of course he would.” He growled. “He’s always lookin’ for things t’ pawn off. That idiot stole my Master Emerald!” Knuckles nearly stomped away before something seemed to catch his attention. He stared at Captain Sonic. “Why are you blue again?” He looked at his still open shirt. “What happened to your scars?”

Ms. Rose meekly stepped forward. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you all about that.” Together, her and Captain Sonic attempted to explain what had happened to them. From their arrival at the strange souvenir shop, to their wake in the Omelette Lodge and up to now. It seemed like this fairytale-esque story was believable in this world. They took it fine.

Knuckles nodded. “The Master Emerald was said to be a door between worlds.” He said excitedly. “I finally have confirmation!”

Now, to get down to business. “Your friends are accused of a crime I’m sure you know they would never commit.” Ms. Rose said.

Rouge sighed, anxiously biting her gloves. “I was wondering where they were.”

“They’re hiding from the police.” Knuckles said.

Captain Sonic looked between the two of them. “You didn’t think there was anything odd about what happened at the Omelette Lodge?” He said.

Knuckles shook his head. “We’re not exactly well-liked around here.”

Rouge shrugged. “A shootout with the cops is just another Tuesday for us.” Her eyes immediately shot open. “But we would never kill!” She added. “Especially not Eggman.” She sighed. “We take what we want, not people’s lives.”

Knuckles nodded his head. “He can be annoying at times… but I don’t think any of us would wish death on him.”

Ms. Rose breathed a sigh of relief. Her friends were somewhat recognizable in these alternate forms. Just as she thought, they would never kill Dr. Eggman. “I want t’ bring down whoever’s done this, but I’ll need your help.” First they had to learn who Big sold the Master Emerald to. Next, find the scene of the crime. Naturally, the culprit would be revealed.

Knuckles closed his eyes to think. “Should we find the real Rosy and Scourge?” He muttered.

“They’ll be fine.” A new voice said. Everyone turned to the cave’s entrance. A black hedgehog with red stripes stood before them. Ms. Rose recognized him as the locksmith of the Crepe Suzette. Shadow. Here, he must be known as someone else.

He looked tired and often rubbed his eyes. Could it be the same thing he was afflicted with that one moment in time? Ms. Rose took out her purse and handed a bottle of eyedrops to Shadow. “You look like you could use these.”

Shadow sighed gratefully. “Thank you.” He said. “I’ve been picking locks all night. I haven’t had a chance to rest my eyes.”

Ms. Rose stared at him as he dropped the solution into his eyes. He was a locksmith alright. He had a large ring of “keys” at his hip that all looked homemade. Lockpicks. Giving him easy access to the houses he chose to raid. Ms. Rose was given back the bottle. She hoped that it didn’t make her an accessory to his crimes that night.

“As i was saying,” Shadow continued, “Rosy and Scourge are fine. They’re heading to Indigo Cove.”

“Fine?” Rouge scoffed. “How is walking straight into enemy territory, fine?”

“You’re so childish.” Shadow scoffed back. He walked around the empty altar, settling on the stone steps. “Sally and her friends aren’t the enemy.” He basked on the warm rocks. “Cubot is.”

“Cubot?!” Rouge and Knuckles yelled.

Shadow nodded his head. “I don’t know how, or why, but he’s framed Scourge and Rosy for murder.” Shadow looked up at Ms. Rose, nodding approvingly. “I’m glad that we have an expert detective on our side.”

Ms. Rose stared, her face burning bright. Captain Sonic cleared his throat, gaining everyone’s attention. “We can get to investigatin’ later.” He said. “We’ve been up all night running from the police, and it looks like you’ve been up pretty late, too.”

Shadow nodded his head. “We should all get some rest.” He looked up at the ceiling. “It’ll be easier to hide under the cover of night anyway.”

Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic left along with the rest of the Mobians. Walking through the tunnel led Ms. Rose back to that moment before her mini-investigation. When Captain Sonic pushed her away. “I want t’ talk.” She whispered. “About… everything.” She couldn’t stand the secrecy much longer. She needed answers.

A hidden lagoon seemed fairly private. It was a perfect place, for that conversation of vulnerability.

Captain Sonic nodded quietly. He seemed to understand where this conversation was headed.

They sat together on their pile of blankets, but Captain Sonic didn’t speak. He stared at his hands, rubbing them against his leg. Ms. Rose filled the empty space with her hand. She didn’t know why he wouldn’t speak, but she wanted him to know that he could. “It’s okay.” She said. “I’m listening.”

Captain Sonic sighed. “I think… I should talk about my old friends.” He started hesitantly. “I feel like… you should know.”

When Captain Sonic was young, he used to live in a small, rural town known as Knothole. His friends used to have a secret club they held dear. The Freedom Fighters.

Who were they trying to free? Kids from their responsibilities… mostly, by helping them out.

They used to paint fences, trim lawns, clean out garages, all so that the kids could play all day and hardly have to do any work. One of Captain Sonic’s friends, Sally Acorn was fairly important to Knothole. Her parents practically ran the place, and they were very impressed with their ‘Freedom Fighting’. As they got older, it became something special.

Captain Sonic was often put together with Sally to lead missions, cleaning up their home, and helping with expansions. Over time, they seemed to grow a fondness over each other. Captain Sonic, on top of all of the other sports he played, he joined the cheerleading squad, just to have an excuse to talk to her outside of ‘work’.

Unfortunately, Captain Sonic’s uncle had gotten sick, and his mother planned to move so that they could help take care of him. She wasn’t planning on coming back anytime soon… or at all, saying something about there being ‘less opportunities’ for him.

Captain Sonic and Sally’s relationship was cut short.

It hurt. A lot. Knowing that they would never see each other again. Especially after all they worked for, but Sally was certain that they would meet in the future.

Captain Sonic would’ve rather they hadn’t.

He did see her.

One last time.

Captain Sonic’s eyes began to glisten. He struggled to even his breath. Ms. Rose hugged him tight, letting his tears catch on her shoulder.

“Ya remember… the fire… right?” He choked quietly.

Ms. Rose nodded her head. The one his mother tried to scrub away from his history.

Captain Sonic grasped onto Ms. Rose, his sniffing filling her ears. “I helped… a lot.” He sighed. “But… I wasn’t able t’ save everyone.”

After the blaze that took over West Green Hill, a great memorial was placed in the center of their town. Captain Sonic, for his bravery and dedication to help West Green Hill as much as he could… he was invited to read the names of the lives lost in the fire. He struggled through most, as they were neighbors he had known.

He was horrified to see Sally’s name written there as well.

“Why was she there?” Ms. Rose breathed.

“I think… she was tryin’ t’ visit me.” Captain Sonic sobbed. “I… I-I think I… heard… her.”

When the out-of-nowhere fire blazed through, Captain Sonic ran through his town, rescuing anyone he could. During his route, he could’ve sworn he heard Sally calling his name. He looked around, but he couldn’t see through the flames. Eventually, the smoke started tearing through his lungs, the heat was too much, he had to leave. He couldn’t find her… he decided… that he must’ve been hearing things.

Captain Sonic removed himself from Ms. Rose, sitting pitifully before her. “Sally’s funeral… was the last time… or the last chance I could’ve had to meet everyone.” He sighed heavily, anxiously pulling on his gloves. “My mom went… I stayed home.” He couldn’t imagine showing himself in Knothole, knowing that Sally’s death was his fault.

“If I just stayed and listened… maybe Sally would still be here.” Captain Sonic sniffed. “It’s my fault… she’s dead. I should’ve… stayed...”

Captain Sonic’s head began to sway. He looked dizzy. Before his head fell back, Ms. Rose caught him. “Sonic, ya need t’ breathe.” Ms. Rose could hear his heart racing. His chest shook irregularly. She laid Captain Sonic against her, guiding his hands around her back until they seemed to settle there on their own. “Follow me.” She whispered into his ear. She took deep breaths, aware of his breath passing over her quills, following her rhythm. She rubbed her hands against his back, disturbing his quills. “You’re doin’ great.” Once he was more stable, she would try to give him more room.

Ms. Rose understood his desperate attempt to keep things secret. Just mentioning Sally’s name put a tight grip around his chest. He couldn’t talk about his friends. He must be so ashamed, believing he abandoned them.

Captain Sonic was never seen alone, especially when thinking about his crew, but honestly, this was the first moment Ms. Rose had noticed he had no real friends of his own. Everyone in Knothole must have grieved for Sally, but here, Captain Sonic was wading around in this darkness… alone.

“It’s okay.” Ms. Rose whispered into his ear. “I-it’s not your fault. You couldn’t’ve known.”

Captain Sonic sighed, his breath now even. “I wasn’t… trying t’ hide… Bunnie and Sally… or anyone from you.” Captain Sonic sniffed. “I-it just… hurts so much t’… talk about it.”

“I understand… it’s okay.” Ms Rose said. “I’m sorry if I pushed you—.”

“It’s alright.” Captain Sonic interrupted. “I just… felt like I should.”

Captain Sonic took a deep breath, pressing his hand against his head to ease a headache. It seemed a weight was lifted from his shoulders.

As the cave quieted down, Ms. Rose thought about the moment they stepped into Knuckles’ cave. When Captain Sonic pushed himself away. “Is there… a reason ya couldn’t… kiss me?” She asked. It felt like a ridiculous question, especially after a moment like this, but the small distraction seemed to brighten Captain Sonic’s mood.

Captain Sonic chuckled, wiping the tears from his own eyes. “That one’s… a little easier.” He said. “I just… don’t like ‘em as much.” He wrapped his arms around Ms. Rose. His sigh disturbing her quills. “When we’re walkin’ through the park… I love the way your hand feels in mine. The weight on my chest, with you snoozin’ away on the grass with me.” Captain Sonic pulled himself away, his eyes filled with so much love for the rosy-pink hedgehog before him. “I just… like your hugs a lot more. You’re the best at givin’ ‘em.”

Ms. Rose was flattered to hear such high praise. She nestled her head in his shoulder. “I like you.” She said. “You’re… simple. A-and I don’t mean stupid.” She felt the need to quickly readjust her statement. “I like it… when ya speak exactly what’s on your mind. I don’t have t’ think as much… it’s kinda relaxing.” Ms. Rose chuckled. “Am I makin’ sense?”

Captain Sonic laid them both over their blankets. “Nah… I get it.” He said, planting his head above Ms. Rose. “I feel the same way about you.” He relaxed his hand over her back, acting as a barrier between her and the cold of this cave. “Thanks… for listenin’.” He sighed. “I… was worried it might be a bit too much for you… I… still don’t know how t’… talk about it. In a… y’know… normal… way.”

Ms. Rose understood perfectly. It seemed like this old memory was still a fresh wound in his mind. “It’s a good start.” She said. “You did great.”

“Earlier, with the kissing… I wasn’t tryin’ t’ avoid ya.” Captain Sonic continued. “I guess… I didn’t realize how close we were gettin’. I didn’t have enough time to explain.” He chuckled to himself. “My mom used t’ say I was pretty bad at that… probably should’ve taken her advice.”

“What was it?”

Captain Sonic threw on a voice, mimicking his mother. “First moment ya step through her door, “I don’t like kissin’.” There! It’s that easy!” He laughed.

Ms. Rose laughed along with him. “She seems… very straightforward.” She chuckled.

Nestled closely together, Ms. Rose and Captain Sonic fell asleep in each other’s arms. Ms. Rose, not only happy that they had plans towards their investigation, but mostly that it seemed like there were no more barriers between her and her potential significant other. Each exhale from Captain Sonic felt like a collection of sighs. Relief from that weight on his chest melting away. Ms. Rose added onto that ease. She pulled the blanket over them more closely, cozying up even more.

The last thought on her mind as the sounds of Captain Sonic’s snoring faded away were his words of their acts of affection.

When we’re walkin’ through the park… I love the way your hand feels in mine. The weight on my chest, with you snoozin’ away on the grass with me… I just… like your hugs a lot more.

You’re the best at givin’ ‘em.

Chapter Text

Rosy ran through the jungle, she had to find someone who could help Scourge, quick.

The morning she came to collect Scourge to continue on their journey, she noticed his face was really hot. His breathing was so ragged. It sounded so uncomfortable. She hoped that it was just his usual coughs after a good smoke. That he was just sleeping, but now, he hardly reacted to her voice, and it wasn’t his usual brand of ignoring. Scourge was sick. Really sick.

Could it possibly have to do with him sleeping outside? Was it infection? Rosy couldn’t bear to look at his leg. She had to find someone who could. She saw the jungle’s edge, and immediately burst through. On the beach, Rosy saw two rabbits standing by the shore. The bigger one held a fishing rod up, a bucket close by her. The smaller one, likely their kid sifted through the sand, picking up seashells and sand dollars, placing them into a bucket of their own. They both wore sun hats made of straw and wore torn-apart dresses, likely thrown out by wasteful tourists.

Parents always did their best to make sure their kids survived on this island. They always had proper sleeping areas, food sources… they might even know how to heal. Which made it even harder for Rosy to work up the courage to ask. They had all of those things… and they must be very protective of it. They would be more than wary to take in two strange Mobians.

Scourge groaned painfully, grasping weakly at Rosy’s dress. Rosy quickly placed him on the ground. The sweat underneath his fur did nothing against the thick wave of heat coming off of him. Rosy removed his jacket to try to keep him as cool as possible. She wrapped it around until it made a great pillow. “I’ll get ya some help.” Rosy whispered through his raspy breath.

She stepped out from the bushes, looking as pitiful as she could. The moment the rabbits caught sight of her, they gathered close together. The small rabbit held on to the big rabbit’s dress made of rags. “What do you want?” The big rabbit yelledi. Her voice was small, but it didn’t make Rosy any less worried.

“I… didn’t want t’ disturb you.”

“Well… you already have.” The big rabbit said. Her speech was so elegant, compared to her looks.

Rosy threw on the waterworks. Most of it was simply to tug at this rabbit’s heartstrings, but a small part of her was becoming aware of how much had happened over the last few days. Herself and Scourge were accused of murder. They knew they couldn’t prove they didn’t do anything, the police wanted them off of their beautiful streets and if that meant jail, perhaps even death, they would stop at nothing to take them.

Now, Scourge was sick, it could be his leg and Rosy had no idea what to do about it. She started her fake tears for manipulation, but they quickly became real. “Please…” Rosy sniffed, “I need help.” She choked. She held her arms close to stop her shaking. She didn’t want to admit that she was scared. It just made you look weak to others, but not in a sly way. It just made you seem naive. To even think those people would help you…

The big rabbit, looked down at her daughter. She kneeled down and spoke to her. “Cream, could you take the fish bucket back home? I need to talk to this young lady.”

Cream nodded her head. “Okay, mother.” Sand was kicked up as Cream eagerly ran away. She picked up the big bucket of fish and dragged it away to their home.

The two stared after her until their attention was immediately brought to the loud groans coming from the bushes. Rosy ran to Scourge. He somehow looked even worse than she last saw him. He held his leg up, pressing his hands against the ground, toiling feebly. “R-Ros-y.” He hacked out. “Help…”

“I’m tryin’ to.” Rosy whispered desperately. She spoke to him, but Scourge still acted as if she weren’t there. Even when he was calling for her, delirious with fever and pain, it felt like he was ignoring her. “Scourgey…?” Rosy sniffed.

The big rabbit appeared beside Rosy. She gently pushed her out of the way and approached Scourge. Scourge must have noticed that someone new was here. He flinched away, as she touched his face, but the big rabbit continued to examine him. “Signs of a Wolverine attack…” Rosy heard her say under her breath, “scars look old. Fever…” she pointed to Scourge’s leg. “Is that a bullet wound?”

Rosy nodded her head. She was worried if she spoke, she might ruin something.

The big rabbit held her nose, her face curling in disgust. “Did you clean it with… vodka?”

“It’s the only thing we had.” Rosy insisted.

The big rabbit sighed. “I have a place he can rest— and get proper treatment.” She added the last part quickly, picking up Scourge and carrying him away. “You can call me Vanilla.” The big rabbit said.

Rosy came to her side. “I’m Rosy. That’s Scourgey— I-I mean Scourge.”

Vanilla led Rosy and Scourge to a cave stuck inside a wall beside the beach. It was large, and naturally hollowed out by the weather. Plenty of blankets and cushions were placed on the ground. Vanilla placed Scourge someplace off to the side.

Rosy could hear footsteps. A small fox with two tails emerged through the cave’s tunnel. He froze, staring between the newcomers. “Vanilla…?”

Vanilla turned around. “Tails? I’m glad to see you.” She laid Scourge on the bed. “I need you to keep Cream far away from this cave for a while.” She said. “You can play on the beach, while I focus on this.”

Tails glanced over at the newcomers. He hesitantly nodded his head. “Okay.”

As soon as Tails’ footsteps faded away. Vanilla turned to remove Scourge’s bandages. To everyone’s relief, it didn’t look infected. Vanilla took out a bucket of water and some rags. “Keep him still while I wash his wound.”

Rosy nodded. She pressed her hands against his body, but it didn’t look as if she really needed to. Scourge was so weak, he hardly reacted other than the odd flinch and gasp. By the time Vanilla was done, Rosy was trembling just about as much as Scourge was. Usually, a scream was a good way to know where the problem was. It wasn’t good to be this quiet, right?

After dabbing his wound dry, Vanilla put some kind of ointment onto the wound and closed the bandage up tight. “Now, let’s deal with that fever.” Vanilla sighed. She had Rosy help her get a fire started outside. She placed a kettle full of water over it and they waited for the water to boil. It looked like Vanilla was about to make some tea. As the water slowly steamed, bringing out her tea leaves, she was very open to some small talk. “What brings you here?” She asked.

Rosy wasn’t sure if she could tell her that they were on the run from the police. The moment she knew, she would drive them away. “We… got caught up in something bad.” That wasn’t entirely a lie.

“You’ll have to tell me at some point.” Vanilla said. “I can’t stowaway potential fugitives for long.”

Rosy began to sweat. “Yeah…”

“That’s ‘yes, ma’am’ if you want me to ignore your little lie.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Rosy yelled.

Vanilla chuckled. She placed her hand on Rosy’s shoulder. “Don’t worry.” She said. “I know how hard it can be.” She sighed. “Running away.” She poked at the fire with a long piece of iron. “You’re better off stayin’ by your beach.”

Rosy shook her head. “We don’t… have one.” She wasn’t sure if their hideout would count as much as a proper territory… but she was beginning to miss the natural skylight in their cave’s ceilings. Rosy wanted to change the subject. “Did you run away?” She asked. There was something about Vanilla that felt like she didn’t really belong here.

“You could say that.”

Many years ago, Vanilla was one of the first line of Lookalikes set to serve on this island. She worked for a wealthy Mobian, wanting to grow his wealth alongside Dr. Eggman. She was taught the ‘proper’ way to speak, etiquette, how to carry yourself with beauty and grace. It wasn’t long before she had caught the eye of this Mobian’s son.

They fell in love. Spending their days together, exploring Look-A-Like Island… and got really close. Once Vanilla learned she was pregnant, she was more than happy to spend the rest of her life with her love… but his father did not approve of their relationship.

Her love was given an ultimatum. Life in their beautiful mansion, or life on the streets with the ‘love of his life’. It seemed that their love wasn’t as strong as she thought. She spent a while wandering around Look-A-Like Island.

Vanilla sighed, thinking back. “I was terrified.” She breathed. “Having a baby isn’t really easy on your own… I’m glad Sally and hef father took me in and gave me the help I needed.”

Rosy rolled her eyes. While Vanilla’s story was touching, any mention of Sally spoiled the mood. She can’t be that great. She took her relationship with Scourge for granted. She took someone like Vanilla in, but of course she would kick Scourge out. He wasn’t pretty like the other Lookalikes. He was too rough around the edges. She couldn’t handle him.

“Where are you two headed?” Vanilla asked again.

Rosy’s sour thoughts were interrupted. “Indigo Cove.” She huffed.

Vanilla nodded her head, ignoring her attitude. “Somewhere no one can find you.” She remarked.

Rosy’s ear twitched. She heard coughing on the other side of the tunnel. “R-Rosy?” A voice echoed through.

Scourge must be waking up behind Rosy. “Scourgey?” Her voice echoed back. Even though she promised Shadow she would give him more space, she quickly ran through to his side.

Scourge blearily looked up at Rosy. “Rosy? Where are we?” He coughed. “And why aren’t we movin’?”

“You’re sick!” Rosy cried. “Really sick.”

“Th-the cops—“

Rosy growled angrily. “You listen here Scourgey!” She yelled. “I know… ya don’t like me… and ya never wanna listen t’ me… and ya think I’m annoyin’… but no matter what you think, I do care about you.” More than that dumb squirrel… Rosy added to herself. “You’re sick. Your leg hurts and we shouldn’t move it. Vanilla says ya need rest and you’re gonna get it. Capiche?”

Scourge glared at her, clearly about to shoot a scathing response. To anyone’s surprise, he relaxed and sighed, his gaze softening. “Alright…” he rasped, “I get it.” He stiffly felt around, beside him. “Where’s my jacket?” He coughed.

Rosy brought it to him. “Right here.” Scourge tried to sit up and reach over for it, but he was very uncoordinated at the moment. “Let me help ya.” Rosy chuckled. She slipped his arms through the sleeves straightened the leather over his quills, and pulled them through the holes he cut out. Scourge did his best to move the jacket over his scars. “What’re ya doin’?” Rosy asked.

“Tryin’ t’ hide my scars.” Scourge said. He glanced over at where Vanilla once was. “A lady like her’s gonna be uncomfortable around ‘em. She’ll probably throw us out—“

“Relax.” Vanilla said, holding a cup of hot herbal tea. “I’ve already seen enough.” She placed the cup down to cool. “I know a bullet wound when I see one, and those scars are from a wolverine attack.” Vanilla put on an exaggerated thinking expression. “I would say… the police aren’t very fond of you.”

Scourge stared at her.

Vanilla continued. “Don’t worry, I’ll let ya stay until your temperature goes down.” She sighed. “You understand how I can’t put those two in danger.”

Rosy nodded.

“I know…” Scourge sighed, surprisingly thoughtful. “It’s hard…. Livin’ out here.”

Vanilla placed a new pillow under Scourge’s head. “You look like you’ve lasted awhile.” She sighed. “I’m not as happy about your circumstances… but it does give me some hope for those two.”

Look-A-Like Island wasn’t the best place for anyone, let alone children. Sometimes, tourists might pick up the locals.

Adoption, or marriage… those were seen as the only way out of this terrible place. Scourge sighed, staring up at the rock ceiling. “I’m sure some rich guy out there would like your daughter or your son.” He mumbled. “They like ‘em when they’re cute.”

Vanilla seemed hurt by these words. “If I can, I would like to keep us together.”

Scourge shrugged. “You’re pretty, too.” He said. “Things don’t change as much.”

Rosy heard frantic footsteps running through the tunnel. It was the yellow fox, Tails. “Vanilla!” He cried.

Vanilla hurried to him. “What’s wrong?”

“Vector’s here.” Tails said as he caught his breath. “He’s askin’ about two missing hedgehogs he’s lookin’ for.” He said, staring accusingly at Scourge and Rosy.

Vanilla glanced back at Rosy. Her heart nearly stopped. Vanilla couldn’t drop them. “You said we could wait ‘til he got better.” Rosy whined. “Ya can’t rat us—“

“I wasn’t lying.” Vanilla interrupted, already wiping away her tears. “Vector… is a detective… but he’s nice. If you need help, he’ll give it to you”

Vanilla carried on through the tunnel, leaving Tails behind. He stared curiously at the runaways, approaching Scourge. The old gangster glared at him. “Careful now.” He growled. “Your mom probably wouldn’t want you gettin’ mixed up with a crowd like us.” He chuckled. “It’s better if ya just ignore us.”

Tails sat down. “I can do what I want.” He said, crossing his arms. “Vanilla isn’t my mom. She can’t tell me what to do.”

“Ya seemed pretty obedient earlier.”

Tails blushed. “I was… just bein’ nice.” He said awkwardly. “Other than that, I fly by the beat of my own drum.” He flourished his tails around. This kid definitely thought of himself as mature, but he was clearly just a kid. He leaned in closer, making sure Vanilla couldn’t hear him. “I wanna join you guys.” He whispered.

Scourge sighed. “Kid…” he rasped, “ya don’t understand how good you got it.”

Tails looked upset. “But I don’t wanna get adopted by one of those rich weirdoes.” He whined. “I wanna stay here. I can’t do that if I stay with Vanilla.”

Scourge stared at the young fox, looking exhausted. “Rosy.” He croaked. “Tell this kid he can’t come with us.”

Rosy was happy to get a job from Scourge. “Ya heard ‘im.” She said roughly. “Beat it.”

Tails looked around Rosy. Completely ignoring her, he spoke to Scourge. “Why?” He growled.

Rosy scoffed. The nerve of this kid. She repositioned herself in front of Tails’ line of sight. “We don’t have food, a place t’ sleep…” she listed, “people… who really care about us…” Rosy’s mind trailed off. They really were in a rough patch. She shook her head, continuing her rant. “Scourgey’s right, ya don’t understand how good ya got it.” She sighed. “You’re better off… if ya stay here.”

“Scourgey?” Tails scoffed. He shook his head, completely dismissing Rosy’s words. “I’m comin’ with ya, and there’s nothin’ you can do t’ stop me.” He insisted.

Rosy growled. “You listen here, ya little—“

Vanilla entered the room, putting the conversation on hold for later. Rosy shuffled away, as she sat beside Scourge. “Vector will come back in a few days to drive you the rest of the way to Indigo Cove.” She placed a blanket over Scourge. “He’ll give you as much time as possible to recover.”

“Thanks.” Scourge mumbled.

Rosy was surprised to hear him offer gratitude. She thought he believed it was beneath him.

“I know it’s pretty bright outside, but you should sleep.” Vanilla told Scourge. “It would also be nice if you finished that tea. It should help.” She looked at Rosy. “I need your help with something.”

Rosy was dragged away as Scourge stiffly sat up to sip his tea, still glaring at Tails, sitting close by.

Vanilla took Rosy straight out of the cave and into the jungle. They walked for a while before Rosy started smelling something sweet. Following a specific path, Vanilla led her to an orchard of trees. Oranges grew from them.

They were close to another rich, summer home, so Vanilla was quiet. “Help me pick these.” She whispered.

Rosy followed her. “What are these for?”

“Vitamin C.” Vanilla whispered back. “It’s not the best for Scourge’s fever, but it will help.”

Rosy quietly picked the fruit, but soon, the oranges were the last thing on her mind. Just past a gate that led to this orchard, a small glass table held something, an ashtray beside it. Rosy paused from her picking, holding the oranges in her skirt, and ran through the unnaturally green grass. Just as she thought. Beside the ashtray was a box of cigars. Scourge (and Dr. Eggman’s) favorite brand!

She reached over and took one… then another. Something close to her clicked. A door swung open.

“Hey!” Someone called out. “What are you doing here?!”

Rosy ran away, shoving the cigars, and a lighter, in her pocket. She nearly dropped all of her oranges.

“Rosy?”

“Someone saw me!” Rosy gasped. “We have t’ get outta here!”

Vanilla gathered the oranges in her skirt and ran after Rosy. They both jumped into the bushes. Rosy tripped. A sharp pain shot up her leg as she fell. She dropped all of her oranges, holding onto her leg. What had happened?

Rosy saw blood trickling from a wound. She landed on a callously thrown glass bottle. “Ow…” she hissed.

Vanilla took one look at her leg. “Can you walk?” She asked.

Rosy stood up. Her legs still shook from the shock, but she could still walk. She nodded her head. “It still hurts though.”

Vanilla wrapped Rosy’s arm around herself, supporting her. “I can treat it when we get back. Just hurry.”

Rosy and Vanilla limped back to their cave. Rosy had dropped most of her stolen oranges, and was now hurt, but she was happy, despite the circumstances. She had found cigars and even a lighter for Scourge to smoke. They would help calm him down in times of crisis.

He would be grateful for this thoughtful act, perhaps finally understanding her love for him.

Rosy struggled to focus between swooning over love and running away from the tourist. She hardly thought about her hurt leg.

                                             >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Scourge felt something touch his leg.

He blinked open his eyes, fever still bearing down on him. He saw a shadowy figure crawling along the ground. With its pointed snout and pointy ears, it was obvious what was stalking him.

A wolverine.

A wolverine was here!

“Get away from me!” Scourge growled. He shot his leg out, kicking as hard as he could. He was surprised at how light it was, considering his first attack that nearly killed him. He heard a gasp as it hit the wall away from him.

“Ow…”

Wolverines… don’t talk.

Scourge, through his painful gasping, tried to focus his eyes. He hadn’t kicked one of those beady eyed monsters. He kicked Tails. At first he was frightened, then he was overcome with rage. “I thought I told you t’ stay away from me!”

“Scourgey!” Rosy cried. She struggled to keep him away from the young fox.

The whole room was waking up, slowly becoming aware of his sudden attack on the poor fox. The weight in the room closed around his chest. Vanilla wouldn’t keep them now. He watched Tails struggle to crawl away. He might have hurt his leg.

Rosy took Scourge’s arm, taking him away. “Rosy!” Scourge yelled, but she didn’t stop. On top of his fever, and the pain in his leg, he could hardly keep up with her. Once they made it out of the cave, Scourge tore Rosy away. “Rosy! Stop!”

Rosy gasped, falling on the ground. After a long, drawn out silence, he heard sniffs. Rosy was crying.

Scourge didn’t care. “What do ya think you’re…” he could see Rosy’s leg under her skirt. A bandage was tied around0, a spot of red formed on it. “R-Rosy?” Scourge breathed. “What’s wrong?”

Rosy sat on the ground, her knees pulled close to her. Tears flowed from her eyes as she continued to cry. “I-I was just tryin’ t’ help.” She hiccuped.

Scourge stared at her. Did he do that? He didn’t push her that hard… did he? His gaze was pulled towards Vanilla’s cave. Vanilla stomped through the tunnel. She definitely didn’t look happy.

Vanilla grabbed onto Scourge’s jacket. “Why did you hurt him?”

She was clearly talking about Tails. Scourge wasn’t sure how to respond. If he answered truthfully, he would surely be called crazy. Scourge ripped himself from Vanilla. “I told ‘im not t’ go near me!” Scourge turned to Rosy. “We’re leaving.”

Before he could grab Rosy, Vanilla grabbed him again. “I’m not done with you! Why did you hurt Tails?!”

Scourge found it hard to breathe, tears flowed from his eyes as he thought of what happened only a moment ago. He hated this, why couldn’t he control himself? “I-I thought… he was a wolverine.” Really, he didn’t think. He didn’t believe he had the time to. That night when he was killed, it took only one moment for the wolverines to overwhelm him. The biting, the scratching, the tearing, the smell of his own blood. He hated that he knew what it was like to die, and in such a terrible way, too.

He didn’t want to die.

He attacked before the wolverine could get him.

In his depressed stupor, he just barely noticed Tails hobbling his way out of the cave, hardly moving his other leg. Vanilla noticed him, too. “Tails, go back inside.” She whispered sharply.

He glared up at Scourge. “I’m not afraid of ‘im!” He yelled.

“Tails—“

“Ya should be!” Scourge yelled back. He didn’t care that he was yelling at the child he just attacked. He knew that what he did was irredeemable, so why even try? “I told ya not t’ come near me!” Scourge growled. “Next time, it won’t be an accident.”

That threat was the last straw for Vanilla. “Tails. Get back inside, now!”

Tails hesitated. Another moment of defiance.

Vanilla turned her head, giving him a look that could kill.

Tails shrunk away, grumbling to himself, limping back inside the cave.

Scourge turned to Rosy, about to let her know that they were leaving. He saw the blood on her bandage again. “What happened to her leg?” He asked Vanilla. He knew she wasn’t obligated to answer, but he felt like he could at least try.

“She hurt herself.” Vanilla said curtly. “Trying to steal that… bad habit of yours for you.”

Bad habit? Scourge felt something tug on the sleeve of his jacket. It was Rosy. He looked down at her. She held out her hands. Inside was a large cigar, his favorite brand, and a lighter. “I couldn’t get that thing ya use t’ cut it.” Rosy hiccuped. “But… I-I know sometimes ya just bite the tip off.”

Scourge hesitantly took Rosy’s gift.

Vanilla sighed, exasperated. “Do you know why she would risk her life to get that?”

Scourge took a wavering breath. “I-it helps calm me down.” Looking at his shaking hand, it looked like he needed it. It was obvious to Scourge. Rosy risked her life. She got hurt… for him. This ‘bad habit…’ was an act of love.

“There’s a cave near here.” Vanilla said. “You’ll be sleeping in there.”

“You’re still lettin’ me stay?” Scourge assumed she wouldn’t want him around… at all.

“Just not here.” Vanilla sighed. “I said you can stay until you heal up. I wasn’t lying…” Vanilla walked up to Scourge, a menacing aura followed her, “but if you threaten Tails, or harm a single hair on my daughter’s head… I wil do so much more than just ‘make you leave’.”

Fair enough. Scourge let Vanilla take his arm and guide him away. “Are ya gonna treat Rosy?”

“Later.” Vanilla answered. “I have to deal with you first.”

Vanilla began to take him away. She was stopped by Rosy. “Wait!” She cried. “Don’t take ‘im away from me.”

Vanilla stared, bewildered at her as Rosy came to Scourge’s side. Then she carried on. “You can follow…” she said, “but if you choose to stay with him, you can’t come back either.”

Rosy nodded her head. “Okay.” She said brightly. It was as if that stint in their relationship had… never even happened. “Can I take some blankets?”

Vanilla sighed. “Two. One for each of you.”

Rosy limped back into the cave and came out with the blankets. They all silently walked to the new cave. Seaweed and rocks littered the ground. It looked like it hadn’t been touched in centuries… but until Scourge recovered, it would be their home.

Vanilla left them alone.

Scourge sat on the itchy sand. Rosy stood close beside him. He didn’t yell at her to leave.

Scourge bit off the tip of his cigar and lit it up quickly. He puffed large plumes of smoke as Rosy cleaned up their sleeping space. Scourge tapped his foot, rubbing his hands, doing anything to ease his anxiety. While he was lost in thought, suddenly, Rosy wrapped her arms around him from behind.

Scourge reached for her arm, about to remove her, but he changed his behavior.

“What are you doing here?” Scourge asked instead. He really didn’t understand. Why hadn’t she left by now?

“It’s cold out here.” Rosy said as she sighed. “It’d feel nicer if we were closer.”

“I hurt people…” Scourge said, “when they get too close.” He stared at her, he noticed her pointy ears, her snout was short, but it was still possible he could be convinced… “what if I mistake you for a wolverine, too?”

Rosy giggled, grasping onto his head and pulling him closer. “Could a wolverine do this?” Braving through the smoke, she planted her lips firmly onto his. She leaned against him, unable to support herself with her leg. Scourge sat her onto his lap.

Rosy pulled back. She held onto him, her fingers brushing through his quills. Her eyes glittered in the moonlight, taking Scourge’s breath away. He realized, he hadn’t felt this way in a long time.

Not since Sally… Scourge shook his head. He really had to realize that he couldn’t have her. Rosy was right here. She didn’t leave. She wouldn’t leave. She all but refused to… she sacrificed so much for him, and only for a tiny amount of praise.

Just like a lovesick puppy… he’d kick her… and she came back up as if nothing had happened.

Now… he didn’t exactly hate that.

For so long, all he did was push people away. Rosy was the only one to stay. When he left Sally’s gang, and even now. She gave him so many chances, one might even say much, much too many. He wasn’t going to lose her now. As Rosy sighed, falling asleep with her arms still wrapped around him, Scourge snuffed out his cigar in the sand, and laid down with her. He wrapped their two blankets around tight, so that she wouldn’t fall out of his arms.

He placed his hand on her back, rubbing his hand against her fur. She sighed once again, nestling into his chest. Scourge chuckled to himself as he stared up at the rocky ceiling.

This was the first time in a long time he had a lady holding on tight to him.

                                             >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Rosy sighed happily. Scourge was finally starting to realize. That she was the only one for her.

Rosy, What’s wrong?

What happened to her leg?

Are ya gonna treat Rosy?

It was obvious he was worried about her. She wrapped her arms around him and he didn’t push her away. She boldly kissed him, and he nearly begged for more. Right now, her arms were wrapped around him once more… and his hand rubbed against her back. He was so warm, much warmer than Shadow… although… that could be because of his fever.

Rosy was in-love for so long, and finally the love of her life was responding to her!