Paradise by Coldplay.
~~~

They had traversed and shut down two Robotnik camps since her arrival. They had used the Tornado and foraged within the tents. Between explorations, she occupied herself with practising her aim with her gifted slingshot. Or, she'd speak to the groups fearless blue leader. At least, she'd try but since he'd given Tails the last piece to the fox's newest device, the blue hedgehog was consumed by it. More specifically, he was enthralled with listening to names on a staggeringly long list being read out to him- for none to hear but him due to golden headphones.

Presently, she watched in the plane's mirror from the passengers seat to the top wing where he sat. His legs were arched, his hands held the headphones against his ears and Tails' device sat beside him. She'd come to learn their blue leader was rather captivated by nature, especially when in flight, but there his eyes were tightly screwed shut.

"That won't do him any good." She pouted, returning to sowing a heavily torn brown puffer vest on her lap.

In front, sky blue eyes glanced in the mirror- acknowledging Knuckles watch his blue brother from behind. Then he hummed and refocused on the dark, grey clouded view ahead.

"I think he's listening for something in particular."

Amy leaned forward. "What makes you think that, Tails?"

"At the moments where I can have my Tails Electric, I see he repeats that list. He's listened to all the names multiple times. So, he listens again in case he's missed something."

"But hearing all of those people.... He's only going to add more pressure. Besides, if what he's looking for hasn't come up- then it can't be there right?"

"That's the logical answer." Tails glanced in the mirror once more, watching Knuckles shake his blue friend by the shoulder. "Thing is, I don't think Sonic's thinking as logically as he can right now."

—————

Her breathing was quick. It was short. Scattered. She was cold. Shivering. Chills ran through her veins and her vision swirled. Icy metal squeezed and tightened and scratched against her throat. Pointy tips of claws dug into her flesh and murderous, calculating red optics bore into her eyes. Blue metal shone against the black abyss and she could feel herself growing lighter. Her mind swam, she gasped, her arm fell and then came a snap.

"NO-!"

Amy sat up in a pool of her sweat, heart pounding, ears ringing and tears settling. But upon seeing green eyes she froze and attempted in calming her breathing as the blue hedgehog approached. He was slow in his movements, surprisingly, and cautiously held out his hand. She was quick to take it and even faster in blinking, craning her head to drink in her new surroundings.

The Tornado's wing stretched out above them and a thin, raggedy material fell from it to the ground- creating a flimsy marquee. Tails made a sleepy complaint beside them, swinging his namesakes even more around himself. Taking this as a hint, Sonic carefully led his panicked friend outside.

Puddles were scattered everywhere, but the rain had calmed and the clouds had parted enough for the stars to come through. Knuckles' snoring from the passengers seat of the Tornado crept into the sounds of owls and Amy stepped closer to their appointed leader. His warmth soothed her enough for her breathing to become far less disgruntled and with a few more blinks her still tears were gone.

"Nightmare?" He whispered.

"Again, yeah. You're getting good at dealing with that."

"You ain't the first friend of mine to have them."

"Tails?" Amy's head tilted inquisitively.

"He used to have a few, but nah. I mean Sally." Sonic turned to face her directly. "She had 'em almost always. But she's stronger than them. She doesn't give them any power. You can do the same."

Amy's cheeks heated up a touch. "I-I don't know. This nightmare...it's really scary."

"It's about him, isn't it?"

Her eyes briefly dropped to the ground prior to glancing back up at blue fur, long downward quills and red shoes. She gulped, refusing to make such a connection and put her focus towards his charming eyes.

"Yes."

"Well, he can't hurt you. Not with me around."

Seeing his unwavering confidence managed to make her giggle and she turned to watch the stars. After a still moment, she spoke.

"You've been speaking about her a lot."

"What you said about a week ago got me thinking."

Surprised by his lack of shyness, she carefully sought through her words. "About?"

"Seeing her again."

Amy shifted. "Oh. That wouldn't be so bad would it?"

"Dunno. But I haven't known a whole lot on my adventure so far, I'd like to learn the rest with her."

She felt a strange sensation rush through her at his words, but even though she had a feeling as to what it was- she pushed it away in avoidance and let go of his hand.

"You're not very good at hiding it."

"H-hiding what?"

"How you feel about her."

Sonic reddened and scratched his muzzle and for a moment Amy worried she had pushed too far, until he spoke.

"Y...you think she knows?"

"I'd be surprised if she didn't. But it is funny how oblivious one can be about someone else's feelings for them."

The blue speedster stole a glance to see the wide eyed pink hedgehog staring right at him, thus he cleared his throat and returned to watching the moon. His hands resided upon his hips and soon his foot drummed against the ground, bringing a small giggle from his friend.

"There's somewhere we gotta go first."

"Oh?"

"I...she's an old friend of mine. And I haven't seen her as much as I should've. I gotta speak to her."

Amy examined his risen shoulders, slightly lifted spines and frowning expression prior to taking his hand in her own (causing him to stiffen further).

"We'll go together. All four of us. But I gotta ask, does it have something to do with this?" She swiftly retreated into the flimsy marquee and exited with the 'Tails Electric.'

"I only ask 'cause you've been pretty...occupied with it."

Sonic took it into his own hold, staring at his face on the black screen. "It might."

"You found something."

"Actually, it's 'cause of the absolute nothin' I've found. I mean, listening to all of those names...all of those mobians.... There's a category by their names that says what status they're in, at least that's what we figured."

"So?" Amy held her breath when Sonic stepped closer to her, holding the yellow device between them (it's screen flickered on to show such a list).

"Some of them are blank. And I've noticed when I'm listenin' to the names bein' read out, it skips over some of 'em."

"I think you've been listening too much to that."

"I'm serious. It freaks out and jumps over the name. And the further on the list goes, it misses out more on where the mobians are."

"Are you saying it's corrupt?"

"I dunno, but I don't think it should be like this."

"Didn't you guys take this yourselves? Surely you would've noticed something."

"We were in a hurry. 'Sides, we didn't read the full list, and-."

"The further it goes, the more is missing."

Sonic's fingers snapped. "Exactly."

"Then we should give this to Tails to check right? Why do we need to see this friend of yours?"

"'Cause she'll know more about Robuttnik's tech' than we do.

Amy watched him twirl and step towards the marquee, but she was quick to grab his arm. "Wait."

"What's wrong? Nigh-?"

"Not that. I gotta ask, did you hear the name 'Alexander Rose' at all?"

Sonic's form tightened and he observed the screen in his hand. "Why'd you ask?"

"I think you know why."

"I-...I'm sorry, Amy. Yeah. Yeah I heard his name."

—————

She hadn't slept. Couldn't have. Knowing what she did, and with no status or update on the name's whereabouts. She told Sonic she needed a moment to process what he'd told her and spent the remaining hours under the coal sky in agonising melancholy and rage. She'd took out her emotions on the closest, unsuspecting tree until noises around the Tornado caught her attention.

Thus, under the glaring sun, she presently sat stilly in the passengers seat with Sonic in front. He'd tried to converse with her, but she mumbled about not being ready and he didn't argue in giving her space. Of course, seeing those alien electrical vines twisting up her arms (just for a moment) probably didn't want to make him talk to her much to begin with.

Still, she was aware of his glances in the planes rearview mirror and his adamance for her to sit behind him. She'd tried to argue it was more logical for Tails to perch there, for he was busy with his device. But Sonic had refused and stated the kit was okay on the wing, with Knuckles beside him.

"Where're we going?" The echidna questioned (again), wrapping new bandages around his fists.

"To see my friend."

Knuckles frowned. "Yeah, where?"

"Relax Knucks, we're pretty much here."

Apart from their blue leader, the group looked below to see a small village in the centre of colossal mountains. Palm trees lined a large pond with a minuscule island in it's centre, just big enough to hold a white wooden gazebo. It had a wooden bridge leading to the water's edge which a path continued forward, guiding those walking on it to a large, creamy building. Little homes of the same colour combination (creams, oranges and blues) were scattered all around and upon nearing the ground the three noticed little shopping stalls. What's more, a fountain stood behind the huge building and was surrounded by rabbits. In fact, as they began a rather smooth landing, it started to sink in how there were apparently only rabbits here (who were beginning to stare at the newcomers).

"Sonic, where are we?" Tails inquired, watching his brother guide the plane towards a large opening beside the fountain.

"The Southern Baronies. At least, a village in it." Upon the Tornado stopping, Sonic gracefully leaped out the plane and landed on the ground (gathering many surrounding whispers).

"And this is definitely the place?" Amy followed in pursuit, holding her slingshot close.

The groups leader stretched his legs. "Me and Sal' came here about five years ago. It's safe here, and we wanted to keep our friend safe."

Knuckles raised an eye ridge at the cautiously gathering long eared mobians. "You sure? They seem...paranoid."

"Huh?" Sonic's ears twitched as he stood straight, hands on hips whilst he observed the whispering crowd.

"I don't think they get many visitors." Tails muttered, only then realising the scaffolding climbing the walls of the villages buildings.

Amy seemingly noticed the apparent rebuilding too, for her eyes landed on scattered tools and fewer piles of useless, beaten materials. Knuckles examined the grass and how it was far shorter and patchier than it looked from above, thus he stepped to his blue friends side as the rabbits stopped in a tense circle around them.

"I don't think they recognise you, mate."

"They've been attacked recently." Tails interjected quietly. "Seeing Sonic, knowing what he does for a living, probably isn't making them feel at ease."

"Well, we don't mean any harm!" Amy spoke to the startled rabbits, quickly hiding her slingshot from noticing a group of kids' eyes widen.

"We're just here to see a friend of Sonic's. We're not bringing some horrible news with us, nor has any trouble followed us."

Whispers broke out through the crowd and Knuckles elbowed his contemplative blue friend. The children seemed to relax at Amy's words, even smiling and waving. The adults' hushed conversations were less paranoid and more open, but many still watched the four apprehensively. That was, until, a voice broke out through the wall of rabbits.

"Well I never...."

Sonic's ears straightened and he turned towards nearing footsteps. There, a rabbit politely weaved her way past the crowd and held the front of her dresses long pink skirt upon standing at the front. With brown eyes, creamy fur and a tuft of brown hair falling over her forehead, Sonic's eyes widened. But a large grin broke on his face when a small, shy bunny poked her head around her mothers legs. The speedster dropped to a knee with arms wide when the bunny burst into a brilliant smile and hurried towards him. She leaped to give him a hug and the other rabbits relaxed seeing there was no danger.

"Mr Sonic!" She exclaimed in a slightly squeaky voice.

"Cream! You've gotten so big! Last time I saw you, you were what? Four?"

"I'm nine now, Mr Sonic." The bunny giggled, stepping back to give her friend space.

But then her cinnamon eyes found sky blue and she could feel herself growing shy. The golden orange fox awkwardly smiled and squeezed his arm. Cream fiddled with the hem of her skirt prior to snapping out of her dreamy focus when Sonic lightly shook the fox by his shoulder.

"See you noticed my little crew here huh?" He grinned.

"Um-."

"This is Tails. My right hand fox, and brother." He gestured to the echidna with his thumb. "That's Knuckles- don't let his frown scare you. He's a big softie." Sonic winked, Cream giggled and Knuckles grumbled.

"And finally, our latest recruit, Amy Rose!"

The pink hedgehog beamed and waved, receiving a polite curtsy. Then, the mother rabbit approached and rested her hands on Creams shoulders, looking rather bewildered as she watched the four. Sonic awkwardly massaged the scruff of his neck in return.

"Well I...I see you've gathered quite the group of friends."

"Uh yeah."

The rabbit observed baggy, tired green eyes, scarred limbs and out of place blue spines. In fact, all four seemed a little banged up- but at least his three friends looked better rested. She sighed, he awkwardly grinned and his friends shared rather questioning glances. Thus, the mother warmly smiled.

"It's good to see you, Sonic." She approached the stiff hedgehog.

The speedster allowed her to hug him, sticking his tongue out at Tails and Knuckles who snickered. Still, he couldn't help but exhale peacefully in her hold.

"Nice to see you too, Vanilla."

"Would you like some tea, dear?"

And oh boy, was Sonic looking forward to that.