“Thanks for calling me, Sonic.”

“No prob, Ames.”

I’d really thought my little buddy was going to be smarter than this but in the end I’d needed to resort to the ‘Amy’ option. Knowing that Amy was an early riser (and unfortunately by the time I decided that a less ‘drastic’ method wasn’t going to work, it was definitely ‘early’ by anyone's definition), I’d given her a quick call and explained that her ‘little bro’ had again gotten too caught up in a research project and that I was a bit worried about him. With a speed that did even my hedgehog heart proud, our front door burst open a few moments later and a pink blur could be seen dragging a heavily protesting fox up to his room for some much-needed rest.

She had come back down a short time later looking satisfied and assured me that Tails was now ‘resting peacefully’. I refrained from asking whether her favorite hammer had been involved in accomplishing that. There were some questions I really didn’t want the answers to. However, shortly after that, she’d taken one long look at me and then politely ‘suggested’ that I should get some more rest too. Knowing it wouldn’t be wise to argue with the frighteningly cheerful hedgehog, with the equally frighteningly large hammer, wherever it was she always managed to stash it (and having already planned on trying to get a few more Z’s in once I’d settled my buddy anyway), I’d immediately agreed.

This brought me to now, having just come out of my room and wandered over to our home’s kitchen to find my pink hedgehog friend happily preparing ‘breakfast’ (if it could still be called that, since judging by the clock I’d seen recently, it was about noon; eh, it was clear I had needed the rest.). Meanwhile, Amy gave me another smile and turned back to the stove where I could see she was preparing eggs, bacon, and the latest round in a growing stack of pancakes. Mhhm…should be good.

Amy was a capable cook, though I kind of wished she didn’t just spontaneously invite herself over on at least a weekly basis to make Tails and I meals (generally leaving enough prepared food behind to ensure we’d have several meals available for days she probably wouldn’t be showing up)….Not that I’m really complaining about the food part…but…well, I guess all friends have their quirks….(And, hey, now that I thought about it, it looked like she’d cleaned our place up again too….).

Eventually, it seemed she felt she’d reached a good stopping point, though, uhm, I’m glad as a Mobian hedgehog I actually required a pretty good bit of tuck (got to fuel that hedgehog speed somehow, am I right?) and that Tails, for something of a little guy, could pack it away too. Because, yeah, Ames….Despite the amount of food she had prepared, there were currently only two of us here, three, if she planned to join us for the meal (which was never a sure thing). Not that I’d ever say anything that might indicate I wasn’t happy with what she’d prepared or that she may have made ‘too much’. I couldn’t stand to make a nice girl like her cry (or really any girl). Of course, that might just be how I ended up in situations like this….

Anyways, Amy turned her attention from her ‘mountain’ of prepared food and gave me an exasperated look.

“So, what was it this time? New invention? Recently released findings of the Archipelago Scientific Research Society? Detected a disruption of the space-time continuum?”

Oh, yeah, never actually had the chance to explain to her what Tails’ ‘research project’ was all about or anything really about what had been going on. The last time I’d seen her had been during her birthday party. As I’d expected (feared), she’d really enjoyed the present I got her, a new headband that I’d thought might be a good match for her style and had even noticed probably matched her eye color, or something like that (the store attendant at least thought it was a winner when I showed her a picture of my hedgehog friend). Let me just say the girl can do enthusiasm like nobody’s business, and it had taken me a while to sufficiently recover (and, you know, breathe again) after the vice-like hug of gratitude (and death) she’d given me afterwards (that girl has some serious strength).

Anyways, even after I could speak (and breathe) again I hadn’t wanted to bring up anything negative on her birthday and otherwise get her unnecessarily involved in what was looking likely to be yet another one of the crazy ‘adventures’ that seemed to pop up in my life on a disturbingly regular basis. Also, while I expected Amy would be very interested in knowing that another hedgehog had shown up in our part of the Archipelago, especially a ‘girl’ hog, even if an extremely emo looking one and also one that I guess I can say generally seemed very non-‘Amy’-like, I realized it might come up in the explanation of my earlier encounter that apparently I had been mistaken by G.U.N. for a black and purple, female hedgehog. And, I can say, without an ounce of shame, that I had decided that having only one angry female hedgehog attacking G.U.N. bases and agents was enough for my life right now.

Fortunately, everyone else at the party who was likely aware of the issues seemed to have a similar idea, so it looked pretty clear information concerning the latest series of events had yet to make its way to my pink friend. I guess it was probably time to remedy that, considering, well, Shade might be trying to.…

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Yeah, not exactly this time, Ames….”

And, while avoiding drawing attention to some unimportant details, I began to fill her in on what had happened recently and what we’d learned about Shade, her past…and probable goals.

“Oh, Sonic, that’s so terrible!! That poor girl….We have to do something to help her!!!”

Unsurprisingly, Amy’s main focus after learning all of this was on the (admittedly horrible) things that had happened to Shade and thinking of ways to help her (rather, than, you know, on the fact that Shade was…probably…planning to destroy the planet out of a mixture of anger and grief). Seriously, really nice girl.

“Yeah, Ames, Tails is doing his best, or will be once he wakes, to determine which base she is likely to hit next or at least keep an ear out so we can confront her when she does. Hopefully, maybe…” And really, I knew this was a looong shot. “...we can talk some sense into her or at least get her to stay away from Eggman.”

Because even if, impossibly, they actually were a real team right now, I still couldn’t see any good coming from her hanging out with that egomaniac nutjob. Meanwhile, Amy brightened at my response.

“Definitely, Sonic! And, I’ll be there to help! Just make sure you give me another call when Tails figures it out, and I’ll drop everything to join, day or night!”

At Amy’s reply, I tried not to let my face tighten. She never really liked it when I tried to ‘protect’ her or otherwise keep her out of the ‘excitement’ that seemed to constantly plague my life. And, it wasn’t like she couldn’t actually handle herself surprisingly well for a hog that otherwise seemed to pride herself on her less ‘action-oriented’ qualities and skills. Ironically, that was probably in large part due to her perceived need to ‘keep up’ with me and to be able to help out in all the troubles life seemed to regularly throw my way. And though I don’t think she’d ever come out and say it, perhaps, not even something she’d really admit to herself, probably part of that was also so that there wouldn’t be a future occasion where she needed to be ‘rescued’ again. And, honestly, I could respect that, though that didn’t mean I was excited at the prospect of her showing up just when it seemed things were getting ‘crazy’ again.

So, anyways, I knew that saying some of the things that I’d like to wasn’t really an option…or fair really. Amy could take care of herself and was an adult who could make her own decisions. And, really, would she be Amy if she just ignored something like this? Who knows, maybe the good old Amy charm would be just what Shade needed to convince her that her plans for revenge weren’t a good idea? Somehow I could almost believe that happening.

It would definitely be better than some of the more permanent options Rouge seemed to think would be necessary to stop a hedgehog as powerful and determined as Shade clearly seemed to be.

“...Eh, of course, Ames. We’ll be sure to let you know.”

Amy gave me one of her megawatt smiles in return.

“Thanks, Sonic!! I know I can always count on you!!”

I just gave her a (hopefully not awkward looking) smile in return. And, in another moment, she was looking around, appearing a bit surprised.

“Oh, wow, look at the time. Sorry, Sonic, I won’t be able to stick around until Tails wakes up. Let him know I love him, and, oh, there should be plenty of meals in the fridge or freezer for the rest of the week, if not, just give me a call and I’ll stop by and make more!”

I almost opened my mouth this time to say that that wouldn’t be necessary, that, in fact, none of this was really necessary, but what came out instead was:

“Oh, uhm, thanks, Ames…that’s really nice of you.” DANG IT!!! Why did I get stuck with such a courageous yet also chivalrous hedgehog heart?!

“No problem!!!”

Still, just before she left (and left an even larger mountain of food than I’d first suspected behind), she turned back to me and some of her earlier cheer left her…along with it seems some of the light in the room….

“And, Sonic, also be sure to let Tails know that I expect my ‘little bro’ to get proper rest in the future. Even with as important as all of this is, he’s a young boy and needs to take better care of himself.”

There was of course only one answer I could give to that.

“Yea…yeah, of course, will do, Ames.”

At my response, her demeanor (and the room) brightened again.

“Great, thanks again, Sonic! See you soon!!” And, with that, she left without an apparent care in the world.

…Seriously, really sweet girl…and I would never be tempted to say otherwise.