SKINNY by Billie Eilish.
~~~

Amy was startled to find herself still staring at where Silver and Blaze had left them, fixated on their intertwined hands. Only by Cream shaking her by the elbow did she regain focus and toss on a smile.

"Are you okay, Miss Amy?"

"Me? I'm fine. C'mon." She took the bunnies hand and guided the girl through the thick greenery.

"It's been a while since we last went on an adventure together!"

"Ha, yeah that's true! Like the good ol' days."
(It wasn't, not really).

"I have missed hanging out with you."

"Aw shucks Cream. Same here." Noting the bunnies reminiscent eyes, Amy nudged her arm with a grin.

"Now come on, tell me about you and Tails already!"

Cream's face flushed and she hurriedly looked away. "W-what do you mean?"

"Oh please, when it comes to romance you can't keep that secret from me. Besides, whenever I do come over to see you, you're always messaging Tails or going on about how smart he is or-!"

"Okay!" The bunny laughed, hiding behind her hands.

"I'm your best friend- it's in the contract that you have to tell me."

"You're more like a sister to me."

Amy's eyes enlarged and watered, yet she was quick to shake it away. "All the more reason to."

Cream peaked between her fingers. "There's nothing to say."

"Ugh, boring! But fine, I won't push."

Amused, she rolled her eyes and examined the hedgehog observe her Comlink. "What about you?"

Pink quills sprung up and shoulders rose. "M-me?"

"Well yes, expert of romance."

"You've been hanging around Tails too much."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Amy shrugged. "I don't think it's a fun answer."

Cream softly smiled. "I guessed so."

"You-? We should focus on the Chaos Emerald."

"Now you're starting to sound like him." She teased, but her eye ridge raised all the same.

"Guess he has been pretty focused on that lately, huh?"

"He has. But if someone told you that you're gonna destroy the world, you'd want to do everything you could to stop that, right?"

"Sometimes it's hard to believe you're the youngest." Amy laughed.

"I've had a great family to learn from!"

Ruffling between Cream's large ears, the pink hedgehog went to comb through her own quills. "You know, I haven't even been able to tell him about my Tarot Reading yet."

"A lot's happened."

"When we get back, I think I'll try and talk to him. He has me worried."

"Why?"

"He's not.... You know him. Always running around!" Amy tried a laugh. "Honestly I think he likes keeping me on edge. Ha!"

Cream went to hold the other's hand. "What about you?"

"Me?"

"Should I or Mother be worried?"

"About me? Oh, I'm fine!"

"Miss Amy."

"You know, it's really annoying when I'm trying to ask how Sonic is and he just keeps...avoiding it." She sighed. "Guess I can't complain if I then do the same thing, huh?"

"Have you spoke to him about-?"

"This? Pfft! Yeah sure I have."

"Why not?"

Amy bit her lip. Sonic hadn't ever been very reciprocative to her conversations of vulnerability and trust. In truth, he seemed pretty adamant on avoiding all talk of emotions. She hoped he'd grow out of it but....

She'd always worried he'd just become sick of her one day. Why push her luck? She adored him and wouldn't want him to change, yet sometimes it felt like she had to just so he'd look at her. She frowned at herself. That was a vile thing to say. Sonic was always so kind and surprisingly patient with her. She knew she pressed his buttons, even accidentally, and yet he allowed her to stay.

Still....

Blaze and Silver could hold hands whenever they pleased. Rouge and Knuckles could argue one second and help each other up the next. Vector always had Vanilla to go to if he desired baked goods. Even at her young age, Cream had someone she could stay up with all night to talk to.

For someone so interested and enamoured by romance, it always seemed to be running out of her hands.

It was such a silly thing to be plagued with anyway. Especially at a time like this. And she'd always thought Sonic simply wasn't the type but then she came along and changed her outlook on the blue hero.

Were she and Sonic simply not meant-?

"Miss Amy?"

Even the thought of that question was enough to get her worked up. Her quills were sharp and her eyes glistened, but with a gentle tug from Cream she soothed herself and resorted to a smile.

"Yeah-?"

"I think I know where the Chaos Emerald is."

Perplexed, she followed the bunny's point to where a small hut sat beside a fishing dock and pond. A brilliant, rather familiar, cobalt blue glow poured out from within and a mighty purple cat perched on the docks edge.

———

"Chao chao?"

Knuckles ascended the last stair and glanced at Cheese as he entered the temple. "I felt something before. I want to check it out."

"Chao?"

"I uh...oh. I'm not sure what it was. It was just this...feeling that was oddly familiar." Reaching the demolished Chaos Emerald cage, the echidna brushed his mitten against the stone rings.

Cheese left his hat to look around overhead and there did Knuckles feel that warmth once more. He'd felt it before, and usually it led to a rather expectant visitor who'd always appear with a warning. The heat was almost dizzying and the strange familiar sensation only unnerved him more.

"Hey, Cheese? Let's-."

Looking up and the temple was far brighter than before. Torches danced atop smooth pillars and chatter bounced around from outside. Benches lined the sides and woolly carpet stretched down the middle, leading up to the still empty but newly constructed Chaos Emerald cage. If it weren't for the way the corners of his vision swirled and colours ran into each other (almost like running paint) he'd half-believe he'd been transported to the past.

"Woah...." Knuckles slowly traipsed down the carpet and craned his head wherever possible.

Before he could reach the outside though, a voice from behind called. "Hello again."

He jumped, hurriedly composed himself and whirled to see Tikal. A glow around her, but still in her usual Guardian and echidna tribe attire.

"Long time no see."

"It has been a while, hasn't it? How are things?"

"I'm sure you're about to tell me."

Tikal cleared her throat and in a blink Knuckles was standing directly opposite her. "Well, seeing as I'm just your research now-."

The red Guardian chuckled. "Yeah yeah. What was I supposed to say? I've been seeing visions of the Guardian Tikal who's been telling me all about the Chaos Emeralds. That won't bode well."

Tikal smiled. "I suppose."

"'Sides, it's not wise for me to blab about you coming about again, right?"

"That's true. Although you are wrong about something."

"And what's that?"

"This isn't a mere vision." And she giggled. "My-."

"Chaos Powers har har. Can I ask you something?"

"Always. But-."

"Don't expect an answer. Yeah."

"Am I really that predictable?"

Knuckles grinned. "You have your sayings."

"With that attitude I won't-."

"Relax! Relax. It's about Chaos. How is he?"

Tikal stiffened. "He's nervous. Seeing you all seek out the Chaos Emeralds has him on edge."

"I understand. I promise I won't let them be used like that again."

She smiled. "I should hope so. That is your duty."

Knuckles turned. "How'd you see me anyway? I thought you needed the Master Emerald."

"I believe your connection to this place allows me to reach out to you. Our tribes relationship with the Emeralds is special after all."

"Makes sense I guess." And he looked to her again. "Why, though?"

Tikal squirmed and Knuckles raised an eye ridge. "It's about him."

"Still worried huh? I'm keeping an eye on him, don't worry. Not that he'd hurt us or Mobius anyway."

"No no I know...." Her eyes dropped to the floor and his narrowed.

"Tikal? Something I should know?"

Slowly, she met purple eyes. "I can't see into the future, just to be clear. But I can...sense someone's inner turmoil. I can see it. With Chaos energy, I can see how one feels through the colours and patterns of that emotion. A rare Chaos power, to read and sometimes even change one's emotions, but it is there."

"And what're you seeing?"

"Conflict. Exhaustion. He is angry and sad and panicked but most of all, he is lost."

"This...friend of mine?"

"Yes."

Knuckles sighed. "Never really gave me his name, but I think I know who you're on about."

"I-."

"Sonic, right?"

A pause. "His colours are different to everyone else's. There's something about his energy, Knuckles. It has me worried."

"You know what it is?"

"Unfortunately, no. Usually I can try and decipher the reasoning behind one's emotions but he's...powerful. I don't think even he knows it."

"Seems we all don't know a lot lately. How can I help him? What can I do?"

Tikal wrung her hands together. "He mustn't-...I'm not sure."

Knuckles' eyes narrowed. "Mustn't what? Tikal, what about him's so powerful? His energy?" They widened.

"Are you...is he...are him and Shad-?"

"No!" Panic poured from her eyes.

"But-."

"He can't. You mustn't-."

"I need to know so I can help-."

"You can't!"

Knuckles frowned. "Can't help? Why bother telling me-?"

"Please! Just...know that, ultimate power ultimately corrupts all that seek it. You must be cautious, Knuckles. Chaos and I are nervous because of how unpredictable this can potentially be. Stay wary. Stay focused. A predator will bite any animal that crosses it." Tikal closed her eyes, waved her hand and brought the temple back to its ruinous form.

"Chao chao!"

Knuckles stumbled back from Cheese waving directly in his face. The Chao appeared spooked and was quick to squeeze his arm before continuing his panicked talking.

"Hey, calm down! What's wrong?"

"Chao chao!" Cheese pointed at the echidna's face prior to himself.

"Huh? My eyes? What about them?"

"Chao!" He whined and tugged on Knuckles' arm before zooming out the temple, soon followed by the other.

The Chao gestured towards the trees, grass and bushes. He presumed flailing his paws at purple eyes with panic in his own.

"My eyes...turned green?"

———

"Excuse me! Hello!" Amy called with a wave, giving a slight skip in her step as she neared the humming cat.

"Mister?" Cream spread her ears to flutter passed, flinching when the stranger turned around- seemingly unsurprised but with a warm smile.

"Hello."

"Hi!" Amy chirped.

"Didn't think Amy Rose and Cream Rabbit would come see me." Standing, the cat revealed a small frog sleeping in his arms.

"We've been watching the fish today. Would you like to join us? We have cucumber sandwiches!"

"Ooooh-!" Cream clapped.

"That's very nice of you, Sir, but actually we're-."

"Call me Big."

"Oh. Okay. Big! This is gonna sound weird but we've gotten readings of a Chaos Emerald around here. Do you mind if we take a look?" The pink hedgehog gesticulated towards the hut.

"Chaos...Emerald?"

"Yes-."

"It's that sparkly thing inside!" Cream smiled.

"Oooh. It's so shiny I don't even need to turn my lights on!"

"Is that a yes?" Amy awkwardly chuckled.

"Come with me!" Big urged and led the way. "It's not often we have visitors. Especially ones like you!"

"Have you...before, then?"

"Not when I lived here. But back when Mobius was under Eggman's boot he came by here occasionally."

Amy looked towards singing birds. "Lots of Flickies around. Unfortunately that makes sense."

"Also explains why the Chaos Emerald wasn't in its place! It must have hid when Eggman came!" Cream noted.

"Why do you want it?" Big asked.

"Uh...to better protect Mobius-." Amy tried.

"But you've all been doing so well without it?"

The two shared a glance, shrugged and Amy twisted her ring band. "Bigger troubles on the way. We could use all the help we can get."

"If you'd like to stay with the Chaos Emerald, you can come along!" Cream offered.

"Is there fishing involved?"

"Um...Tails has a pond near his house? Not sure how much fish there actually are though." The pink heroine offered.

"Hmm. Can I bring Froggy?"

"Your friend there?"

"Yup!"

"I don't see why not. With Omega getting back out there soon, we could do with more numbers looking after Tails' place."

"Sounds peaceful enough." Big nodded, opening his door for the pair.

Cream thanked the cat before bumping into Amy's back. Confused, she stepped around to see the completely entranced expression on her face. Only when the bunny followed it did she meet the ocean blue Chaos Emerald.

"It's...beautiful." Amy murmured, hands slowly closing around it. It was almost like she could hear it.

"Is she okay?" Big asked and Cream shook her arm, snapping her into focus.

"Sorry about that! I really like the colour blue-."

"No wonder-."

"Har har."

"Will you bring it back here when you've used it?" Big asked.

"That or we'll return them to Angel Island. Depends on what they want really."

"Ooh. I've heard there's really unique kinds of fish up there!"

"So, you're in? You'll join us?"

"For Tails' pond."

Amy laughed. "Good enough for me."

"Look at you, recruiting your own team!" Cream cheered. "Like a leader of your own!"

Forest green eyes widened and she hopped back and forth between the pair. Watery view and thundering heart, yet she grew a brilliant smile. Yeah. Just like a leader.