Matilda by Harry Styles.
~~~

When Amy Rose was twelve, she met the love of her life. A simple question was answered. An enigma of a character, one forever beyond her reach, yet they met. Despite his speed and power and her unreachable wishes, they found each other.

When Amy Rose was twelve, she was kidnapped. Her fears had come to take her and metal claws blanketed her throat. Emerald eyes twisted into burning red and just as her life really began, it felt like it would end.

When Amy Rose was twelve, she was given a second chance. A life without a mother and barely with a father, for he was taken too soon. But those emerald eyes found her and gave her newfound hope and determination. He saved her, welcomed her, and uplifted her.

When Amy Rose was twelve, her life truly began.

She wanted to be just as brave. Just as strong and just as steady in the face of danger. He became quick again, always slipping from her hands. She tried to keep up, pushing herself beyond every limit she had, but he was always laughing in the distance.

Until he did slow down for someone. And not for her.

She was brave. She was a leader, like him. She was stubborn and logical and charming. Her pristine blue eyes would cast shadows and her voice would move mountains. No wonder he fell for her, really.

Even Amy Rose could admit that within different circumstances, a different time, they would grow old together.

When she was left behind, Amy had been a void. Always with a smile, but her comments and the worlds jeers taught her she needed to do better. She needed to be braver, smarter. A leader.

She needed to be her.

No more would the world point and laugh. No more would they underestimate her or claim her to be an obsessive, delusional fan. A lost girl caught up in her ridiculous dreams. No. They'd respect her and leave her be.

She would be the best Freedom Fighter. She'd be praised and welcomed and appreciated. She wouldn't be left behind or dismissed or overshadowed by louder, tougher leaders. She'd become them. She'd surpass them.

Maybe then he'd notice her.

And it wasn't like Amy twisted and broke her quills into downward spines just for him. She didn't change her clothes into gruffer attire just for his eyes to look at her again. She didn't squish down the loud, annoying and clingy part of herself just so he wouldn't run away.

She just had to be better.

Better for him. For her. For her friends and for herself. She needed to keep up, not matter how much her legs cried and heart thundered. She refused to be left behind again.

And he began standing at her side more. He looked more. He held her and uplifted her again.

The world gave praise and silence. They let her be and even spread rumours of her growing relationship with him. They pointed and cheered.

She welcomed her as a Freedom Fighter. She looked with pride and respect. Like they could be equals.

But then he slowed and Amy began to worry he couldn't keep up this time. Sonic the Hedgehog always ran. He laughed and squirmed and fought.

When Sonic was fourteen, he began talking to himself. She'd noticed he had a habit of giving himself the offhanded comment, but when they returned...there, his mumbles and mutters became more directed to the wind.

When Sonic was fourteen, he became more angry. He always had a tingling impatience, but never a booming rage. He became distant. Cold, almost. He argued more and deflected more and shut down more. He began running the other way and she had to learn how to keep up again.

When Sonic was fourteen, he started to lose himself.

That much was clear to her, but what he was losing himself to was a mystery. Amy just needed him to slow down, just for a moment so she could look into his paling emerald eyes. If she could just see him....

"Hey, if you're done daydreaming, we've made it."

"Huh?" She whirled to purple eyes and red fur.

Knuckles, perched on the passengers seat of the pink car they rented, gestured to the looming rainforest surrounding them. A near stream trickled from behind and unique birds sung from high above. When a sharp hum flooded her ears, she turned to the back and caught Silver lift himself out within a cyan ripple. Blaze unbuckled Cream before following and flinched from Cheese settling on her shoulder.

"Hey."

Facing Knuckles again, confusion twisted in Amy's stomach at his concerned expression. Only when his mighty mittens squeezed her hands did her eyes drop to her glowing ruby ring-bands.

"This has happened before."

"Yeah, but I don't know why."

"Does it hurt?"

"Not really. It's just like this...overwhelming warmth. Like I need to do something to stop it."

"You know, it sort of reminds me when you'd get these electric bursts before Shadow gave you these."

"Oh yeah, I remember that."

The pair blinked, glanced at each other, narrowed their eyes prior to meeting the other again.

"Knuckles?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you think Shadow gave me these?"

The echidna straightened his hat. "I think we both have an idea."

Amy gulped. "You don't think-."

"Hey guys! Come check this out!" Silver called from between the trees, waving them over.

Knuckles seemed more hesitant, but with a shrug from his close pink friend opted to follow her towards the albino hedgehog. Silver floated just overhead and guided them past towering trees until he gesticulated towards a tremendous, overgrown and clearly aged temple. Cream in tone, it held cracked and tilted pillars across the front and crumbling stairs, where Blaze, Cream and Cheese met them.

"According to my research, after the Ancients fell, the Chaos Emeralds spread out to the furthest corners of Mobius." Knuckles began, guiding his friends upward.

"When Chaos entrusted my tribe to protect them, they built these temples."

"You believe one still resides in there?" Blaze inquired.

"Only one way to find out."

"Let's be careful." Amy warned, summoning her hammer and taking Cream's hand.

Entering the temple and the darkness was only lit up by Blaze's flame. Cracked stone floors and great pillars, once appearing to have held torches. Despite the three tiers of the building from outside, within was just one, high walled room. At the furthest wall a circular, fractured stone slab sat beneath toppled pieces of patterned concrete. A square trim surrounding it, the group cautiously neared for the red guardian to trace his hand across the inscribed symbols.

"What was this thing?" Silver asked.

"I'd guess this is where the Chaos Emerald used to be."

"These don't look like they're how they should be." Amy pointed out, tapping against the concrete rings.

"That's 'cause they're not." Knuckles dropped his hand. "I think they used to spin around the Chaos Emerald, like a shield. Judging by the symbols on them at least."

"Chao chao!" Cheese whimpered, hopping to snuggle in Cream's hold.

"Is he alright?" Blaze asked whilst Silver rubbed his thumb over the Chao's head.

"It makes him sad to see this place like this." Cream softly explained.

"I get it. Even though we both weren't around at the time, it's still...strange to see a powerful place come to...this." Knuckles sympathised.

"We could try and bring it back to its former glory?" Silver offered.

The echidna chuckled. "We?" He smiled. "Thinkin' of hanging around for a while longer are you?"

The albino hedgehog diverted his gaze, twisting the strap of his bag. "W-well I just-."

"Maybe down the line." Amy assured. "Right now we're still missing that Chaos Emerald."

The other four shared a shrug prior to following the pink hedgehog back outside. There, she flipped open her Comlink for examination.

"Anything, Miss Amy?" Cream wondered. "I'm sure Ta- Mister Tails has it right this time!"

"That I don't doubt, but I think the Chaos Emerald is too close for it to be anymore specific."

"Then we shall split up and look around. We can call one another if anything is found or meet at the car." Blaze instructed.

"Good plan-."

"I'll head back into the temple then- maybe we missed something." Knuckles offered, ready to make his way when Cheese settled on his hat for company.

"We'll go back towards the car and continue that way." Silver informed, taking Blaze's hand and leaving with a salute.

"Odd isn't it?" The feline mused.

"What is?"

"If the Chaos Emerald used to reside in the temple, how has it left? And why only at a short distance?"

"I mean, we know they jump around when threatened- maybe this one didn't want to leave here, but knew it had to hide."

"That implies more conscious thought than just instinct, Silver."

"Well, we don't really know that much about them. The Chaos Emeralds have and probably always will be a mystery."

Blaze bit her lip and freed her hand to gaze upon them, golden eyes tracing healed burn marks. "Do you believe the Sol Emeralds are the same way?"

Silver shrugged. "When we used them to come here, maybe something drew them out? Maybe they heard something we didn't."

"You're suggesting the Sol and Chaos Emeralds are connected somehow."

"Is it that hard to believe? Look what your Sonic did-."

"Don't."

Silver sweat-dropped and stalled to grasp the Sol Guardian's hands. "I'm sorry."

Blaze sighed. "It's alright-."

Great Sol, his smile always managed to warm her heart. "It's okay if it's not though, you know?"

Playfully, she rolled her eyes. "You're always so naive."

Silver laughed. "Yeah yeah, I know."

"That is one of the reasons why I love you, though."

Returning to their walk, he grinned. "One of many, right?"

A step ahead, Blaze managed to conceal her smile. "Don't push it."

"Ha!"