New Hedgehog in Town

Christmas Eve

It didn't take me long to heal. My skin was so used to it, it healed faster than a bruise would go away. Even Tails was surprised by how fast it healed. Usually it would take weeks yet it only took days. It was hard to work on my Christmas gifts for them cause they wouldn't let me out of their sight. They would ask about my scars, but I'd never answer them. The answers will come in time when I was no longer scared of my past. I haven't left the house in days. Only because there were robots still out there. Eggman will have to give up soon, right? He'd never expect me to be here. Unless he finds out, which will be likely unless someone slips up. But only Sonic, Tails, and Amy knew I was here. So that was very likely. Knuckles would show up time to time, but I would always be hidden. Sonic and Tails would sometimes have to go stop Eggman from whatever he was doing, but they never told me about it. At least it gave me time to work on their Christmas gifts. I made a small model of the Blue Typhoon. Tails had a picture of it and I borrowed it for a little bit. Since it was a big ship, the model was at least a foot tall. I wouldn't be able to put it under the tree. But I can hide it at least until Christmas Morning.

I made Sonic a model of the Anceint Ruins back when it was new. I made it because of the chaos emeralds. I knew how much they meant to him, plus on how he's always searching for them. I also knew that Eggman was searching for them as well. I've only heard that they were really powerful and that there were only 7 of them left. I also knew what colors they were, which makes them stand out more besides of the energy and light they give out.

It wasn't easy to make the models, but it was fun to do. Soon, Christmas was just around the corner and we were thinking on having everyone over. Knuckles, Amy, and some people I haven't met yet named Rouge, Cream, Cheese, and Shadow. Sonic said that Shadow may not even come. He sounded like a dark dude considering his name was Shadow.

Soon it was Christmas Eve and all the guests were here. I was told to stay hidden until Sonic came and got me. I heard a lot of noice out there. Even a dark voice which I guessed was Shadow. I could have sworn I heard Faker in there somewhere. Then it all got quite and the door opened with Sonic standing there. "Ready?"

"Ready." I walked out and everyone turned to look at me. I was wearing a teal dress that was almost the exact shade as my fur, had my quills tied into a braid, with a small flower behind my ear.

"She's really pretty," said the small bunny. Her chao friend spoke his chao language that I could not understand at all. But he seemed to be complamenting me. I blushed a little, not used to this much attention.

"Hi...." I said shyly.

"Hi!" everyone said at once. Sonic led me to a chair next to the couch. It was between a bat and a dark hedgehog.

"What's your name, Sugar?" asked the bat.

"Anna."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Rouge the Bat. And thats Shadow over there," she said pointing to the dark hedgehog. He grumbled, obviously not happy about being here.

"My name is Cream," said the bunny. "This is my very special chao friend Cheese. It's nice to meet you." Knuckles stood in the corner, not really wanting to join the conversation. Sonic walked over to him and jabbed him in the gutts, trying to get him to join.

"Okay. I'm Knuckles."

"It's really nice to meet all of you."

"Miss Anna," said Cream. "When did you meet Mr. Sonic?" I blushed a little at the question.

"A couple weeks ago."

"How did you guys meet?" asked Rouge.

"Not the way you would expect."

"How?"

"Eggman," said Sonic. Cream looked over at me with concern in her eyes. I bent my head towards the ground as everyone looked at me.

"He thought I was Sonic," I explained. "When he realized I wasn't him, he kept me prisoner. But it didn't last long. Sonic saw me on the street where the robots got me. He came with Tails in the Tornado and helped me out of it. But the robots followed me."

"Is that why you're here?" asked Knuckles.

"Yes. And I'm very grateful to both Sonic and Tails." Tails showed up behind me and patted my shoulder. Sonic gave me the thumbs up and I smiled bigger than I have before. It wasn't the type of story you'd expect on Christmas Eve but it turned out great. Soon they were exchanging gifts to eachother. I was surprised to get gifts from Sonic, Tails and Amy. They didn't have to get me anything. Before I opened them, I told Sonic and Tails to wait right there while I went to get their presents. They both had the look of confusion as I went into Sonic's room and grabbed the models.

"I wasn't able to put these under the tree, so I hid them." I gave Sonic his model and Tails his. "I had a lot of free time."

"You made these?" asked Sonic, completely taken by surprise. I nodded my head yes. "How?"

"I knew about the Mystic Ruins well. And I used pictures of the Blue Typhoon to make the model. I hope you don't mind?"

"It's amazing, Anna!" shouted Tails.

"Thanks, Tails. I also have these." I handed them each a card with the drawings on them. Sonic whistled when he saw the picture.

"You've got talent, Anna."

"What else am I supposed to do while you guys go out?" They set the models down and gave me a hug, Tails' hug a little longer than usual. Then Rouge literally begged me to open my presents. So I sat back down and opened Amy's first. It was a hand made bracelet that fit perfectly.

"Amy it's beutiful. Thanks!"

"No problem Anna!" I opened Tails next to see a dark blue flower pin.

"Wow Tails. I'll put it in right now." I took out the other flower pin and replaced it with Tails'. I could see him smiling as I put it on. Then I was ready to open Sonic's. It was a small box, wrapped up pretty well. It took me a little bit to open it without getting any paper cuts. Once it was open, I asw something small, yet the heart shaped neclace would be able to fit when I put it on. It was a golden locket, with a picture slot inside. I felt the tears coming again but I held them back.

"Thanks so much Sonic." I smiled at him, wanting to say more but the quests were here. Not to mention Amy.

"Why it's lovely, Anna," asid Rouge. "Who are you going to put in it?"

"I don't know," I said, only because who I wanted to put in it was standing in the room and I didn't want to get the gooy eyes from everyone. I looked at everyone in the room and noticed Cream was wimpering. "What's wrong, Cream?"

"We didn't bring you a present. If we knew about you we would."

"Cream, your friendship is more than enough of a present to me." She smiled and came over to hug me. She was the sweetlest little girl you could have ever met. I looked over at Sonic and Tails, who both had started reading their cards. I sat Cream on my lap as Cheese came over and sat on hers.

"Mr. Shadow, why haven't you said anything?"

"Cause if he did, it'd be insults at Sonic," said Rouge. I looked over at Shadow who seemed to be throwing daggers at Sonic in his mind. I didn't understand why. I'd have to get the story out of Sonic somehow.

Everyone, slowly, started to leave. Once the last guest, which was Amy, left I was able to go to bed. But before I did, I grabbed one of the extra pictures of Sonic that they weren't using and cut out Sonic. It took me a while but I got it to fit with just his head. I won't take the locket off, the only way for someone to take it from me was to pry out of my cold, dead hand.