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This wasn’t supposed to happen. She had been trained since childhood to avoid any kind of distraction, had worked so hard to fulfill her assigned role—only to fall to such an unusual temptation.
What was this? That which made the powerful guardian and princess feel like she was failing so miserably? The answer was simple—it had a name, and that name was Silver the Hedgehog.
Why him? Easy. That individual had shamelessly conquered her heart, like an army mercilessly invading a kingdom.
This feeling was a distraction, one she could not afford. She had a commitment she must not forget: to keep her focus on the peace of her kingdom. Yet, she could not stop her heart from pounding like a drum, her muzzle from turning crimson, or her palms from sweating excessively.
She felt it—and oh, did she feel it.
She tried to avoid it, to suppress those emotions, to bury them as deep as possible. But every time she saw him again or heard of him, they returned as strong as ever—or even worse.
She tried not to think of those eyes—so bright and dazzling, as if bathed in the purest gold ever created, always transmitting an intensity in everything he set his mind to.
She tried not to think of his abundant fur, that ridiculously fluffy area that could put the finest pillow to shame. All it took was once (a complete accident, of course) for her to touch that overwhelming softness, confirming her suspicion. It wasn’t as if she thought about touching it again, or using him as a pillow… That would be utterly indecent.
She tried not to think of his boundless determination, of how he gave every part of himself to protect his world. Pain, struggle, circumstance—none of it mattered. He always kept hope burning, like a light refusing to be drowned in a sea of darkness, always defying destiny.
And of course, she tried not to think of his innocence—his intentions so pure, his unshakable belief in the impossible. His knowledge of the world was so limited, as if he were just as new to this dimension as she was. He was so easy to read, from the droop of his quills when he was exhausted to his dazzling smile when he was happy.
She hated how she lost control whenever he was near. Since she was young, she had trained to always stay calm, efficient, calculating. Years of practice where she poured her heart and mind, facing all kinds of evils and risking her life. All that… only to realize she couldn’t deal with her own feelings?! It felt like some cruel joke.
More than once, she had accidentally set something on fire just by imagining a possible relationship with the naïve hedgehog. She felt ridiculous even considering it. That sort of thing was expected of Amy, not her. What would they be like as a couple? What would be the pros and cons of their relationship? Did he even see her as more than a friend? More and more questions filled her mind, like a nest of wasps buzzing loudly in her skull.
If there was one thing she had learned in Sonic’s dimension, it was that it was okay to ask for help, that she wasn’t alone, that she could trust others. Of course… this situation embarrassed her deeply.
Right now, she had reached out to one of her best friends—someone who had self-proclaimed herself as an expert in love. Someone completely trustworthy. They had agreed on a time and place to meet. That friend was Amy Rose.
Amy had quite a long history with Sonic, where more than once the famous adventurer showed something beyond friendship with her. Always close, but at the same time, afraid of something more.
And now, Blaze was sitting across from Amy in a café, carefully choosing her words. She respected her friend greatly but was very aware of the pink hedgehog’s… exalted reactions.
She needed to be precise…
“Blaze.”
Careful…
“Blaze.”
Cautious…
“BLAZE!”
The shout snapped her out of her trance, echoing throughout the café. More than one person covered their ears at the deafening roar. Apparently, aside from her hammer, Amy’s lungs were also extremely powerful.
“I’m sorry, I apologize for my silence.” Blaze lowered her head.
“You worried me. You stayed quiet for ten minutes, just staring into nothing. Are you okay?” Amy asked with concern.
The moment had come.
“I am fine, and I thank you for your concern. The truth is, I reached out to you because of a problem I’ve been struggling with for some time.”
“Of course! You can count on me!” Amy exclaimed with a thumbs-up and a big smile.
Blaze inhaled and exhaled. She was already reserved with her usual emotions—these new ones were even worse. But she trusted her friend would help.
“It’s… complicated.”
“Okay.”
“Really complicated…”
“Trust me!”
Feeling her tongue as heavy as a mountain, Blaze shut her eyes tightly, her tail bristling as she finally spoke.
“I… like… someone.”
“Really!? That’s wonderful, Blaze! Who is it?” Amy asked with joy.
“…It’s… well… you know him… it’s…”
The words barely escaped her mouth. She felt like she was forgetting how to speak. Probably looked like she was about to vomit. Amy’s enormous grin didn’t help either—it made Eggman’s widest smile look like that of an innocent child.
“…It’s… Silver…”
She realized she had accidentally burned a good portion of the table. Smoke was rising from her ponytail. Her muzzle was now painted crimson red, and her tail bristled even more.
The next thing she heard was a shriek so powerful it cracked the café’s windows. Several cups exploded. All thanks to Amy’s reaction—her smile had grown impossibly wider, and her eyes looked ready to burst from excitement.
Needless to say, they received plenty of angry glares and more than a few scoldings.
After clearing her throat, Amy continued.
“It’s okay, Blaze. You took a big step. You admitted your feelings and came to a professional for help.”
“…What should I do?”
“Be Blaze.”
“Excuse me, what?”
“Be yourself! Spend time with him. I know you’re always busy in your dimension, but what if you invited him to your world? If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that sometimes a slow process is better than a rushed one. Spend more time with him. Learn what he likes.”
“What he likes?” Blaze asked thoughtfully. “I know a couple of things he enjoys…”
“Like what?”
“He loves apples. It’s almost the only thing I ever see him eat. He always seems amazed when he looks at the blue sky—it gives him peace. Every time someone is happy, he feels it too. And flowers… he loves them, no matter the type. He’s always mesmerized by their beauty.”
“Aww, that’s so cute! Silver really is noble, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he truly is noble,” Blaze replied, warmth in her chest and a gentle smile on her lips.
Without being prompted, the feline continued.
“The more I think about it, the more I see why I feel this way about him. It’s like he burns with flames too. Every time he speaks or acts, there’s a fire in his eyes that never goes out, as if he were a lighthouse meant to guide others away from disaster. He’s always acted for the greater good. He’s clumsy and naïve, but he never lets that stop him. He always speaks from the most honest part of his being, unafraid of judgment.”
It felt inexplicably good to explain herself without fear of being judged. These feelings were new and complicated, but maybe “new” didn’t mean “bad.” Perhaps it was simply a change—one she should embrace in order to move forward. Not to fight them or lock them away, but to accept them.
When she lifted her gaze, she saw Amy wiping away several tears, napkin in hand.
“Sorry, it’s just… that was so beautiful, and I couldn’t help it,” Amy said before blowing her nose loudly, like a blaring horn.
“Could you two leave already? You’re scaring off the customers,” the waiter’s voice snapped.
That’s when they both realized the entire café was glaring at them with resentment. Several people had broken cups, ruined glasses, and damaged watches.
Blaze silently vowed never again to discuss romance with Amy in a public place—for the sake of others. Still… at least she had resolved several of her problems. And all it cost her was three times the price of the meal, plus extra to avoid a lawsuit for public destruction.