Sonic the Hedgehog

Starry Sky

Admittedly, Amy has never been much of a sleeper. Something that makes her not surprised when she snaps awake to a dark room, on a bed in between two others that occupy a peacefully slumbering yellow fox and a passed out echidna still snoring heavily. His previous comment about echidnas and their ability to control their sleep patterns makes her smile as she throws her cover aside and steps out of bed. Feeling parched, she heads for the snack counter to see about any refreshments but stops after glancing out the balcony window.

Sonic the Hedgehog stands outside, leaning on the railing, presumably looking down at the city below. It seems she's not the only light sleeper out of the group. There's a possibility the young war hero couldn't find a comfortable place to rest easy, but she knows that's not it. If anything, it has to be the stress. Such a heavy burden would make anyone stay up all night.

That's right... She thinks, watching her idol. He's still just a Mobian. How does he do it? How is he so amazing if he's just a mortal like the rest of us?

Curious, and with her heart beating nervously at the thought of being alone with her hero, Amy feels her body guide to the balcony door handle. After a deep breath, she opens it, and the chilly nighttime air makes its way uninvited into the hotel room. It seems Sonic hasn't noticed her. Quietly, as to not alert the blue hedgehog or the others who are enjoying a good night's rest, she closes the door.

"Hey," she says in a weak, unsure voice.

Sonic turns around, slightly wide-eyed, surprised someone is up this late. If she could, Amy would take a snapshot of what's in front of her, print it, and hang it in her room forever. The noisy wind makes his quills dance behind him as he continues to stare at Amy with, in her eyes, the most adorable curious expression.

"Oh, you're still up, Amy?"

His voice snaps Amy out of her dream and puts her back in alert mode.

"No, I just woke up," she says, joining him at the railing.

Immediately, she can see what has Sonic standing here. It's not just the city below, though, it's certainly quite the eye candy. No, but rather, what's above it. Scattered through a sea of black nothingness are bright, white, glowing shimmers of beauty. They're everywhere, huddled together like a giant gathering of fireflies. Some of the stars are even moving... shooting across the sky like a blaze of righteous glory. It's most comparable to a meteor shower, but whereas that is a scientific phenomenon, Amy has no doubt this is the work of magic.

It amazes her, like it does most Mobians, just how many interesting secrets this ancient land of theirs keeps. No one has even begun to scratch the surface of Mobius's history and archeology, but in a way, it's for the best. It doesn't need an explanation. It doesn't need a reason. It just needs to continue staying the way it is.

"Now I see why they call it Starlight," Sonic says to Amy's right, noticing her dazzling smile at the sight before her. "Beautiful isn't it?"

"It sure is!" Amy responds, not taking her eyes off the stars. "The past two days have felt like a dream. And I don't want to wake up."

"Then don't," Sonic shrugs, smirking.

Amy turns to him.

"Life is only a bore if you let it," he continues. "If you're struggling, just break free and run. At least... that's what solves my problems."

"Not just yours," Amy says. "Everyone's. You never miss a chance to help someone out, even if it's a complete stranger. If you had just taken my necklace when we first met, then... you wouldn't be in this mess right now."

"Well, I couldn't-"

"That's right, you didn't," Amy interrupts, smiling. "You took my feelings into consideration. I... mattered. And you sat me down to explain and do the right thing. You... you never cease to amaze me, Sonic."

At first, Sonic doesn't say anything. He processes the words that came from Amy carefully. Once he has, after a brief moment of silence, he responds.

"I'm nothing special, Amy."

Amy frowns and before she can protest, Sonic continues.

"I'm not some... legendary war hero. I'm not everyone's savior. I'm just a guy who lives with no regrets. I beat Eggman last time because I wanted to save everyone. That dream wasn't mine alone."

"But you were the one who actually did something!" Amy argues.

"If everyone else had the same abilities as I do, then they would have done something too," Sonic says. "What I'm getting at is the real heroes aren't the ones with super speed or whatnot. No, they're people like you, Amy."

A silent gasp leaves the hedgehog's mouth, shocked at what she's hearing. Her eyes are wide open as Sonic continues.

"You had nothing to do with this, and yet, your home was destroyed. You've nearly lost your life in the span of two days than most people do their entire lifetime. And throughout all of that, you... still have hope. You haven't let anything bring you down. Not even when we failed. That's what real heroes look like."

Tears get on the verge of pouring before Amy quickly suppresses them, unwilling to embarrass herself by being a crybaby. But their threat still lingers.

"I didn't talk to you because I thought you mattered, Amy," Sonic says. "I talked to you because you DO matter. And you owe it to yourself to never forge-"

Amy lunges at him, wrapping him in a tight hug.

"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," she mutters, failing to keep the tears at bay any longer.

Hearing this, and no longer in shock at the sudden hug, he hugs her back, smiling.

"Thank you, Sonic the Hedgehog."

"No, thank you, Amy," Sonic says, seeing something in Amy he had originally missed.

Feeling something he had never felt before.

...